 | |
| Vala | |
| Nessa | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Location | Valinor |
| Family | |
| Siblings | Oromë |
| Spouse | Tulkas |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Female |
| Gallery | Images of Nessa |
...she also is lithe and fleetfooted. Deer she loves, and they follow her train whenever she goes in the wild; but she can outrun them, swift as an arrow with the wind in her hair. In dancing she delights, and she dances in Valimar on lawns of never-fading green.
Nessa was the wife of Tulkas and sister of Oromë. In "due order," Nessa was the last named Valië.[1]
History
Nessa was noted for her speed and was said to be "swift as an arrow" and she was able to outrun the deer who followed her in the wild. She was also renowned for her dancing ability, as she danced on the ever-green lawns of Valimar.[1] She wed Tulkas upon the Isle of Almaren[2] in the Year of the Valar 3400.[3]
Genealogy
Etymology
Nessa ([ˈnesːa]) is a Quenya word meaning "young"; in the same text, Nessa has also the name Indis "bride".[4][5]:14
The Noldorin names of Nessa were Neth (a cognate of the Quenya/Qenya word) or Dineth, a Noldorin word meaning "bride", related to the Quenya word indis.[6]
In a later text, Pengolodh notes that Nessa's name is "not elvish" and probably represents a Valarin title, much like the name of her spouse, adopted in Quenya, but there is no record.[7]
Other versions of the legendarium
The Book of Lost Tales
In The Book of Lost Tales, Nessa was one of the Valarindi, daughter of Aulë and Yavanna. Her son with Tulkas was Telimektar.
Nessa was seen at the house of Tulkas bringing goblets of wine and drinks to his champions.[8]:75
Nessa loved to retire to the green swards which her brother, Oromë, had cultivated from the richness of his forest.[8]:75 When creating the forests of Oromë, Yavanna had planted forest glades with spells so that the glades would always remain green and smooth. Nessa, along with her maidens, would dance there as long as Laurelin was in bloom, and she was said to be an even better dancer than Vána.[8]
The Annals of Aman
In revisions to The Annals of Aman "Nessa the Young" was removed from the ranks of the Valar and, along with Estë, made to be among the highest of the Maiar.[9]:§3
In further emendations, Tolkien split the character between "Nessa the Evermaid", and "Lëa the Young" ("Lëa-vinya") who was the bride of Tulkas.[9]:§3 Lëa was the fairest of the maidens of Yavanna.[9]:§18
Early etymology
Her other names in Qenya were Helinyetille meaning "Eyes of Heartsease", from helin ("violet, pansy"), and Melesta, from mele ("to love").[10]
Early genealogy
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Of the Valar"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Beginning of Days"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: First section of the Annals of Aman", 3400
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", pp. 376-7
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Early Qenya and The Valmaric Script", in Parma Eldalamberon XIV (edited by Carl F. Hostetter, Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry NI1
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Appendix D. *Kwen, Quenya, and the Elvish (especially Ñoldorin) words for 'Language': Note on the 'Language of the Valar'"
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "III. The Coming of the Valar and the Building of Valinor"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: Section 1 (AAm*)"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I
| Ainur | ||
|---|---|---|
| Valar | Lords | Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · |
| 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 | |