Alcarinquë

From Tolkien Gateway
Revision as of 21:56, 2 October 2015 by Mith (talk | contribs) (Reverted edits by Beren ion Barahir (talk) to last revision by Morgan)

Alcarinquë was a name of one of the stars in Arda.[1]

History

In the distant past, at the time of the awakening of the Elves, Varda added many brilliant stars to the heavens using the shimmering dews of Telperion the Silver Tree.[2] Among these were the familiar star-patterns we still know today, and other lights that were not truly stars. Among these was Alcarinquë - the planet we know as Jupiter.[3]

Alcarinquë would likely have been the brightest object in the skies at that time. When Varda created Alcarinquë and the other new lights the Elves first awoke.[2] It was not until the Elves had been to Aman and the Noldor were returning to Middle-earth that the Moon and the Sun were created[4] and Venus - the Silmaril of Eärendil - was not placed in the heavens until much later.[5]

Etymology

Alcarinquë (or Alkarinque) is a Quenya name meaning "The Glorious",[1][3] likely derived from the Quenya adjective alcarinqua ("glorious").[6][7][8]

References

Middle-earth Cosmology
 Constellations  Anarríma · Durin's Crown · Menelmacar · Remmirath · Soronúmë · Telumendil · Valacirca · Wilwarin
Stars  Alcarinquë · Borgil · Carnil · Elemmírë · Helluin · Luinil · Lumbar · Morwinyon · Nénar · Star of Eärendil · Til 
The Airs  Aiwenórë · Fanyamar · Ilmen · Menel · Vaiya · Veil of Arda · Vista
Narsilion  Arien · Moon (Isil, Ithil, Rána) · Sun (Anar, Anor, Vása) · Tilion
See also  Abyss · Arda · Circles of the World · · Timeless Halls · Two Lamps · Two Trees · Void