Vala (Middle-earth)
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In J. R. R. Tolkien's mythology, the Valar (singular Vala) are the Powers of Arda or the Powers of the World. They are greater Ainur that entered Eä.
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[edit] Origin and acts
Ilúvatar first revealed to the Ainur his great plan,
- ...unfolding a history whose vastness and majesty had never been equalled... -The Music of the Ainur, The Silmarillion.
He did not, however, fashion the world, leaving this instead to the Ainur through their Music which they played before him. After the Music, during which Melkor interwove his malice and corruption, Ilúvatar gave the Ainur a choice - to dwell with him, or to enter the world that they had created. Those that chose to enter the world became known as the 'Valar', the 'Powers of Arda'. Among them were some of the most powerful and wise, including Manwë, the Lord of the Valar, and also Melkor, his brother in the mind of Ilúvatar.
It is said that Melkor arrived first, causing tumult where he went. As the others arrived, they saw how Melkor's presence would destroy their own creations. With the Valar came many lesser Ainur, known as Maiar. Eventually and with the aid of the Vala Tulkas, who entered Arda last, Melkor was temporarily overthrown, and the Valar began shaping the world.
The Valar dwelt originally on the Isle of Almaren in the middle of the world, but after its destruction and the loss of the world's symmetry, they moved to the western continent of Aman and founded Valinor. The war with Melkor continued, with the Valar creating and Melkor destroying, until the time of the Awakening of the Elves drew near. To ensure they would survive, the Valar ended the wars by capturing Melkor.
With the Elves present in the world and later in Valinor, a new phase of the regency of the Valar began. Middle-earth and the eastern continent were mostly abandoned, and the Valar focused on Aman, creating with the Two Trees their greatest accomplishment.
After the events of the destruction of the Trees and the exile of the Noldor to Middle-earth, the Valar closed off Valinor to the rest of the world, and for the remainder of the First Age only Ulmo would concern himself with the world outside. This inaction temporarily ended with the War of Wrath: in the process the Morgoth (Melkor) was defeated, the lands were changed, and the Elves were recalled to Valinor. The Valar themselves stayed out of the war, only sending emissaries of the ranks of the Maiar and aiding the Elves.
During the Second Age, the Valar's main deeds were the creation of Númenor as a refuge for the Edain, who were denied access to Aman but given free rein over the rest of the world. Middle-earth was left abandoned by the Valar, with even Ulmo no longer giving aid, allowing for the rise of the Morgoth's lieutenant, Sauron, to power as a new Dark Lord. Near the end of the Second Age, Sauron convinced the Númenóreans to attack Aman itself.
- Then Manwë upon the Mountain called upon Ilúvatar, and for that time the Valar laid down their government of Arda. —Akallabêth, The Silmarillion.
With the Akallabêth, the Valar were removed from power by Eru Ilúvatar, and Aman was removed from the world. With this, the Valar's influence on the world was ended, and in the Third Age their final deed would be to send the Istari to Middle-earth to aid against the mounting threat of Sauron.
[edit] 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 worshipped them as gods. The Dwarves called Aulë, their creator, Mahal. 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 "Queens of the Valar," or Valier.
[edit] Lords (or Valar)
- Manwë (Súlimo) - High King of Arda, and chief of the Valar.
- Ulmo - Lord of Waters
- Aulë - the Smith
- Oromë - Aldaron, the Great Rider
- Námo - Judge of the Dead. Referred to more commonly as Mandos, after his dwelling place.
- Irmo - Master of Dreams and Desires. Referred to more commonly as Lórien, after his dwelling place.
- Tulkas (Astaldo) - Champion of Valinor
[edit] Queens (or Valier)
- Varda Elentári (Elbereth Gilthoniel), Queen of the Stars, spouse of Manwë
- Yavanna Kementári (Palùrien), Giver of Fruits, spouse of Aulë
- Nienna, Lady of Mercy
- Estë the Gentle
- Vairë the Weaver
- Vána the Ever-young
- Nessa the Dancer
[edit] Other Valar
- Melkor - He is only referred to by his real name when he is in Valinor. In Middle-earth, he is only referred to as Morgoth Bauglir, Lord of Shadows. He is the brother of Manwe, Leader of The Valar. Morgoth was taken back to Valinor in chains at the end of The War of Wrath, where he remained for several Ages.
[edit] Other names
The Aratar (Quenya: Exalted) or High Ones of Arda are the eight greatest of the Valar: Manwë, Varda, Ulmo, Yavanna, Aulë, Mandos, Nienna, and Oromë. Melkor, the mightiest among them, is no longer counted.
Lórien and Mandos (Irmo & Námo) are brothers and are referred to collectively as the Fëanturi or "Masters of Spirits".
[edit] Relationships between Valar
Ilúvatar brought the Valar (and all of the Ainur) into being by his thought, and may therefore be considered their father. However, not all of the Valar are siblings; where this is held to be so it is because they are so "in the thought of Ilúvatar".
It was the Valar who first practised marriage and later passed on their custom to the Elves; all the Valar had spouses, save Nienna, Ulmo and of course, Melkor. However, only one such marriage among the Valar took place within the world, that of Tulkas and Nessa after the raising of the Two Lamps.
[edit] See also
- Valaquenta, the deeds of the Valar
- Maia (Middle-earth), lesser Ainur
| Ainur from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium | |
|---|---|
| Ainulindalë (Music of the Ainur) | |
| Lords of the Valar: | Manwë | Ulmo | Aulë | Oromë | Námo (Mandos) | Irmo (Lórien) | Tulkas |
| Queens of the Valar (The Valier): | Varda | Yavanna | Nienna | Estë | Vairë | Vána | Nessa |
| The Enemy: | Morgoth (a.k.a. Melkor) |
| Maiar: | Eönwë | Ilmarë | Ossë | Uinen | Salmar | Sauron | Melian | Arien | Tilion | Gothmog Curumo (Saruman) | Olórin (Gandalf) | Aiwendil (Radagast) | Alatar and Pallando | Durin's Bane |
