Arien: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
(7 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{sources}}
{{maiar infobox
{{maiar infobox
| name=Arien
| name=Arien
| image=[[File:Angel Falto - Arien.jpg|250px]]
| image=[[File:Jerrel Salvatierra - Maiden of Sunlight.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Maiden of the Sun" by [[:Category:Images by Angel Falto|Angel Falto]]
| caption="Maiden of Sunlight" by [[:Category:Images by Jerrel Salvatierra|Jerrel Salvatierra]]
| pronun=
| pronun=
| othernames=
| othernames=
Line 36: Line 35:


==History==
==History==
Arien was originally a spirit of fire who [[Morgoth|Melkor]] failed to corrupt.<ref name="S11"/> In the days of the [[Two Trees]], Arien was a [[Maia]] maiden where she tended to the golden flowers of the gardens of [[Vána]]. In the gardens, Arien would water the flowers of Vána with great bright dews taken from the golden tree [[Laurelin]];<ref name="LR">{{LR|Quenta}}, pp. 264-5</ref> she was never afraid of the heat of Laurelin, and so was unhurt by them.
Arien was originally a spirit of fire whom [[Morgoth|Melkor]] failed to corrupt.<ref name="S11"/> In the days of the [[Two Trees]], Arien was a [[Maia]] maiden where she tended to the golden flowers in the gardens of [[Vána]]. She would water the flowers of Vána with dew gathered from the golden tree [[Laurelin]].<ref name="LR">{{LR|Quenta}}, pp. 264-5</ref>


After the destruction of the Two Trees of Valinor by [[Morgoth|Melkor]], [[Laurelin]] managed to produce one last golden fruit before it died away. The [[Vala]] [[Aulë]] crafted a vessel to hold the golden fruit, whilst Arien was chosen by the [[Valar]] to guide this vessel of the [[Sun]] above the airs of [[Arda]] giving light to the World; [[Tilion]], a Maia and one of Oromë's hunters, was chosen to steer the [[Moon]]. The Moon had already traversed the sky seven times before the Sun was finally ready, then the Sun arose in glory, and the first dawn of the Sun was like a great fire glowing upon the towers of the great [[Pelóri Mountains]] of [[Aman]]. Then [[Morgoth]] was dismayed and he descended into the uttermost pit of [[Angband]] and withdrew his servants, and sent forth great reeks and the darkness of clouds to hide his land from the light of the Sun.<ref name="S11">{{S|11}}</ref>{{rp|110-1}}
After the destruction of the Two Trees of Valinor by [[Morgoth|Melkor]], [[Laurelin]] managed to produce one last golden fruit before it died away. [[Aulë]] crafted a vessel to hold the golden fruit. Arien was chosen by the [[Valar]] to guide the vessel of the [[Sun]] above the airs of [[Arda]] to give light to the World; [[Tilion]], another Maia and one of Oromë's hunters, was chosen to steer the [[Moon]]. The Moon had already traversed the sky seven times before the Sun was finally ready. The first dawn of the Sun was like a great fire glowing upon the towers of the [[Pelóri Mountains]] of [[Aman]]. [[Morgoth]] was dismayed, and he descended into the uttermost pit of [[Angband]] and his servants withdrew. He sent up dark clouds of smoke to conceal his land from the light of the Sun.<ref name="S11">{{S|11}}</ref>{{rp|110-1}}


[[Tilion]], the Maia chosen to guide the [[Moon]], loved Arien and followed her through the night sky, ocassionally catching up to her and becoming burned and blackened by her heat. In fact, it was said that the maia maiden Arien was indeed stronger in might than the maia hunter Tilion.<ref name="S11"/>
[[Tilion]] loved Arien and followed her through the night sky. When he occasionally caught up to her, his vessel became singed by her heat.<ref name="S11"/>


== Other versions of the legendarium ==
== Other versions of the legendarium ==
In other writings, Arien's name was Urwen or Urwendi, which translated in "Maiden of the Sunship". She was one of Vána's maidens who took care of the tree Laurelin; her task was to water it. When the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees of Valinor]] were destroyed, she had to steer the Ship of the Sun.<ref>{{LT1 | III}}, p. 73</ref><ref name="LT1Sun">{{LT1 | VIII}}</ref>{{rp|118}}
In other writings, Arien's name was Urwen or Urwendi, which translated in "Maiden of the Sunship". She was one of Vána's maidens who took care of the tree Laurelin; her task was to water it. When the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees of Valinor]] were destroyed, she offered to steer the Ship of the Sun.<ref>{{LT1 | III}}, p. 73</ref><ref name="LT1Sun">{{LT1 | VIII}}</ref>{{rp|118}}


[[Morgoth]] wanted to claim Arien as a wife,<ref>{{MR|Myths}}, p. 405</ref> and ravished her, upon which she abandoned her body and "died", leaving the Sun to travel through the skies uncontrollably and burning parts of [[Arda]] the world. As well, it is stated in other abandoned writings that she was a Maia of [[Varda]]. It is not clear if it was Tolkien's intent to keep these elements in ''The Silmarillion'' tradition, had he lived long enough to publish it.
In [[Myths Transformed]], which changed the timing of the Sun to have been primordial to Arda's inception, [[Melkor]] wanted to claim Arien as a wife,<ref name=Myths>{{MR|Myths}}</ref>{{rp|380-1}} but when she refused him, he attempted to ravish her.<ref name=Myths/>{{rp|405}} However, she released her spirit and burned Melkor leaving him ashen and grey. The Sun was then left without a guide and caused uneven seasons and periods of excessive heat or cold in [[Arda]].<ref name=Myths/>{{rp|381}} In other abandoned writings, she was a Maia of [[Varda]].  


It was told that Arien (Urwendi) and her maidens, before the rising of the Sun, entered into 'Fôs Almir', a bath of flame that would make one pure.<ref name="LT1Sun"/>
It was told that Arien (Urwendi) and her maidens, before the rising of the Sun, entered into 'Fôs Almir', a bath of flame that would make one pure.<ref name="LT1Sun"/>
Line 51: Line 50:
==Etymology==
==Etymology==
Arien means "Maiden of Sunlight" in [[Quenya]]. It is derived from the root ''as-'', seen also in ''[[Áre|árë]]'' "sunlight"<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, ''arien''</ref> and ''-[[ien]]'' feminine suffix.
Arien means "Maiden of Sunlight" in [[Quenya]]. It is derived from the root ''as-'', seen also in ''[[Áre|árë]]'' "sunlight"<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, ''arien''</ref> and ''-[[ien]]'' feminine suffix.
 
==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Arien|Images of Arien]]
{{references}}
{{references}}
{{Ainur}}
{{Ainur}}

Revision as of 13:33, 26 October 2018

Arien
Maia
Jerrel Salvatierra - Maiden of Sunlight.jpg
"Maiden of Sunlight" by Jerrel Salvatierra
Biographical Information
PositionGuiding the Sun
AffiliationVarda, formally Estë and Vána
Physical Description
GenderFemale
GalleryImages of Arien
"Too bright were the eyes of Arien for even the Eldar to look on, and leaving Valinor she forsook the form and raiment which like the Valar she had worn there, and she was as a naked flame, terrible in the fullness of her splendor."
― "Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor"

Arien (Q, pron. [ˈari.en], stem Ariend-) was the Maia who guided the Sun.

History

Arien was originally a spirit of fire whom Melkor failed to corrupt.[1] In the days of the Two Trees, Arien was a Maia maiden where she tended to the golden flowers in the gardens of Vána. She would water the flowers of Vána with dew gathered from the golden tree Laurelin.[2]

After the destruction of the Two Trees of Valinor by Melkor, Laurelin managed to produce one last golden fruit before it died away. Aulë crafted a vessel to hold the golden fruit. Arien was chosen by the Valar to guide the vessel of the Sun above the airs of Arda to give light to the World; Tilion, another Maia and one of Oromë's hunters, was chosen to steer the Moon. The Moon had already traversed the sky seven times before the Sun was finally ready. The first dawn of the Sun was like a great fire glowing upon the towers of the Pelóri Mountains of Aman. Morgoth was dismayed, and he descended into the uttermost pit of Angband and his servants withdrew. He sent up dark clouds of smoke to conceal his land from the light of the Sun.[1]:110-1

Tilion loved Arien and followed her through the night sky. When he occasionally caught up to her, his vessel became singed by her heat.[1]

Other versions of the legendarium

In other writings, Arien's name was Urwen or Urwendi, which translated in "Maiden of the Sunship". She was one of Vána's maidens who took care of the tree Laurelin; her task was to water it. When the Two Trees of Valinor were destroyed, she offered to steer the Ship of the Sun.[3][4]:118

In Myths Transformed, which changed the timing of the Sun to have been primordial to Arda's inception, Melkor wanted to claim Arien as a wife,[5]:380-1 but when she refused him, he attempted to ravish her.[5]:405 However, she released her spirit and burned Melkor leaving him ashen and grey. The Sun was then left without a guide and caused uneven seasons and periods of excessive heat or cold in Arda.[5]:381 In other abandoned writings, she was a Maia of Varda.

It was told that Arien (Urwendi) and her maidens, before the rising of the Sun, entered into 'Fôs Almir', a bath of flame that would make one pure.[4]

Etymology

Arien means "Maiden of Sunlight" in Quenya. It is derived from the root as-, seen also in árë "sunlight"[6] and -ien feminine suffix.

See also

References

Ainur
Valar Lords Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · Melkor
Valier Varda · Yavanna · Nienna · Estë · Vairë · Vána · Nessa
Maiar Arien · Blue Wizards · Eönwë · Gandalf · Ilmarë · Melian · Ossë · Radagast · Salmar · Saruman · Tilion · Uinen
Úmaiar Sauron · Balrogs (Gothmog · Durin's Bane) · Boldogs
Concepts and locations Almaren · Aratar (indicated in italics) · Creation of the Ainur · Fana · Máhanaxar · Ainulindalë · Order of Wizards (indicated in bold) · Second Music of the Ainur · Timeless Halls · Valarin · Valinor · Valimar
Middle-earth Cosmology
 Constellations  Anarríma · Durin's Crown · Menelmacar · Remmirath · Soronúmë · Telumendil · Valacirca · Wilwarin
Stars  Alcarinquë · Borgil · Carnil · Elemmírë · Helluin · Luinil · Lumbar · Morwinyon · Nénar · Star of Eärendil · Til 
The Airs  Aiwenórë · Fanyamar · Ilmen · Menel · Vaiya · Veil of Arda · Vista
Narsilion  Arien · Moon (Isil, Ithil, Rána) · Sun (Anar, Anor, Vása) · Tilion
See also  Abyss · Arda · Circles of the World · · Timeless Halls · Two Lamps · Two Trees · Void