Wilwarin: Difference between revisions
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'''Wilwarin''' was one of the [[constellations]] of [[Arda]]. | '''Wilwarin''' was one of the [[constellations]] of [[Arda]]. | ||
Wilwarin was created by the [[Valar| | Wilwarin was created by the [[Valar|Valië]] [[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> | ||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== |
Revision as of 14:43, 20 August 2019
Wilwarin was one of the constellations of Arda.
Wilwarin was created by the Valië 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
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "The Etymologies", entry WIL-, pp. 398-9
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "The Later Quenta Silmarillion", pp. 160, 166
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Monsters and the Critics, "A Secret Vice", pp. 213, 216, 220
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Early Elvish Poetry" in Christopher Gilson (ed.), Parma Eldalamberon, vol. 16, 2006, p. 96
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 · Eä · Timeless Halls · Two Lamps · Two Trees · Void |