Varda Elentári
Quick Facts
| Dates: | Immortal. Existed before the foundation of the World |
|---|---|
| Race: | Valar |
| Pronunciation: | va'rda elentah'rri |
| Meaning: | Varda means 'sublime' (in the sense of 'high' or 'lofty') Her title Elentári means 'Star-queen' |
| Other Names: | Elbereth |
| Titles: | Elentári, Gilthoniel, The Kindler, Queen of the Stars |
The Queen of the Stars
The Queen of the Stars and spouse of the Elder King, great among the queens of the Valar. She set the stars in the sky, for which the Eldar of Middle-earth revered her, calling her by the name of Elbereth.
Varda
Varda is the formost of the Queens of the Valar, so called the Valier, and is the spouse of Manwe. She dwells in the city of Valimar, in the mansion of Ilmarin on the summit of Taniquetil. It is said that when she sits by Manwe's side atop Taniquetil, his already great sight is extended far beyond what he would be able to see when he is apart from her, and that she can hear even more clearly than she already does when she is apart from him.
Of all the Valar, Melkor feared her the most for she alone knew the evil of his heart before any other of the Ainur, even before the Great Music was sung.
Varda is associated with light. She fashioned the stars and gave light to the Lamps of the Valar, but after their breaking by Melkor the light of Valinor came from the two trees, (Telperion and Laurelin) created by her fellow Valier, Yavana and Nienna. She drew forth light for the original lamps from herself, and it seems that she was only able to do this one time, as she did not partake in the creation of the two trees. She did, however collect the light that droped from their leaves as like unto dew or soft rain, and gathered it into pools and wells, which were scattered throughout the land of Aman. The wells were spoiled by the spider creature Ungoliant, who was an ally of Melkor and who hated light.
Varda is held in high esteem by the elves, foremost among the Valar, as the light of the stars which she wrought was the first sight their eyes beheld at their birth. Varda labored long to create the stars specifically for the Firstborn, and they give reverence to her for her works.
The Silmarils of Feanor were given special protection by Varda, such that no hand of evil will, or of mortal flesh, could touch a jewel without being scorched and damaged.
Varda placed the last flowering of the two trees of Valinor, Telperion and Laurelin, once they were bound in vesseks by Aule, into the girdle of the earth, to give light to Arda, and thus become the Sun and Moon.
Ilmare, a Maia, is her handmaiden, and is first among the females of the Maiar.
Quick Facts:
- Varda is the most beautiful of the Valar for the light of Iluvatar still shines from her face.
- The elven tribe Vanyar are the favored of Varda.
- The song of Elbereth (Varda) was being sung by the elves who came upon Frodo, Sam, and Pippin, and it drove away the Black Rider that was pursuing them.
- It was the memory of this song and the voices that sang it which inspired Sam in his desperate struggle against Shelob on the stairs of Cirith Ungol.
- Varda set the last remaining Silmaril on the prow of Earindil's sky-ship so that it should sail the heavens until the end of time.
Titles:
- Tintalle "the Kindler"
- Elintare (Quenya) "Queen of the Stars", and as a surname only.
- Elbereth (Sindarin) "Star Queen"
Varda means "the Exalted" in Quenya
- Entered by Elessar 11-23-08
