Anarríma

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Anarríma (anar = sun) was one of the constellations set in the heavens by Varda to enlighten the awakening of the elves and gathered by Varda from among the ancient stars.[1] Other constellations were Wilwarin, Telumendil, Soronúmë, and as the most important ones, Menelmacar (or Telumehtar) and Valacirca.

According to the Annals of Aman the making of the constellations (and of some new bright stars) happened 1000-1050 Valian Years after the first flowering of the Trees.[2]

The elements of the name seem to be anar 'sun', and ríma 'edge, hem, border', thus: 'Sun-border'.[3]

It is not clear what is the name of the constellation in "modern" terms, but it should be one observable in the northern hemisphere. The word ríma might refer to the Corona Borealis (the Northern Crown) but one might also consider the Great Square of Pegasus, easily recognized from its four bright stars.

Anarríma entered the mythology only in "The Later Quenta Silmarillion", composed after the completion of The Lord of the Rings, in early 1950s.[2] In the previous versions of the story, only the Great Bear (or Valacirca) and Orion (or Telumehtar / Menelmacar with a curious history of its own) are mentioned.

The printed text in The Silmarillion follows quite closely this late version. The only notable difference concerning the constellations (and among others, Anarríma) is that in The Silmarillion it is only told that Varda set the constellations "as signs in the heavens of Arda",[4] but in "The Later Quenta Silmarillion" text J.R.R. Tolkien writes: 'as signs in Heaven that the gods may read'.[2]

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