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Dates
Varda was immortal, and existed before the foundation of Arda; she gained the title of 'Kindler' soon after the Two Trees came into being1
Race
Ainur
Division
Valar (Aratar)
Settlements
Varda dwelt with Manwë in Ilmarin on Taniquetil
Meaning
A reference to Varda setting the bright stars in the sky
Other names
The direct Elvish equivalent is Tintallë; Varda also had various other titles referring to her making of the stars: Elentári, Gilthoniel, Lady of the Stars, Queen of the Stars

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 10 July 2022
  • This entry is complete

Kindler

A name for Varda, who lit the heavens with stars

A translation of Tintallë, a title given to the Vala Varda. In ancient times, she was said to have created the first, lesser stars, and it was by her arts that the Lamps of the Valar were filled with light.

After the loss of the Lamps, and the coming of the Valar to Aman, it was Varda who collected the shimmering dews of the Two Trees in shining vats, and so filled Valinor with silver and golden light. When the first Elves were discovered in Middle-earth, she used some of the silver light of Telperion to kindle the greater stars, and so bring the Elves greater light in the darkness of Middle-earth. From this deed, the Elves gave her the new name Elentári, the Queen of the Stars, but even at the end of the Third Age, she was sometimes called by her older title of Tintallë, the Kindler.


Notes

1

Calculating from the dates given in The Annals of Aman in volume X of The History of Middle-earth, the Two Trees were created a little more than 14,000 years before the first rising of the Sun. Varda kindled the stars with the brilliant dews of these shining Trees, an event which is recorded in the same annal as the making of the Trees themselves. So, Varda must have become the Kindler soon after the first Light of the Trees appeared. The 'Valian years' used in these annals were nearly ten times longer than solar years, so the implication seems to be that the stars were kindled within at most a decade after the Two Trees came to life.

See also...

Anarríma, Carnil, Crowned with Stars, Elentári, Elerrína, High Ones of Arda, Lady of the Stars, Lumbar, Powers of Arda, Queen of the Valar, Queens of the Valar, Tintallë, Valier, Wilwarin

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 10 July 2022
  • This entry is complete

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1998, 2001, 2008, 2017, 2022. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

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Kindler

A name for Varda, who lit the heavens with stars

Dates
Varda was immortal, and existed before the foundation of Arda; she gained the title of 'Kindler' soon after the Two Trees came into being1
Race
Ainur
Division
Valar (Aratar)
Settlements
Varda dwelt with Manwë in Ilmarin on Taniquetil
Meaning
A reference to Varda setting the bright stars in the sky
Other names
The direct Elvish equivalent is Tintallë; Varda also had various other titles referring to her making of the stars: Elentári, Gilthoniel, Lady of the Stars, Queen of the Stars

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 10 July 2022
  • This entry is complete

Kindler

A name for Varda, who lit the heavens with stars

A translation of Tintallë, a title given to the Vala Varda. In ancient times, she was said to have created the first, lesser stars, and it was by her arts that the Lamps of the Valar were filled with light.

After the loss of the Lamps, and the coming of the Valar to Aman, it was Varda who collected the shimmering dews of the Two Trees in shining vats, and so filled Valinor with silver and golden light. When the first Elves were discovered in Middle-earth, she used some of the silver light of Telperion to kindle the greater stars, and so bring the Elves greater light in the darkness of Middle-earth. From this deed, the Elves gave her the new name Elentári, the Queen of the Stars, but even at the end of the Third Age, she was sometimes called by her older title of Tintallë, the Kindler.


Notes

1

Calculating from the dates given in The Annals of Aman in volume X of The History of Middle-earth, the Two Trees were created a little more than 14,000 years before the first rising of the Sun. Varda kindled the stars with the brilliant dews of these shining Trees, an event which is recorded in the same annal as the making of the Trees themselves. So, Varda must have become the Kindler soon after the first Light of the Trees appeared. The 'Valian years' used in these annals were nearly ten times longer than solar years, so the implication seems to be that the stars were kindled within at most a decade after the Two Trees came to life.

See also...

Anarríma, Carnil, Crowned with Stars, Elentári, Elerrína, High Ones of Arda, Lady of the Stars, Lumbar, Powers of Arda, Queen of the Valar, Queens of the Valar, Tintallë, Valier, Wilwarin

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 10 July 2022
  • This entry is complete

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1998, 2001, 2008, 2017, 2022. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by Axiom Discovery aptitude and skill testing.
Personality is one part of understanding a candidate's suitability, but aptitudes and skills are also key.