Ilmarë

Ilmarë (Quenya; IPA: - "Starlight") was a chief among the Maiar and the handmaiden to Varda.

Biography
Ilmarë was the handmaiden of Varda, thereby a guardian spirit of the stars, and one of the chiefs of the Maiar, along with Eönwë, herald of Manwë.

Etymology
In Quenya, Ilmarë means "Starlight", from ilma. Christopher Tolkien has noted that Ilmarë is related to such words as Ilmen and Ilmarin.

Her name was possibly inspired by Kalevala, where one of the heroes is called Ilmari.

Other versions of the legendarium
Earlier in the legendarium, Ilmarë and Eönwë were conceived as the son and daughter of Manwë and Varda, previously referred to as Erinti and Fionwë Urion. Later, Tolkien abandoned the idea of the Children of the Valar.

As Erinti, she was the Vala of love, music, and beauty, also named Lotesse and Akairis ("bride"), sister of Noldorin and Amillo. The three of them left Valinor and dwelt in Inwenore (later Tol Eressëa). The second half of January was called Enrintion, which was named after her.

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