One of the many bright stars and constellations placed in the heavens by Varda to welcome the Elves into Arda (from which she took her name Tintallë, the Kindler). The name Wilwarin means 'butterfly', though it isn't clear which of today's constellations corresponded to this ancient star-pattern. Christopher Tolkien suggests that Cassiopeia might be a candidate for the star-butterfly, and indeed its 'W' shape seems a reasonable match for the name.
Notes
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Cassiopeia is Christopher Tolkien's suggestion, and does indeed seem the most likely identity for Wilwarin the Butterfly. There is in fact a real star-pattern known as 'The Butterfly', a group of stars in the constellation of Hercules. This modern formation is relatively faint and unremarkable, whereas Wilwarin and its fellow star-shapes were said to be bright and prominent in the sky, so the shared name appears to be a simple coincidence.
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- Updated 20 November 2020
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