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Varda

2009-01-05T20:25:06Z

70.26.251.8:

{{valar infobox
| name=Varda
| image=[[Image:Mikel Janin - Varda.jpg|250px]]
| othernames=See ''[[#Names|Names]]''.
| coming=[[Years of the Lamps]].
| appointment=Queen of the [[Valar]].
| creations=The [[stars]].
| maiar=[[Ilmarë]] and [[Olórin]].
| dwelling=[[Taniquetil]].
| gender=Female.
| spouse=[[Manwë]].
| siblings=
| appearance=
| robes=
| hair=
| eyes=
|}}
{{quote|O stars that in the Sunless Year<br>With shining hand by her were sown,<br>In Windy fields now bright and clear<br>We see your silver blossom blown!|Hymn to Elbereth, ''[[Three is Company]]''.}}
'''Varda Elentári''' was a [[Valar|Valië]], wife of [[Manwë]], and Queen of the Valar.

==History==
When [[Melkor]] first began to create his discord, Varda saw his mind, and hated him. Melkor feared and hated Varda the most out of the Valar.

Varda was said to be too beautiful for words. Within her face radiated the light of [[Eru|Ilúvatar]]. She resided with [[Manwë]] in [[Valinor]]. Varda created the stars with the dews from the vats of [[Telperion]], the silver of the [[Two Trees]]. Varda is said to be the Vala most loved and revered by the [[Elves]] in Middle-earth, she is also believed to be the most beautiful.

==Inspiration==
The Valar, being divine beings below a greater, more ultimate Creator, [[Ilúvatar]], are thought of as being the [[Middle-earth]] equivalent of saints and angels; it has therefore been suggested that Varda, in her role as the most loved and prayed-to Vala, may be an equivalent of the Virgin Mary in Tolkien's own Catholic faith.

[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Varda and Manwë in Valinor.jpg|thumb|left|''Varda with Manwë in Valinor'', by [[Ted Nasmith]].]]
==Names==
''Varda'' means ''sublime'' or ''lofty'' in [[Quenya]], and ''Elentári'' means ''Star-queen''. An epithet of her is ''Tintalle'' which means ''Star-kindler''.

In [[Sindarin]] she is also known as '''Elbereth''' (Star-queen), '''[[Gilthoniel]]''' (Starkindler), '''Fanuilos''' (Ever-white), and some older forms are known as well: '''Baráda''' and '''Bridhil'''. In [[Telerin]] she is called '''Baradis'''.
In [[Adûnaic]], her name was adapted rather than translated; it became '''Avradî'''. Her epithet was translated, into '''Gimilnitîr''' "starkindler".

She is also referred to by the epithets ''The Kindler'', ''Lady of the Stars'', ''Queen of the Stars'', ''Snow-white''. They are translations of her Elvish names.

In NetHack and some other Roguelike games, the name ''Elbereth'' is used as a protective charm. [http://www.steelypips.org/nethack/elbereth_faq.html]

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Varda|Images of Varda]]

{{valar}}
[[Category:Valar]]

Varda

2009-01-05T16:26:58Z

70.26.251.8: