All Questions
23
questions
14
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What do the family relations between the Valar mean?
TL;DR:
Some of the Valar are described in the Silmarillion as husband and wife, and others are described as siblings. But it seems that the Ainur don't procreate, and it's unclear what marriage means ...
- 271
5
votes
2
answers
985
views
In the absence of the Doom of the Noldor, would Feanor and co. have had a chance against Morgoth? [closed]
This is something that just occurred to me recently - I had always assumed not, but I realized the key quote might not mean what I thought it meant.
Vala he is, thou saist. Then thou hast sworn in ...
- 5,934
6
votes
3
answers
440
views
First contact between Oromë and the Elves
Do we have any information (in The History of Middle-earth or other writings) about the initial encounter of Oromë and the Elves after the Awakening, besides the short-spoken description of The ...
- 2,878
9
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What we we know about the source of the light in the Two Trees of Valinor?
The sun and the moon were created from the light of the trees of light, Laurelin and Telperion, after they had been destroyed; some parts of them survived the destruction and could thus be used for ...
- 363
1
vote
1
answer
384
views
Would the weakened Ainur and Maiar regain their strength after the ending of the world?
We know that the power of the Ainur dwindles as time moves on, some like Melkor have lost power by spreading it too thinly amongst their creations, and the Balrogs and Saruman had become impotent with ...
user46509
1
vote
2
answers
526
views
How many of the Ainur did not descend into Eä
We know that many Ainur entered Eä at the beginning of time, the most powerful forming the Valar and the lesser the Maiar, but how many remained behind with Eru? Does Tolkien ever discuss this in any ...
user46509
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How many of the Ainur were unable to change their physical form?
The Ainur are spirits who do not need bodies, but they can assume them. From the Ainulindalë in the Silmarillion:
Their shape comes of their knowledge of the visible World, rather than of the World ...
- 4,793
7
votes
4
answers
14k
views
How could Tulkas defeat Morgoth if he was the most powerful Valar?
Morgoth warred against the Valar in the early years of Arda including destroying the Two Lamps which lit the world, and marring the lands in which the Valar had set to prepare for the coming of the ...
- 10.8k
1
vote
1
answer
237
views
Did the Valar refer to themselves as Valar or was that just a name given to them?
Did the Valar refer to themselves as Valar, or was "Valar" just a name given to them by the Elves because they needed a way to refer to them? Or did Eru name them before they entered into Arda?
- 10.8k
6
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How tall were the Valar in their physical raiment?
From all my readings of The Silmarillion and other Middle-earth writings (such as the HoME series), I always got a clear impression that the Valar were much taller than the Elves or Men. However, I ...
- 4,446
24
votes
4
answers
6k
views
What happened to Huan the Wolfhound after he died?
I just finished reading the chapter of The Silmarillion devoted to Beren and Lúthien, which contains the greatest character in all of Tolkien's work, in my opinion: Huan, the Wolfhound of the Valar. ...
- 70.1k
60
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Did Mandos make any decisions that didn't prove to be disastrous?
Mandos is the great judge of the Valar, and his decisions are widely respected by all the other Valar. But most of his judgements have disastrous consequences for the Valar, the Elves, and all of ...
- 70.1k
6
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Was Melkor/Morgoth a Vala or not?
I had always been under the impression that Melkor was a Vala. It seemed to be almost common knowledge among Tolkien fans, including the ones here on SE. Then I came across this line in The ...
- 70.1k
2
votes
1
answer
567
views
Are there any more Valar? [duplicate]
If I'm not mistaken, a total of 14 Valar, not including Melkor, are named in The Silmarillion. Are these the only Valar, or are there others who are not named/mentioned?
Bonus question: As I ...
- 70.1k
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why did it take the Valar years to realize that the Elves had awoken?
In The Silmarillion, we are told that Morgoth was the first to realize that the Elves were awake, and that Elves who wandered alone or in small groups occasionally disappeared, and that this went on ...
- 70.1k