The One Wiki to Rule Them All
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
The One Wiki to Rule Them All
The Lord of the Rings Wiki
6,661
pages
in: Valar, Heavenly beings, Quenya names & words
English

Changes: Valar

Back to page
View source
(updated formatting)
m (→‎References: Recatg)
 
(38 intermediate revisions by 17 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{Infobox_Race|title1 = Valar|image1 = Jerrel Salvatierra - Powers of Arda.jpg|caption1 = "Powers of Arda" by Jerrel Salvatierra|name = Valar|dominions = [[Almaren]], [[Aman]]|languages = [[Valarin]], [[Quenya]], [[Sindarin]], [[Telerin]], [[Khuzdul]]|height = Varies|weight = Varies|skin_color = Varies|lifespan = [[Immortal]]|distinction = [[Immortality]]; rulers of the [[World]]|members = [[Aratar]]; [[Irmo]], [[Tulkas]], [[Estë]], [[Vairë]], [[Vána]], [[Nessa]]; formerly [[Melkor]]}}[[File:Illuin-valar-lamp.jpg|thumb|[[Middle-earth]] during the Years of The Lamps]]
 +
{{Race|title1 = |image1 = |caption1 = |name = |dominions = [[Almaren]], [[Aman]]|languages = Chiefly [[Valarin]] and [[Quenya]]|height = |weight = |skin_color = |lifespan = [[Immortal]]|distinction = |members = [[Aratar]]; [[Irmo]], [[Tulkas]], [[Estë]], [[Vairë]], [[Vána]], [[Nessa]]; formerly [[Melkor|Morgoth]]|image=Jerrel Salvatierra - Powers of Arda.jpg|caption-image="Powers of Arda" by [https://www.artstation.com/skinnyuann Jerrel Salvatierra]|distinctions=[[Immortality]]; rulers of the [[World]]}}
⚫
The '''Valar''' ([[Quenya]]; singular '''Vala''') were the '''Powers of Arda''' who shaped and rule the world. They lived on the Western continent of [[Aman]].
  
   
  ⚫
The '''Valar''' ([[Quenya]]; singular '''Vala''') were the '''Powers of Arda''' who governed the [[Arda|world]] under the direction of [[Ilúvatar|Eru Ilúvatar]]. They dwelt on the western continent of [[Aman]].
⚫
== History ==
  
  +
  ⚫
==History==
  +
[[File:Screen Shot 2023-06-09 at 2.23.14 PM.png|left|thumb|290x290px|[[Varda]] creating the heavenly bodies - by [[Kip Rasmussen]]]]
 
The Valar were the fourteen [[Ainur]] who, after being molded of [[Eru]]'s thought, entered [[Arda]] after [[Ainulindalë|its creation]], to give order to the world and combat the new evils of [[Melkor]]. They had helped to begin the shaping of Arda through the music of [[Ilúvatar]], and often referred to one another as "brother" or "sister". Each of the Ainur had added his or her own part to the music creating the world incarnate, save for Melkor, who at the time was counted as the strongest of them. His vision of what Arda should have been differed from Eru's, which led to his banishment and great rebellion that would cause most of the ills of the world of Arda.
 
The Valar were the fourteen [[Ainur]] who, after being molded of [[Eru]]'s thought, entered [[Arda]] after [[Ainulindalë|its creation]], to give order to the world and combat the new evils of [[Melkor]]. They had helped to begin the shaping of Arda through the music of [[Ilúvatar]], and often referred to one another as "brother" or "sister". Each of the Ainur had added his or her own part to the music creating the world incarnate, save for Melkor, who at the time was counted as the strongest of them. His vision of what Arda should have been differed from Eru's, which led to his banishment and great rebellion that would cause most of the ills of the world of Arda.
  +
[[File:Manwë, Firchow.png|thumb|[[Manwë]], King of Arda, with one of his [[Great Eagles|Eagles]] - by [https://www.artstation.com/stevefirchow Steve Firchow]|380x380px]]
−
[[File:TN-VardaAndManwe.jpg|left|thumb|260x260px|Varda and Manwë, by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
  
−
The fourteen Valar originally dwelt on [[Almaren]], a hidden island on the "[[Great Lake]]", but after it was destroyed and the earth was reshaped, long before the [[Awakening of the Elves]], they relocated to [[Aman]] and founded the realm of [[Valinor]].<ref>''[[The Silmarillion]]'', ''[[Quenta Silmarillion]]'', Ch. I: "[[Of the Beginning of Days]]"</ref> They would become known as the 'Powers of the World', though rarely directly intervening in the world's course of events. Eru instead gave them delegation of [[Arda]], and so at Valinor they constructed the golden city of [[Valimar]], their own mansions dispersed cross the plain; and [[Máhanaxar]], the "Ring of Doom", at which they would confer and hold counsels.
 +
Following the creation, the fourteen Valar dwelt first on [[Almaren]], a hidden island on the [[Great Lake]], but, after it was destroyed and the earth was reshaped, long before the [[Awakening of the Elves]], they relocated to [[Aman]] and founded the realm of [[Valinor]].<ref>''[[The Silmarillion]]'', ''[[Quenta Silmarillion]]'', Ch. I: "[[Of the Beginning of Days]]"</ref> They would become known as the 'Powers of the World', though rarely directly intervening in the world's course of events. Eru instead gave them delegation of [[Arda]], and so at Valinor they constructed the golden city of [[Valimar]], their own mansions dispersed across the plain; and [[Máhanaxar]], the "Ring of Doom", at which they would confer and hold counsels.[[File:Nasmith50.jpg|left|thumb|360x360px|[[Tuor]] meeting the Vala [[Ulmo]] - by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]Eru created for them lesser heavenly beings named the '[[Maiar]]', who were their servants. Though subordinate to the Valar, the Maiar were powerful nonetheless, and included [[Melian]], [[Sauron]] (named ''Mairon''), [[Olórin]] (later named ''Gandalf'') and the other [[Istari]], and those who would become the [[Balrogs]]. Most Maiar were associated with particular Valar: [[Ossë]] and [[Uinen]], the "powers of the oceans", served under [[Ulmo]], while [[Curumo]] (much later known as ''Saruman''), served [[Aulë]] the Smith. Sauron also served Aulë before he was corrupted by Melkor.
−  
−
Eru created for them lesser heavenly beings named the '[[Maiar]]', who were their servants. Though subordinate to the Valar, the Maiar were powerful nonetheless, and included [[Melian]], [[Sauron]] (named ''Mairon''), [[Olórin]] (later named ''Gandalf'') and the other [[Istari]], and those who would become the [[Balrogs]]. Most Maiar were associated with particular Valar: [[Ossë]] and [[Uinen]], the "powers of the oceans", served under [[Ulmo]], while [[Curumo]] (much later known as ''Saruman''), served [[Aulë]] the Smith. Sauron also served Aulë before he was corrupted by Melkor.
  
−  
−
It was originally Melkor's intention to rule Arda for himself, but [[Manwë]], the superior of the Valar, called other spirits to help him confront Melkor. (Among these were the other Valar and the Maiar.) Melkor withdrew from Arda after the short [[War for Sake of the Elves]], and the Valar continued their creation and furnishing of the World, while Melkor plotted to return and regain dominance. In time, once he returned in secret and ruined the [[Two Trees of Valinor]] with [[Ungoliant]], Valinor lost its light, and the Valar eventually set to creating the [[Sun]] and [[Moon]] in the sky.
  
−
[[File:IrmoNamo.png|thumb|280x280px|Depiction of Mandos and Lórien, the Fëanturi]]
  
⚫
The [[War of the Jewels]] was prompted after [[Fëanor]] refused to forfeit his [[Silmarils]] to the Valar, for the rekindling of the Two Trees. He ended his and the Ñoldor's allegiance with the Valar, and bore a new conflict between the Elves and Melkor.<ref>''[[The Silmarillion]]'', ''[[Quenta Silmarillion]]'', Ch. IX: "[[Of the Flight of the Noldor]]", pg. 85</ref> The Valar soon fortified their realm, and brought about the "Hiding of Valinor", preventing Melkor and [[Fëanor]] and his followers from entering. The conflict between Melkor and the Valar was not resolved until the [[War of Wrath|war's climax]], during which the Valar came physically into [[Beleriand]], helped conquer Melkor's forces at [[Angband]], and captured him. He was taken to Aman and cast behind the [[Door of Night]].<ref>''[[The Silmarillion]]'', ''[[Quenta Silmarillion]]'', Ch. XXIV: "[[Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath]]"</ref>
  
   
  ⚫
It was originally Melkor's intention to rule Arda for himself, but [[Manwë]], the superior of the Valar, called other spirits to help him confront Melkor. (Among these were the other Valar and the Maiar.) Melkor withdrew from Arda after the short [[Battle of the Powers]], and the Valar continued their creation and furnishing of the World, while Melkor plotted to return and regain dominance. In time, once he returned in secret and ruined the [[Two Trees of Valinor]] with [[Ungoliant]], Valinor lost its light, and the Valar eventually set to creating the [[Sun]] and [[Moon]] in the sky.[[File:Yavanna David Greset.png|thumb|290x290px|Yavanna as imagined by [[:Category:Art by David Greset|David Greset]]]]The [[War of the Jewels]] was prompted after [[Fëanor]] refused to forfeit his [[Silmarils]] to the Valar, for the rekindling of the Two Trees. He ended his and the Ñoldor's allegiance with the Valar, and bore a new conflict between the Elves and Melkor.<ref>''[[The Silmarillion]]'', ''[[Quenta Silmarillion]]'', Ch. IX: "[[Of the Flight of the Noldor]]", pg. 85</ref> The Valar soon fortified their realm, and brought about the "Hiding of Valinor", preventing Melkor and Fëanor and his followers from entering. The conflict between Melkor and the Valar was not resolved until the [[War of Wrath|war's climax]], during which the Valar came physically into [[Beleriand]], helped conquer Melkor's forces at [[Angband]], and captured him. He was taken to Aman and cast behind the [[Door of Night]].<ref>''[[The Silmarillion]]'', ''[[Quenta Silmarillion]]'', Ch. XXIV: "[[Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath]]"</ref>
  +
[[File:Mandos, Ralph Damiani.png|left|thumb|380x380px|The Vala Mandos at the entrance to his Halls - by [[Ralph Damiani]]]]
 
In the [[Second Age]], the Valar created anew the island of [[Elenna]] in the middle of the [[Sea]], for the noble peoples of the [[Edain]] who had resisted and endured the war against [[Melkor]]. On this island was established the kingdom of [[Númenor]], which lasted three millennia until their king [[Ar-Pharazôn]] attempted to contravene the [[Ban of the Valar]]. The Valar [[Akallabêth|sank the island]], and the living [[Númenóreans]] sailed eastward, and settled [[Middle-earth]].
  
In the [[Second Age]], the Valar created anew the island of [[Elenna]] in the middle of the [[Sea]], for the noble peoples of the [[Edain]] who had resisted and endured the war against [[Melkor]]. On this island was established the kingdom of [[Númenor]], which lasted three millennia until their king [[Ar-Pharazôn]] attempted to contravene the [[Ban of the Valar]]. The Valar [[Akallabêth|sank the island]], and the living [[Númenóreans]] sailed eastward, and settled [[Middle-earth]].
   
 
Once [[Sauron]] had begun to regain power in [[Middle-earth]] after his defeat in the [[War of the Last Alliance]], the Valar sent an order of five Maiar, the "[[Istari]]", unto Middle-earth, to provide a strong opposition to Sauron until his final destruction.
  
Once [[Sauron]] had begun to regain power in [[Middle-earth]] after his defeat in the [[War of the Last Alliance]], the Valar sent an order of five Maiar, the "[[Istari]]", unto Middle-earth, to provide a strong opposition to Sauron until his final destruction.
  ⚫
==Powers & abilities==
  ⚫
Like the other Ainur, the powers of the Valar were ambiguously mysterious. The Valar had similar and superior abilities to the Maiar, such as the controlling light and of fire, transforming into many forms, or trancing [[Man|Men]] or [[Elves]] with their presence. [[Manwë]] and Ulmo controlled the winds and waters of Arda, respectively. Yavanna and Nienna created the Two Trees, [[Laurelin]] and [[Telperion]], to illuminate much of Aman. Varda could realign stars into constellations that prophesied the doom of Morgoth. The Valar together had the power to raise the vast island of [[Númenor]] up to the surface of the [[Belegaer|Sea]].  
  ⚫
==Names==
   
  ⚫
[[File:Tumblr_n2cn1tJpre1s3svhbo1_1280.png|thumb|315x315px|Portrayal of the Aratar]]
⚫
== Names ==
  
   
  ⚫
These are the names of the Valar as they were known to the [[Eldar]]. In [[Middle-earth]], they were known by other names of [[Sindarin]] origin; for example they called Varda [[Elbereth]]. [[Men]] knew them by many other names, and sometimes worshiped them as Gods. The Elves called Varda, the creator of the stars, '''Elentári'''. The [[dwarves]] called Aulë, their creator, '''Mahal'''. The [[Ents]] called Yavanna, their creator, '''Kementári'''. It should be noted that, with the exception of Oromë, the names listed below are not actual names but rather titles: the true names of the Valar are nowhere recorded. Male Valar are called "Lords of the Valar"; females are called "Ladies of the Valar", or '''Valier'''. Among these exist six married couples, with only Ulmo and Nienna remaining single.
⚫
[[File:Tumblr_n2cn1tJpre1s3svhbo1_1280.png|thumb|400x400px|Portrayal of the Aratar]]
  
   
  +
===Other names===
⚫
These are the names of the Valar as they were known to the [[Eldar]]. In [[Middle-earth]], they were known by other names of [[Sindarin]] origin; for example they called Varda [[Elbereth]]. [[Men]] knew them by many other names, and sometimes worshiped them as Gods. The Elves called Varda, the creator of the stars, '''Elentári'''. The [[dwarves]] called Aulë, their creator, '''Mahal'''. The [[Ents]] called Yavanna, their creator, '''Kementári'''. It should be noted that, with the exception of Oromë, the names listed below are not actual names but rather titles: the true names of the Valar are nowhere recorded. Male Valar are called "Lords of the Valar"; females are called "Ladies of the Valar," or '''Valier'''. Among these exist six married couples, with only Ulmo and Nienna remaining single.
  
  ⚫
The '''Aratar''' ([[Sindarin]]: ''Exalted'') or '''High Ones of Arda''' were the eight greatest of the Valar: [[Manwë]], [[Varda]], [[Ulmo]], [[Yavanna]], [[Aulë]], [[Mandos]], [[Nienna]], and [[Oromë]]. Melkor, the most powerful of all, is not counted among them. [[Irmo|Lórien]] and [[Mandos]] were brothers, and would be referred to together as the '''''[[Fëanturi]]''''' or "Masters of Spirits".
⚫
[[File:UlmoJohnHowe.jpg|thumb|270x270px|[[Tuor]] meeting the Vala Ulmo, in a painting by [[John Howe]]]]
  
   
  ⚫
In earlier versions of the [[legendarium]], "'''Gods'''" was a word used often to refer to them <ref>''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'', Vol. I: ''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part One]]'', Index, entry "Gods"</ref>, and '''Valur''' and '''Valir''' for a short time denoted male and female Valar.<ref>''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'', Vol. I: ''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part One]]'', chapter II: "[[The Music of the Ainur (chapter)|The Music of the Ainur]]", Notes, pg. 61</ref>
⚫
=== Lords of the Valar ===
  
⚫
* [[Manwë|Manwë Súlimo]] the King of the Winds, and the King of the Valar, and husband of [[Varda]].
  
⚫
*[[Melkor|Melkor (Morgoth Bauglir)]] the First [[Dark Lord]], was the strongest Vala before he was banished from the group.
  
⚫
* [[Ulmo]] the Sea King, and the Lord of Water.
  
⚫
* [[Aulë]] the Smith, and the Lord of Earth and all that's underneath, and the husband of [[Yavanna]].
  
⚫
* [[Oromë|Oromë Aldaron]] the Huntsman, the Lord of Forests, and the Great Rider, and the husband of [[Vána]].
 
⚫
* [[Námo]] ([[Mandos]]) the Doomsman, and the Judge of the Dead, and husband of [[Vairë]].
  
⚫
* [[Irmo]] ([[Lórien]]) the Lord and Master of Dreams, Visions, and Desires, and Creator of the Oloré Mallé, or Path of Dreams, and the husband of [[Estë]].
  
⚫
* [[Tulkas|Tulkas Astaldo]] the Wrestler, the Champion of Valinor, and last of the Valar to come to Arda, and the husband of [[Nessa]].
  
⚫
[[File:YavannaSep.jpg|thumb|289x289px|Yavanna, the Queen of the Earth, by [https://sedeptra.deviantart.com/ Sedeptra]]]
  
   
−
=== Ladies of the Valar ===
 +
==List of the Valar==
  ⚫
[[File:UlmoJohnHowe.jpg|thumb|270px|[[Tuor]] meeting the Vala Ulmo, in a painting by [[John Howe]]]]
⚫
* [[Varda|Varda Elentári]] the Star Queen, and the Queen of the Valar, and the wife of [[Manwë]].
  
⚫
* [[Yavanna|Yavanna Kementári]] the Fruit-Giver, and the Lady of Earth, and the wife of [[Aulë]].
  
⚫
* [[Nienna]] the Weeper, and the Lady of Mercy.
  
⚫
* [[Estë]] the Gentle, Lady of Healing and Rest, and the wife of [[Irmo]].
  
⚫
* [[Vairë]] the Weaver, and the wife of [[Mandos]].
  
⚫
* [[Vána]] the Ever-young, and the wife of [[Oromë]].
  
⚫
* [[Nessa]] the Dancer, and the wife of of [[Tulkas]].
  
   
−
=== Other names ===
 +
===Lords of the Valar===
  ⚫
*[[Manwë|Manwë Súlimo]] the King of the Winds, King of the Valar, and husband of [[Varda]]
⚫
The '''Aratar''' ([[Sindarin]]: ''Exalted'') or '''High Ones of Arda''' were the eight greatest of the Valar: [[Manwë]], [[Varda]], [[Ulmo]], [[Yavanna]], [[Aulë]], [[Mandos]], [[Nienna]], and [[Oromë]]. Melkor, the most powerful of all, is not counted among them. [[Irmo|Lórien]] and [[Mandos]] were brothers, and would be referred to together as the '''''[[Fëanturi]]''''' or "Masters of Spirits".
  
  ⚫
*[[Melkor]] ([[Morgoth]]) the First [[Dark Lord]], the strongest Vala before he was banished from the group
  ⚫
* [[Ulmo]] the Sea King, Lord of Water
  ⚫
* [[Aulë]] the Smith, and the Lord of Earth and all that's underneath, and husband of [[Yavanna]]
  ⚫
*[[Oromë|Oromë Aldaron]] the Huntsman, the Lord of Forests, and the Great Rider, and husband of [[Vána]]
  ⚫
*[[Námo]] ([[Mandos]]) the Doomsman, and the Judge of the Dead, and husband of [[Vairë]]
  ⚫
*[[Irmo]] ([[Lórien]]) the Lord and Master of Dreams, Visions, and Desires, and Creator of the Oloré Mallé, or Path of Dreams, and husband of [[Estë]]
  ⚫
*[[Tulkas|Tulkas Astaldo]] the Wrestler, the Champion of Valinor, and last of the Valar to come to Arda; husband of [[Nessa]]
   
  ⚫
[[File:YavannaSep.jpg|thumb|250px|Yavanna, the Queen of the Earth, by [https://sedeptra.deviantart.com/ Sedeptra]]]
⚫
In earlier versions of the [[legendarium]], "'''Gods'''" was a word used often to refer to them <ref>''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'', Vol. I: ''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part One]]'', Index, entry "Gods"</ref>, and '''Valur''' and '''Valir''' for a short time denoted male and female Valar.<ref>''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'', Vol. I: ''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part One]]'', chapter II: "[[The Music of the Ainur (chapter)|The Music of the Ainur]]", Notes, pg. 61</ref>
  
   
  ⚫
===Ladies of the Valar===
⚫
== Powers and abilities ==
  
  ⚫
*[[Varda|Varda Elentári]] the Star Queen, Queen of the Valar and wife of [[Manwë]]
⚫
Like the other Ainur, the powers of the Valar were ambiguously mysterious. The Valar had similar and superior abilities to the Maiar, such as the controlling light and of fire, transforming into many forms, or trancing [[Man|Men]] or [[Elves]] with their presence. [[Manwë]] and Ulmo controlled the winds and waters of Arda, respectively. Yavanna and Nessa created the Two Trees, [[Laurelin]] and [[Telperion]], to illuminate much of Aman. Varda could realign stars into constellations that prophesied the doom of Morgoth. The Valar together had the power to raise the vast island of [[Númenor]] up to the surface of the [[Belegaer|Sea]].  
  
  ⚫
*[[Yavanna|Yavanna Kementári]] the Fruit-Giver, Lady of Earth and wife of [[Aulë]]
  ⚫
*[[Nienna]] the Weeper, the Lady of Mercy
  ⚫
* [[Estë]] the Gentle, Lady of Healing and Rest, and wife of [[Irmo]]
  ⚫
*[[Vairë]] the Weaver, wife of [[Mandos]]
  ⚫
*[[Vána]] the Ever-young, and wife of [[Oromë]]
  ⚫
*[[Nessa]] the Dancer, wife of [[Tulkas]]
   
−
== See also ==
 +
===Others===
  +
There are some Valar, conceived of in other versions of the [[legendarium]], that do not appear in the published Silmarillion. An idea later discarded by Tolkien was that the Valar had children, called ''Valarindi''.<ref>[[The History of Middle-earth|''The History of Middle-earth'']], Vol. I: ''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part One|The Book of Lost Tales Part One]]'', chapter II: "The Music of the Ainur"</ref>
  +
  +
*[[Ilinsor]], servant of Manwë and steerer of the Moon
  +
* [[Lúsion]], son of Telimektar
  +
*[[Makar]] and [[Meássë]], the restless warriors
  +
*[[Nielíqui]], daughter of Oromë and Vána
  +
*[[Nornorë]], the Herald of the Valar
  +
*[[Òmar]], the youngest of the Valar and the brother of [[Salmar]]
  +
*[[Silmo]], the guardian of the silver tree [[Silpion]]
  +
*[[Telimektar]], son of Tulkas and of the Maia [[Lëa-vinya]]
  +
  +
==See also==
 
*[[Valaquenta]]
  
*[[Valaquenta]]
   
 
==Translations==
  
==Translations==
−
<div style="overflow:auto; height:300px; width:500px; float:left">
  
 
<!--<div style="overflow:auto; height:200px;">-->
  
<!--<div style="overflow:auto; height:200px;">-->
  +
{|class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" data-expandtext="Show" data-collapsetext="Hide" style="border: 1px solid #a6a6a6; width:100%; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
−
{|class="itemtable" bgcolor=#EDEEFF style="color:#6f3d0b; border:2px solid #FFF; border-top: 0; text-align:left; -moz-border-radius-bottomleft:8px; -moz-border-radius-bottomright:8px; -webkit-border-bottom-left-radius:8px; -webkit-border-bottom-right-radius:8px;"
  
−
|width=300px|'''Foreign Language'''
 +
| width="300" |'''Foreign Language'''
−
|width=300px|'''Translated name'''
 +
| width="300" |'''Translated name'''
 
|-
  
|-
 
|Amharic
  
|Amharic
−
|ቫላር
+
|ቫላር
 
|-
  
|-
 
|Arabic
  
|Arabic
Line 77: Line 87:
 
|Valari
  
|Valari
 
|-
  
|-
−
|Bulgarian Cyrillic
 +
|Bulgarian Cyrillic
 
|Валари
  
|Валари
 
|-
  
|-
Line 84: Line 94:
 
|-
  
|-
 
|Chinese (Hong Kong)
  
|Chinese (Hong Kong)
−
|維拉
 +
| 維拉
 
|-
  
|-
−
|Croatian
+
|Croatian
 
|Valari
  
|Valari
 
|-
  
|-
Line 107: Line 117:
 
|वलर
  
|वलर
 
|-
  
|-
−
|Hungarian
+
|Hungarian
 
|Valák
  
|Valák
  +
 
|-
  
|-
 
|Japanese
  
|Japanese
Line 116: Line 127:
 
|ವ್ಯಾಲರ್
  
|ವ್ಯಾಲರ್
 
|-
  
|-
−
|Kazakh
+
|Kazakh
  +
 
|Валар (Cyrillic) Valar (Latin)
  
|Валар (Cyrillic) Valar (Latin)
 
|-
  
|-
 
|Korean
  
|Korean
−
|발라
+
|발라
 
|-
  
|-
−
|Kyrgyz Cyrillic
 +
|Kyrgyz Cyrillic
 
|Валар
  
|Валар
  +
 
|-
  
|-
 
|Macedonian
  
|Macedonian
Line 131: Line 144:
 
|वलर
  
|वलर
 
|-
  
|-
−
|Mongolian
+
|Mongolian
 
|Валар (Cyrillic) Valar (Latin)
  
|Валар (Cyrillic) Valar (Latin)
 
|-
  
|-
Line 152: Line 165:
 
|Валари (Cyrillic) Valar (Latin)
  
|Валари (Cyrillic) Valar (Latin)
 
|-
  
|-
−
|Sindhi
+
|Sindhi
 
|والار
  
|والار
 
|-
  
|-
−
|Sinhalese
+
|Sinhalese
 
|වාලර්
  
|වාලර්
 
|-
  
|-
−
|Tajik Cyrillic
 +
|Tajik Cyrillic
 
|Валари
  
|Валари
 
|-
  
|-
 
|Tamil
  
|Tamil
  +
 
|வளர்
  
|வளர்
 
|-
  
|-
Line 170: Line 184:
 
|వళర్
  
|వళర్
 
|-
  
|-
−
|Ukrainian Cyrillic
 +
|Ukrainian Cyrillic
 
|Ва́лари
  
|Ва́лари
 
|-
  
|-
Line 183: Line 197:
 
|}
  
|}
   
−
</div>
  
 
{{Clear}}
  
{{Clear}}
−  
⚫
== References ==
  
⚫
<references />
  
   
 
{{Ainur}}
  
{{Ainur}}
   
  ⚫
==References==
⚫
[[Category:Quenya words]]
  
  ⚫
<references />
 
[[Category:Valar| ]]
  
[[Category:Valar| ]]
⚫
[[Category:Heavenly Beings]]
  
−  
 
[[ca:Vàlar]]
  
[[ca:Vàlar]]
 
[[de:Valar]]
  
[[de:Valar]]
 
[[es:Valar]]
  
[[es:Valar]]
 
[[fr:Valar]]
  
[[fr:Valar]]
  +
[[he:ואלאר]]
 
[[it:Valar]]
  
[[it:Valar]]
 
[[nl:Valar]]
  
[[nl:Valar]]
Line 206: Line 216:
 
[[sk:Valar]]
  
[[sk:Valar]]
 
[[uk:Валар]]
  
[[uk:Валар]]
  ⚫
[[Category:Heavenly beings]]
  ⚫
[[Category:Quenya names & words]]

Latest revision as of 05:30, 2 March 2024


The Valar (Quenya; singular Vala) were the Powers of Arda who governed the world under the direction of Eru Ilúvatar. They dwelt on the western continent of Aman.

History

Screen Shot 2023-06-09 at 2.23

Varda creating the heavenly bodies - by Kip Rasmussen

The Valar were the fourteen Ainur who, after being molded of Eru's thought, entered Arda after its creation, to give order to the world and combat the new evils of Melkor. They had helped to begin the shaping of Arda through the music of Ilúvatar, and often referred to one another as "brother" or "sister". Each of the Ainur had added his or her own part to the music creating the world incarnate, save for Melkor, who at the time was counted as the strongest of them. His vision of what Arda should have been differed from Eru's, which led to his banishment and great rebellion that would cause most of the ills of the world of Arda.

Manwë, Firchow

Manwë, King of Arda, with one of his Eagles - by Steve Firchow

Following the creation, the fourteen Valar dwelt first on Almaren, a hidden island on the Great Lake, but, after it was destroyed and the earth was reshaped, long before the Awakening of the Elves, they relocated to Aman and founded the realm of Valinor.[1] They would become known as the 'Powers of the World', though rarely directly intervening in the world's course of events. Eru instead gave them delegation of Arda, and so at Valinor they constructed the golden city of Valimar, their own mansions dispersed across the plain; and Máhanaxar, the "Ring of Doom", at which they would confer and hold counsels.

Nasmith50

Tuor meeting the Vala Ulmo - by Ted Nasmith

Eru created for them lesser heavenly beings named the 'Maiar', who were their servants. Though subordinate to the Valar, the Maiar were powerful nonetheless, and included Melian, Sauron (named Mairon), Olórin (later named Gandalf) and the other Istari, and those who would become the Balrogs. Most Maiar were associated with particular Valar: Ossë and Uinen, the "powers of the oceans", served under Ulmo, while Curumo (much later known as Saruman), served Aulë the Smith. Sauron also served Aulë before he was corrupted by Melkor. It was originally Melkor's intention to rule Arda for himself, but Manwë, the superior of the Valar, called other spirits to help him confront Melkor. (Among these were the other Valar and the Maiar.) Melkor withdrew from Arda after the short Battle of the Powers, and the Valar continued their creation and furnishing of the World, while Melkor plotted to return and regain dominance. In time, once he returned in secret and ruined the Two Trees of Valinor with Ungoliant, Valinor lost its light, and the Valar eventually set to creating the Sun and Moon in the sky.

Yavanna David Greset

Yavanna as imagined by David Greset

The War of the Jewels was prompted after Fëanor refused to forfeit his Silmarils to the Valar, for the rekindling of the Two Trees. He ended his and the Ñoldor's allegiance with the Valar, and bore a new conflict between the Elves and Melkor.[2] The Valar soon fortified their realm, and brought about the "Hiding of Valinor", preventing Melkor and Fëanor and his followers from entering. The conflict between Melkor and the Valar was not resolved until the war's climax, during which the Valar came physically into Beleriand, helped conquer Melkor's forces at Angband, and captured him. He was taken to Aman and cast behind the Door of Night.[3]

Mandos, Ralph Damiani

The Vala Mandos at the entrance to his Halls - by Ralph Damiani

In the Second Age, the Valar created anew the island of Elenna in the middle of the Sea, for the noble peoples of the Edain who had resisted and endured the war against Melkor. On this island was established the kingdom of Númenor, which lasted three millennia until their king Ar-Pharazôn attempted to contravene the Ban of the Valar. The Valar sank the island, and the living Númenóreans sailed eastward, and settled Middle-earth.

Once Sauron had begun to regain power in Middle-earth after his defeat in the War of the Last Alliance, the Valar sent an order of five Maiar, the "Istari", unto Middle-earth, to provide a strong opposition to Sauron until his final destruction.

Powers & abilities

Like the other Ainur, the powers of the Valar were ambiguously mysterious. The Valar had similar and superior abilities to the Maiar, such as the controlling light and of fire, transforming into many forms, or trancing Men or Elves with their presence. Manwë and Ulmo controlled the winds and waters of Arda, respectively. Yavanna and Nienna created the Two Trees, Laurelin and Telperion, to illuminate much of Aman. Varda could realign stars into constellations that prophesied the doom of Morgoth. The Valar together had the power to raise the vast island of Númenor up to the surface of the Sea.  

Names

Tumblr n2cn1tJpre1s3svhbo1 1280

Portrayal of the Aratar

These are the names of the Valar as they were known to the Eldar. In Middle-earth, they were known by other names of Sindarin origin; for example they called Varda Elbereth. Men knew them by many other names, and sometimes worshiped them as Gods. The Elves called Varda, the creator of the stars, Elentári. The dwarves called Aulë, their creator, Mahal. The Ents called Yavanna, their creator, Kementári. It should be noted that, with the exception of Oromë, the names listed below are not actual names but rather titles: the true names of the Valar are nowhere recorded. Male Valar are called "Lords of the Valar"; females are called "Ladies of the Valar", or Valier. Among these exist six married couples, with only Ulmo and Nienna remaining single.

Other names

The Aratar (Sindarin: Exalted) or High Ones of Arda were the eight greatest of the Valar: Manwë, Varda, Ulmo, Yavanna, Aulë, Mandos, Nienna, and Oromë. Melkor, the most powerful of all, is not counted among them. Lórien and Mandos were brothers, and would be referred to together as the Fëanturi or "Masters of Spirits".

In earlier versions of the legendarium, "Gods" was a word used often to refer to them [4], and Valur and Valir for a short time denoted male and female Valar.[5]

List of the Valar

UlmoJohnHowe

Tuor meeting the Vala Ulmo, in a painting by John Howe

Lords of the Valar

  • Manwë Súlimo the King of the Winds, King of the Valar, and husband of Varda
  • Melkor (Morgoth) the First Dark Lord, the strongest Vala before he was banished from the group
  • Ulmo the Sea King, Lord of Water
  • Aulë the Smith, and the Lord of Earth and all that's underneath, and husband of Yavanna
  • Oromë Aldaron the Huntsman, the Lord of Forests, and the Great Rider, and husband of Vána
  • Námo (Mandos) the Doomsman, and the Judge of the Dead, and husband of Vairë
  • Irmo (Lórien) the Lord and Master of Dreams, Visions, and Desires, and Creator of the Oloré Mallé, or Path of Dreams, and husband of Estë
  • Tulkas Astaldo the Wrestler, the Champion of Valinor, and last of the Valar to come to Arda; husband of Nessa
YavannaSep

Yavanna, the Queen of the Earth, by Sedeptra

Ladies of the Valar

Others

There are some Valar, conceived of in other versions of the legendarium, that do not appear in the published Silmarillion. An idea later discarded by Tolkien was that the Valar had children, called Valarindi.[6]

See also

Translations

Foreign Language Translated name
Amharic ቫላር
Arabic فألار
Belarusian Cyrillic Валар
Bengali বলার
Bosnian Valari
Bulgarian Cyrillic Валари
Catalan Vàlar
Chinese (Hong Kong) 維拉
Croatian Valari
Estonian Valarid
Georgian ვალარები
Greek Βάλαρ
Gujarati વેલર
Hebrew ולאר
Hindi वलर
Hungarian Valák
Japanese ヴァラール
Kannada ವ್ಯಾಲರ್
Kazakh Валар (Cyrillic) Valar (Latin)
Korean 발라
Kyrgyz Cyrillic Валар
Macedonian Валар (Cyrillic) Valar (Latin)
Marathi वलर
Mongolian Валар (Cyrillic) Valar (Latin)
Nepalese वाल्टर
Pashto ویلر
Persian والار
Polish Valarowie
Russian Валар
Serbian Валари (Cyrillic) Valar (Latin)
Sindhi والار
Sinhalese වාලර්
Tajik Cyrillic Валари
Tamil வளர்
Thai วาลาร์
Telugu వళర్
Ukrainian Cyrillic Ва́лари
Urdu والر
Uzbek Валар (Cyrillic) Valar (Latin)
Yiddish וואַלאַר

References

  1. ↑ The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch. I: "Of the Beginning of Days"
  2. ↑ The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch. IX: "Of the Flight of the Noldor", pg. 85
  3. ↑ The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch. XXIV: "Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"
  4. ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. I: The Book of Lost Tales Part One, Index, entry "Gods"
  5. ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. I: The Book of Lost Tales Part One, chapter II: "The Music of the Ainur", Notes, pg. 61
  6. ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. I: The Book of Lost Tales Part One, chapter II: "The Music of the Ainur"
Català Deutsch Español Français עברית Italiano Nederlands Polski Português do Brasil Русский Slovenčina Українська
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
More Fandoms