Arien

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Arien
Maia
Angel Falto - Arien.jpg
"Maiden of the Sun" by Angel Falto
Biographical Information
PositionGuiding the Sun
AffiliationVarda, formally Estë and Vána
Physical Description
GenderFemale
GalleryImages of Arien
"Too bright were the eyes of Arien for even the Eldar to look on, and leaving Valinor she forsook the form and raiment which like the Valar she had worn there, and she was as a naked flame, terrible in the fullness of her splendor."
― "Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor"

Arien (Q, pron. [ˈari.en], stem Ariend-) was the Maia who guided the Sun.

History

Arien was originally a spirit of fire who Melkor failed to corrupt.[1] In the days of the Two Trees, Arien was a Maia maiden where she tended to the golden flowers of the gardens of Vána. In the gardens, Arien would water the flowers of Vána with great bright dews taken from the golden tree Laurelin;[2] Arien was the only one who could bear the heat of the great Tree Laurelin, and so was unhurt by it.

After the destruction of the Two Trees of Valinor by Melkor, Laurelin managed to produce one last golden fruit before it died away. The Vala Aulë crafted a vessel to hold the golden fruit, whilst Arien was chosen by the Valar to guide this vessel of the Sun above the airs of Arda giving light to the World; Tilion, a Maia and one of Oromë's hunters, was chosen to steer the Moon. The Moon had already traversed the sky seven times before the Sun was finally ready, then the Sun arose in glory, and the first dawn of the Sun was like a great fire glowing upon the towers of the great Pelóri Mountains of Aman. Then Morgoth was dismayed and he descended into the uttermost pit of Angband and withdrew his servants, and sent forth great reeks and the darkness of clouds to hide his land from the light of the Sun.[1]:110-1

Tilion, the Maia chosen to guide the Moon, loved Arien and followed her through the night sky, ocassionally catching up to her and becoming burned and blackened by her heat. In fact, it was said that the maia maiden Arien was indeed stronger in might than the maia hunter Tilion.[1]

Other versions of the legendarium

In other writings, Arien's name was Urwen or Urwendi, which translated in "Maiden of the Sunship". She was one of Vána's maidens who took care of the tree Laurelin; her task was to water it. When the Two Trees of Valinor were destroyed, she had to steer the Ship of the Sun.[3][4]:118

Morgoth wanted to claim Arien as a wife,[5] and ravished her, upon which she abandoned her body and "died", leaving the Sun to travel through the skies uncontrollably and burning parts of Arda the world. As well, it is stated in other abandoned writings that she was a Maia of Varda. It is not clear if it was Tolkien's intent to keep these elements in The Silmarillion tradition, had he lived long enough to publish it.

It was told that Arien (Urwendi) and her maidens, before the rising of the Sun, entered into 'Fôs Almir', a bath of flame that would make one pure.[4]

Etymology

Arien means "Maiden of Sunlight" in Quenya. It is derived from the root as-, seen also in árë "sunlight"[6] and -ien feminine suffix.

References

Ainur
Valar Lords Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · Melkor
Valier Varda · Yavanna · Nienna · Estë · Vairë · Vána · Nessa
Maiar Arien · Blue Wizards · Eönwë · Gandalf · Ilmarë · Melian · Ossë · Radagast · Salmar · Saruman · Tilion · Uinen
Úmaiar Sauron · Balrogs (Gothmog · Durin's Bane) · Boldogs
Concepts and locations Almaren · Aratar (indicated in italics) · Creation of the Ainur · Fana · Máhanaxar · Ainulindalë · Order of Wizards (indicated in bold) · Second Music of the Ainur · Timeless Halls · Valarin · Valinor · Valimar
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