Maiar & Valar - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Legolas · 06-19-2002, 03:18 PM

The Ainur (the race of Maiar and Valar) are Eru's first creations...they came from parts of his mind, and are gifted in the area of that part's focus. Melkor was an exception...he had a bit of it all. They existed before Arda and helped Eru make Arda through the Music of Arda.

The greatest 14 of these Ainur rule Arda as the Valar. There have been 15 Valar, but Melkor, the "mightiest dweller in Arda, equal to Manwë in power," turned away from the mission of Eru to pursue his own agenda - Tulkas was sent as the fourteenth after his departure.

The Valar are...
Lords (Valar):
Manwë Súlimo - Greatest of the Valar
Tulkas Astaldo - Strongest
Lórien/Irmo - who the garden of Lórien in Valinor is named for (and obviously, the woodland in Middle-earth)
Aulë the Smith - Maker of Middle-earth and the Dwarves
Oromë/Araw - discovered the Eldar
Ulmo - Lord of the Waters
Mandos/Námo - Doomsman of the Valar

Queens (Valier):
Varda Elentári/Elbereth - Queen of the Stars, Manwë's wife
Yavanna Kementári - Queen of the Earth, Aulë's wife
Nienna - 'Lady of Tears', taught Olórin (Gandalf)
Nessa - Tulkas' wife
Vána the Ever-young - Oromë's wife
Vairë - weaves the tales of history
Estë the Gentle - Irmo's wife

The greatest eight are known as the Aratar, said to be equal in reverence:
Manwë, Varda, Ulmo, Yavanna, Aulë, Mandos, Nienna and Oromë.

Among the Valar, there are relations...
Oromë and Nessa are brother/sister.
Mandos, Irmo, and Nienna are brother/brother/sister.
Yavanna and Vána are sisters.

The rest of the Ainur (those not in the 14) are Maiar...some mentioned by Tolkien are Sauron, Gandalf (Olorin), Radagast (Aiwendil), Saruman (Curumo), Alatar, Pallando, Osse, Eonwe, Uinen, Gothmog and Durin's Bane (along with the rest of the Balrogs), Salmar, Tilion and Melian.

The Valar and Maiar live in Valinor in Aman.

06-19-2002, 03:18 PM	#4
Legolas A Northern Soul Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Valinor Posts: 1,847	The Ainur (the race of Maiar and Valar) are Eru's first creations...they came from parts of his mind, and are gifted in the area of that part's focus. Melkor was an exception...he had a bit of it all. They existed before Arda and helped Eru make Arda through the Music of Arda. The greatest 14 of these Ainur rule Arda as the Valar. There have been 15 Valar, but Melkor, the "mightiest dweller in Arda, equal to Manwë in power," turned away from the mission of Eru to pursue his own agenda - Tulkas was sent as the fourteenth after his departure. The Valar are... Lords (Valar): Manwë Súlimo - Greatest of the Valar Tulkas Astaldo - Strongest Lórien/Irmo - who the garden of Lórien in Valinor is named for (and obviously, the woodland in Middle-earth) Aulë the Smith - Maker of Middle-earth and the Dwarves Oromë/Araw - discovered the Eldar Ulmo - Lord of the Waters Mandos/Námo - Doomsman of the Valar Queens (Valier): Varda Elentári/Elbereth - Queen of the Stars, Manwë's wife Yavanna Kementári - Queen of the Earth, Aulë's wife Nienna - 'Lady of Tears', taught Olórin (Gandalf) Nessa - Tulkas' wife Vána the Ever-young - Oromë's wife Vairë - weaves the tales of history Estë the Gentle - Irmo's wife The greatest eight are known as the Aratar, said to be equal in reverence: Manwë, Varda, Ulmo, Yavanna, Aulë, Mandos, Nienna and Oromë. Among the Valar, there are relations... Oromë and Nessa are brother/sister. Mandos, Irmo, and Nienna are brother/brother/sister. Yavanna and Vána are sisters. The rest of the Ainur (those not in the 14) are Maiar...some mentioned by Tolkien are Sauron, Gandalf (Olorin), Radagast (Aiwendil), Saruman (Curumo), Alatar, Pallando, Osse, Eonwe, Uinen, Gothmog and Durin's Bane (along with the rest of the Balrogs), Salmar, Tilion and Melian. The Valar and Maiar live in Valinor in Aman. __________________ ...take counsel with thyself, and remember who and what thou art. Last edited by Legolas; 05-19-2004 at 10:25 PM.