Arien

Arien in the heavens
Arien
Biographical information
Other names	Spirit of Fire
Birth	Before the creation of Arda
Death	Immortal
Spouse	None
Weapon	Powers of the Ainur
Physical description
Race	Ainur
Gender	Female
Culture	Maiar

Arien (Quenya; IPA: [ˈari.en] or [ˈarijen] - "Maiden Of Sunlight") is a Maia and the guardian of the Sun.

Biography

Arien holding the sun.

Arien was originally a Maia in service of the Valië Vána the Ever-young, though in some writings she served Queen Varda. Arien from the beginning was originally a spirit of fire whom Melkor was unable to deceive nor draw her to his service. The eyes of Arien were said to be too bright for even the Eldar to look upon. In the Days of the Trees, she tended to the golden flower gardens of Vána. Arien would water the flowers with great bright dews collected from the great golden Tree Laurelin of Valinor . Arien later was chosen by the Valar to carry the vessel of the Sun because she was the only one who was not afraid and could bear the heat of the great Tree Laurelin, and so was unhurt by it.

While in Valinor, Arien took a form similar to that of the Valar, but when Arien left Valinor, she forsook the raiment like the Valar and became a "naked flame of fire, terrible in the fullness of her splendour". Later on, when the great Two Trees of Valinor were destroyed by Morgoth and Ungoliant , the great golden Tree Laurelin managed to produce one last golden fruit before it died away. So the last surviving golden fruit of Laurelin was given to Aulë, 'the Great Smith of the Valar', who then crafted a vessel to hold the precious golden fruit. The Valar then charged Arien to guide the vessel of the Sun. So after the vessel for the Sun also named as 'Anar' was made ready, Arien carried the vessel of the Sun away up into the Heavens giving light to the World. However, it took the maia hunter Tilion , who carried the vessel of the Moon , to traverse seven times before the vessel of the Anar (Sun) was ready. Then Anar rose in glory, and the first dawn of the Sun was like a great fire glowing upon the towers of the great Pelòri Mountains of Aman . And the clouds of Middle-earth was kindled and there was heard the sound of many waterfalls. Then indeed Morgoth was dismayed and he descended to the lowest pit of Angband his stronghold and withdrew all his servants as well. Then Morgoth sent forth great reeks and darkness of clouds to hide his lands from the light of the days.

Arien was more powerful than Tilion, the guardian of the Moon. As Arien is the guardian of the Sun, she is one of the most loved Maiar by mortal men, and her first journey across the sky was the signal of their awakening.

Etymology

Arien's name means "Maiden of Sunlight" in Quenya from áirë ("sunlight") and -ien, a feminine ending.

Earlier Names

Urien and Urwendi are the earlier names for Arien, which both mean "Maiden of Fire".

Other versions of the legendarium

In other writings, Morgoth wanted to claim Arien as a wife, 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.

It was also stated that Arien, then named Urwendi, fell into the Sea and met her "death". Fiönwë, later called Eönwë, a son of Manwë, defeats Melkor, driven by his love for Urwendi.

External link

• Arien at Tolkien Gateway