VALA (MIDDLE-EARTH)

The 'Valar' (singular 'Vala') are characters in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. They are first mentioned in ''The Lord of the Rings'', but Tolkien's posthumously published book, ''The Silmarillion'' (predating the former in terms of material), expands their characters as the ''Powers of Arda'' or the ''Powers of the World''. They are greater Ainur, angelic beings charged with watching over Eä (the Universe).

Contents

Origin and acts

Names

Lords (or Valar)

Queens (or Valier)

Other Valar

Other names

Relationships between Valar

See also

Origin and acts

Eru Ilúvatar first revealed to the Ainur his great vision of The World through musical themes.
:''...unfolding a history whose vastness and majesty had never been equalled...'' -The Music of the Ainur, ''The Silmarillion''.
This World, fashioned from his ideas and expressed as the Music of Ilúvatar, was refined by thoughtful interpretations of the Valar, who then created their own themes based on each unique comprehension. No single Vala understood all of the themes that sprang forth from Ilúvatar. Instead, one might have comprehend those themes relating to Arda (Earth) and its metals and stones. This Valar would then amplify that theme and create the mountains and the world beneath the surface of the earth. Another Valar might interpret the themes of Ilúvatar relating to plants, and (in this case a feminine Vala) she would create majestic trees and pretty flowers. In the case of trees, the Vala known as Yavanna received help from Ilúvatar in shaping forests through the creation of Ents, the Shepherds of Trees. These beings sprang from a part of the song of Ilúvatar understood by Manwë, the greatest of the Valar, who also wove the themes of Yavanna into his own music. Thus, each Vala therefore could amplify a particular theme of Ilúvatar's music and even add their own creative touches or modify their creations to blend with the themes of other Valar.
Unfortunately, one jealous Vala added discordant music based on his personal jealousies; instead of listening to the music of Ilúvatar, he competed with that music and the themes he created were evil because they sprang from ignorance, not from the omnipotence of Ilúvatar. After the Music of these Ainur, during which Melkor interwove his themes of 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. The primary difference between the two is the selfless love of Manwë for the Music of Ilúvatar and the selfish love Melkor bore for himself and no other, least of all for Ilúvatar or the Children of Ilúvatar, as the Elves were known.
It is said that Melkor (later named by the Elves Morgoth, meaning "dark enemy") arrived first, causing tumult wherever he went. As the others arrived, they saw how Melkor's presence would destroy the integrity of Ilúvatar's themes. 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 and creating beauty to counter the darkness and ugliness of Melkor's discordant noise.
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 many wonderful subthemes of Ilúvatar's grand music. Melkor poured all of his energy into the corruption of fell beings like Balrogs, dragons and the great giant spider Ungoliant, which would eventually destroy the Two Trees of Valinor and darken The World. Eventually, Melkor was captured and chained for many ages until he was pardoned ere the Coming of the Elves to Middle-earth far to the south of east of his mountain stronghold of Angband.

With the Elves present in the world and later in Valinor, a new phase of the regency of the Valar began. Many Elves abandoned Middle-earth and the eastern continent, and the Valar focused on Aman, creating with the Two Trees their greatest joy because it gave light to the beauty of Valinor and pleased the Children of Ilúvatar, as the Elves were known.
After Ungoliant destroyed the Trees and sucked nearly all of the life from them, the Valar once again chased Melkor back to Middle Earth. The Noldor Elves followed Fëanor, who with great forethought had encapsulated the light of the Two Trees in three Silmarils, the greatest jewels ever created. Melkor stole the Silmarils from Fëanor's keep and killed his father, Finwë, Chief of the Noldor in Aman. This event, and the poisonous words of Melkor that fostered mistrust among the Elves of the Valar, led to the exile of the Noldor to Middle-earth, the Valar closed off Valinor.
For the remainder of the First Age only the Vala Ulmo would concern himself with the world outside. This inaction temporarily ended with the War of Wrath: in the process 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.

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'.

Lords (or Valar)

★ Manwë (Súlimo) - High King of Arda, Lord of the Air, and King 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 Visions and Dreams. Referred to more commonly as Lórien, after his dwelling place, not to be confused with Lothlórien.

★ Tulkas (Astaldo) - Champion of Valinor

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

Other Valar

★ Melkor the Dark Lord. 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 Manwë, Leader of The Valar. Morgoth was taken back to Valinor in chains after the Awakening of the Elves, where he remained for several Ages. He was cast out of Arda at the end of the War of Wrath.

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".

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.

See also

★ Valaquenta, the deeds of the Valar

★ Maia (Middle-earth), lesser Ainur