Powers of Arda

A title of the Valar

A title of the Valar, an Elvish name that simply means 'Powers'. The Powers of Arda were created before the beginning of the world, and were among the Ainur whose Music created the vision of the universe that Ilúvatar gave being. Fifteen of the greatest of these Ainur desired to enter the newly created Arda themselves. One of these was Melkor, but the other fourteen took the roles of Powers, and set about bringing order to the new world. Of these fourteen, eight were ranked among the Aratar, the greatest of the Valar.

At first the Powers dwelt in Middle-earth, on the island of Almaren, but Melkor's destruction of the Lamps of the Valar caused them to depart into the West of the World. There they made a new land for themselves, Valinor, and a golden city, Valmar. As history unfolded, Valinor the Blessed Realm was taken away from the visible world, but the Powers of Arda still dwelt there beyond mortal reach, and there they will remain until the ending of the world.

Aulë	Called the Maker, Aulë is the great craftsman of the Valar. His spouse is Yavanna the Queen of the Earth.
Estë	Called 'The Gentle', Estë is said to bring healing and rest. She is the spouse of Nienna's brother Lórien, with whom she dwells in his gardens in Valinor.
Lórien	The master of dreams, whose true name is Irmo, and who dwells in the gardens of Lórien (from which he takes his name) with his spouse Estë.
Mandos	The Doomsman of the Valar and keeper of the spirits of the dead, Mandos (also known as Námo) dwells in his halls in the west of Aman with his spouse Vairë.
Manwë	The High King of Arda who dwells on the peak of Taniquetil. His spouse is Varda.
Nessa	Famed for her swiftness and fleetness of foot, Nessa runs with the deer, and dances on the green grass of Valinor. She is the spouse of Tulkas Astaldo.
Nienna	The sister of Mandos and Lórien, who dwells alone in the far western edge of the world, where she grieves for the destruction wrought by Melkor.
Oromë	The Huntsman of the Valar, who often travelled from Aman to Middle-earth, and whose spouse is Vána the Ever-young.
Tulkas	The last of the Lords of the Valar to enter Arda, Tulkas is a great warrior, surnamed Astaldo, 'the Valiant'. His spouse is Nessa, the sister of Oromë.
Ulmo	The Lord of Waters, who governs the seas and rivers of Arda, and dwells alone in halls beneath the Outer Sea.
Vairë	Vairë dwells with her spouse Mandos in his halls. As time passes, she weaves a great tapestry of the world's history, which adorns the walls of the Halls of Waiting. For this reason she is known as Vairë the Weaver.
Vána	Vána the Ever-young is the younger sister of Yavanna, and like Yavanna she has power of the natural world, causing flowers to open and birds to sing. Her spouse is Oromë, the Huntsman of the Valar.
Varda	Called the Kindler and the Lady of the Stars, Varda is the spouse of Manwë, and dwells with him in the halls of Ilmarin on Taniquetil's peak. In Middle-earth, she was most often known by her Sindarin name and title: Elbereth Gilthoniel.
Yavanna	Called the Queen of the Earth and the Giver of Fruits, the province of Yavanna is the life of the olvar, things that grow from the earth. She is the sister of Vána, and spouse to Aulë the Smith.

Powers of Arda

A title of the Valar

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