The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Immortal; entered Arda at its foundation
Location
Dwells in the Halls of her spouse Mandos
Race
Division
Pronunciation
vy'reh (the first syllable of Vairë's name is pronounced like the English word 'vie')
Meaning
Titles

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About this entry:

  • Updated 16 September 2012
  • This entry is complete

Vairë

The weaver of storied webs

(Ilúvatar)
Vairë
Mandos

The Valar

One of the seven Queens of the Valar, named fifth in rank, Vairë was the spouse of Mandos the Doomsman of the Valar. She was famed for her weaving of tapestries - indeed her name Vairë means 'Weaver' - in which she recorded all the events of history, and her great tapestries were hung on the walls of the Halls of Mandos.

Vairë is one of the lesser known of the Valar; indeed, the Silmarillion tells us no more about her than the few facts given above. We can glean a little more from volume X of The History of Middle-earth, where she is associated with Finwë's first wife Míriel. Giving up her life after the birth of Fëanor, Míriel went to dwell in the house of Vairë (accounts of this house are a little confused, but it was apparently within or associated with the Halls of Mandos, though apart from the main Halls of Waiting). When the Valar considered Finwë's request to wed again, it was Vairë who convinced them that Míriel would never return to the living. She thus played a significant part in allowing Finwë's second marriage, to Indis (and so without Vairë, neither Fingolfin nor Finarfin, nor any of their descendants, would ever have been born).


Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 16 September 2012
  • This entry is complete

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