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==History==
==History==
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>{{LR|Quenta}}, "Of The Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor"</ref>
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>'''History of Middle-earth''', Vol.5: '''''The Lost Road and Other Writings''''', ''Quenta Silmarillion'', "Of The Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor", p. 264</ref>


After the destruction of the Two Trees of Valinor by [[Morgoth|Melkor]], the great Tree [[Laurelin]] managed to produce one last golden fruit before it died away. The [[Vala]] [[Aulë]] crafted a vessel to hold the golder 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>{{S|Sun}}, p. 110-11</ref>
After the destruction of the Two Trees of Valinor by [[Morgoth|Melkor]], the great Tree [[Laurelin]] managed to produce one last golden fruit before it died away. The [[Vala]] [[Aulë]] crafted a vessel to hold the golder 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>{{S|Sun}}, p. 110-11</ref>

Revision as of 02:33, 28 February 2016

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Arien
Maia
Angel Falto - Arien.jpg
"Maiden of the Sun" by Category:Images by Angel Falto
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.

Attributes

The Maia Maiden Arien had never been afraid of the heats of the great Tree Laurelin of Valinor; therefore, was unhurt by it. Thus, the Valar chose Arien to guide the vessel of the Sun. For Arien was from the beginning a spirit of fire whom Melkor could not deceive or draw to his services. Arien was a holy spirit of great power and wished to be ever a virgin and alone. Therefore, she was mightier than Tilion, the Maia Hunter of the Vala Oromë, who was chosen to steer the Moon.
Since Arien was the guardian of the Sun, she was one of the most loved Maia-maiden by the mortal race of Men. For Arien's first journey across the sky was the signal of the 'Awakening of Men', who were also known as the 'Atani'.[1]

History

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.[2]

After the destruction of the Two Trees of Valinor by Melkor, the great Tree Laurelin managed to produce one last golden fruit before it died away. The Vala Aulë crafted a vessel to hold the golder 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.[3]

Queen Varda who was in charge of guiding the Moon and Sun purposed that the two vessels of the Sun & Moon should journey in Ilmen and ever be aloft, but not together. Each should pass from Valinor into the east and return west again, as one issues from the west while the other returns from the east. In spite of that, because of the waywardness of Tilion's journey and also because of the prayers of the Vala Irmo (Lórien) and his spouse the Valie Estë who declared that night, sleep, and rest had been banished from the Earth and also, the stars had been hidden by the traversing of the Sun and Moon. As a result, Queen Varda changed her council and allowed time where the world would have shadow and half-light. Hence, Arien rested awhile in Valinor, laying upon the cool bosom of the Outer Sea. And in the evening when the time, descent, and rest of the Sun took place it was an hour of greatest joy and light in Aman.[4]

By Anar the waters of the Outer Sea were made hot and glowed with colored fire, and hence for awhile Valinor had light after the passing of the maia maiden Arien. Yet, as Arien journeyed underneath the earth and drew towards the east, the glow faded and Valinor became dim. The Valar then mourned for the loss of the great Tree Laurelin. Consequently, by the coming and going of Anar, the Valar reckoned the days after until the 'Change of the World'.[5]

Tilion, the Mais 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.[6]

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 had to stir the Ship of the Sun.[7] [8]

Morgoth wanted to claim Arien as a wife,[9] 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.

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.[10]

Etymology

Arien means "Maiden of Sunlight" in Quenya. It is derived from the root as-, seen also in árë "sunlight"[11] and -ien feminine suffix.

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