Wilwarin: Difference between revisions

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Wilwarin was created by the [[Valar|Vala]] [[Varda]]. It was set in the heavens of [[Arda]] to welcome and give light to the [[Elves]], who were just waking in [[Cuiviénen]].<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor]]"</ref>
Wilwarin was created by the [[Valar|Vala]] [[Varda]]. It was set in the heavens of [[Arda]] to welcome and give light to the [[Elves]], who were just waking in [[Cuiviénen]].<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor]]"</ref>
[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] gave no description of the constellation, nor any counterpart in our modern-day constellations, but [[Christopher Tolkien]] suggested that it could be the commonly-known constellation [[Wikipedia:Cassiopeia_(constellation)|Cassiopeia]].<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "Index of Names"</ref> Cassiopeia is a plausible candidate for being Wilwarin as its "W"-shape is a reasonable match to that of a butterfly.


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
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''Wilwarin'' comes from the same root (''wil-'', "fly, float in air") as the name for the Ring of Air, ''[[Vilya]]'', and shares this common root with the Sindarin word ''[[gwilith]]'', "air".<ref name="etym-wil"/>
''Wilwarin'' comes from the same root (''wil-'', "fly, float in air") as the name for the Ring of Air, ''[[Vilya]]'', and shares this common root with the Sindarin word ''[[gwilith]]'', "air".<ref name="etym-wil"/>
==Inspiration==
[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] gave no description of the constellation, nor any counterpart in our modern-day constellations, but [[Christopher Tolkien]] suggested that it could be the commonly-known constellation [[Wikipedia:Cassiopeia_(constellation)|Cassiopeia]].<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "Index of Names"</ref> Cassiopeia is a plausible candidate for being Wilwarin as its "W"-shape is a reasonable match to that of a butterfly.


==Other versions of the legendarium==
==Other versions of the legendarium==

Revision as of 21:51, 11 June 2016

Wilwarin was one of the constellations of Arda.

Wilwarin was created by the Vala Varda. It was set in the heavens of Arda to welcome and give light to the Elves, who were just waking in Cuiviénen.[1]

Etymology

Wilwarin (wilwarind-, pl. wilwarindi) means "butterfly" in Quenya.[2]

Wilwarin comes from the same root (wil-, "fly, float in air") as the name for the Ring of Air, Vilya, and shares this common root with the Sindarin word gwilith, "air".[2]

Inspiration

J.R.R. Tolkien gave no description of the constellation, nor any counterpart in our modern-day constellations, but Christopher Tolkien suggested that it could be the commonly-known constellation Cassiopeia.[3] Cassiopeia is a plausible candidate for being Wilwarin as its "W"-shape is a reasonable match to that of a butterfly.

Other versions of the legendarium

In early versions of Tolkien's notes, the name of the constellation is "Vilvarin".[4]

From other published writings, we know of a few other forms of the word wilwarin. The words wilwarindëa and wilwarindië (older Qenya form was wilwarindeën[5]) are the respective singular and plural forms meaning "like a wilwarin or butterfly".[6] We also know of the Qenya form wilwarindon, "as a butterfly".[5]

References

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