~Which Female Vala is your favorite?~ - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Thinlómien · 11-22-2007, 12:05 PM

It's such a pity that even a brand new updated poll doesn't make it any easier to decide between Nienna, Yavanna and Varda....

Aganzir · 11-22-2007, 01:39 PM

Vairë. She's always struck me as an interesting character. I like history and arts (hmm, is weaving considered art?), and I find it important that someone writes down the history of Eä. And hey, wouldn't Mandos be a wonderful place to live?

My problem with the Valier is that compared to the Valar, they are too... bystanders. Varda may have made the stars, Yavanna may have made the two Trees and so on, but they were never as important characters as the Valar (I'm sure someone will disagree with me now, but this is how I've alwas seen them). Their greatest function was to be wives for the Valar. But considering Tolkien's other female characters (or the lack of them), I guess one must live with it.

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 11-22-2007, 03:17 PM

Vairë is a Norn wannabe. Varda is awesome for being able to terrify Melkor. Nessa is my favourite because she knows that she has been dealt a great hand by the One, and she delights in her existence.

Lush · 11-22-2007, 04:06 PM

All Varda, all the time.

Legate of Amon Lanc · 11-22-2007, 05:05 PM

Wonderful! Now that Vána is included, I can honestly say that I don't know whether to choose her or Estë. I will repeat here what I said on the first thread, I thought also about Yavanna because of the trees (with small "t"), Varda because of the stars, but I am not as close to them in other things.

Once, when I was about twelve, I did not care of the lesser Valier (since there was really not much written about them) and I can honestly say I never read or thought about them in any other moment than when I read the Valaquenta (so, that's very little). But I remember once suddenly, unexplainably (and I even haven't read Valaquenta before or anything), one night I had a dream about Estë. I immediately went to check all about her (well, it's not much anyway), but from that time I remember her.

I may note here that Melian served both Vána and Estë, my possible susp- I meant, choices.

Nerwen · 11-22-2007, 08:49 PM

I finally picked Yavanna, because the question asks about shared characteristics; I take care of the plants and animals around here! And the Trees are pretty cool.

Varda is my second choice. I know she's an obvious one, but I was always curious about who the 'Elbereth' mentioned in The Lord of the Rings was. Strangely, I had a dream or fantasy in early childhood about a goddess on an island in the sunset, so reading The Silmarillion for the first time was rather an eerie experience.

xMellrynxMaidenx · 11-28-2010, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thinlómien

It's such a pity that even a brand new updated poll doesn't make it any easier to decide between Nienna, Yavanna and Varda....

Oh how I agree.

Galadriel55 · 11-28-2010, 01:29 PM

I have trouble deciding between Yavanna and Nienna as well! Varda would go right after them, though.

View Poll Results: Which Female Valar is your favorite?
Varda	7	25.00%
Yavanna	8	28.57%
Nienna	6	21.43%
Estë	2	7.14%
Nessa	1	3.57%
Vána	1	3.57%
Vairë	3	10.71%
Voters: 28. You may not vote on this poll

11-22-2007, 12:05 PM	#1
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	It's such a pity that even a brand new updated poll doesn't make it any easier to decide between Nienna, Yavanna and Varda.... __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris

11-22-2007, 01:39 PM	#2
Aganzir Woman of Secret Shadow Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: in hollow halls beneath the fells Posts: 4,511	Vairë. She's always struck me as an interesting character. I like history and arts (hmm, is weaving considered art?), and I find it important that someone writes down the history of Eä. And hey, wouldn't Mandos be a wonderful place to live? My problem with the Valier is that compared to the Valar, they are too... bystanders. Varda may have made the stars, Yavanna may have made the two Trees and so on, but they were never as important characters as the Valar (I'm sure someone will disagree with me now, but this is how I've alwas seen them). Their greatest function was to be wives for the Valar. But considering Tolkien's other female characters (or the lack of them), I guess one must live with it. __________________ He bit me, and I was not gentle.

11-22-2007, 03:17 PM	#3
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	Vairë is a Norn wannabe. Varda is awesome for being able to terrify Melkor. Nessa is my favourite because she knows that she has been dealt a great hand by the One, and she delights in her existence. __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

11-22-2007, 04:06 PM	#4
Lush Fair and Cold Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the big onion Posts: 1,770	All Varda, all the time. __________________ ~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~

11-22-2007, 05:05 PM	#5
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,431	Wonderful! Now that Vána is included, I can honestly say that I don't know whether to choose her or Estë. I will repeat here what I said on the first thread, I thought also about Yavanna because of the trees (with small "t"), Varda because of the stars, but I am not as close to them in other things. Once, when I was about twelve, I did not care of the lesser Valier (since there was really not much written about them) and I can honestly say I never read or thought about them in any other moment than when I read the Valaquenta (so, that's very little). But I remember once suddenly, unexplainably (and I even haven't read Valaquenta before or anything), one night I had a dream about Estë. I immediately went to check all about her (well, it's not much anyway), but from that time I remember her. I may note here that Melian served both Vána and Estë, my possible susp- I meant, choices. __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories

11-22-2007, 08:49 PM	#6
Nerwen Wisest of the Noldor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ˙˙˙ssɐןƃ ƃuıʞooן ǝɥʇ ɥƃnoɹɥʇ Posts: 6,694	I finally picked Yavanna, because the question asks about shared characteristics; I take care of the plants and animals around here! And the Trees are pretty cool. Varda is my second choice. I know she's an obvious one, but I was always curious about who the 'Elbereth' mentioned in The Lord of the Rings was. Strangely, I had a dream or fantasy in early childhood about a goddess on an island in the sunset, so reading The Silmarillion for the first time was rather an eerie experience.

11-28-2010, 01:29 PM	#8
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,493	I have trouble deciding between Yavanna and Nienna as well! Varda would go right after them, though. __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera