Varda / Elbereth

Ancientwell-documentedTolkien's legendarium (modern literary tradition)Arda (Tolkien's Middle-earth cosmology)

Varda, often called Elbereth in secondary references, is identified in the provided sources as one of the Valar — the mightiest Ainur who chose to enter the created world (Arda) in J. R. R. Tolkien’s legendarium. The Valar are described in the sources as the 'Powers of the World' who shape and govern Arda after its form is determined by the Music of the Ainur.

Origin

According to the Ainulindalë summary in the provided sources, a prior order of spiritual beings called the Ainur participate in the Music of the Ainur that determines the form of the created world. Some of these Ainur choose to enter the world (Arda) to complete its material development; the mightiest of these who enter are called the Valar, or 'the Powers of the World'. Varda/Elbereth is presented by the sources as one member of that class of beings within Tolkien's cosmology.

Appearance

The provided source material does not include a description of Varda/Elbereth's physical appearance. The Valar are generically characterized in the sources as 'angelic powers' or 'gods', but no individual bodily description for Varda/Elbereth is recorded in the excerpts supplied.

Abilities

From the supplied summaries, the Ainur — and among them the mightiest who become the Valar — are beings who took part in the Music of the Ainur and then entered Arda to complete and govern its material development. The sources locate Varda/Elbereth within that functional role as a Valar but do not provide further specific abilities, deeds, or actions for this individual in the provided excerpts.

Community Record

Sources
  1. [1]
    Valar (Wikipedia). Wikipedia, entry 'Valar' — contains the summaries: 'The Valar are characters in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings. They are "angelic powers" or "gods" subordinate to the one God.'; 'The Ainulindalë describes how some of the Ainur choose to enter the world (Arda) to complete its material development, after its form is determined by the Music of the Ainur.'; 'The mightiest of these are called the Valar, or "the Powers of the World", and the lesser spirits are called the Maiar.'wiki
  2. [2]
    Varda (Wikidata). Wikidata item for Varda identifying the subject as a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium.other
  3. [3]
    Jakandara By Elbereth De Lioncour.abr (archive file listing). Archive.org file named with 'Elbereth' noted in the research packet; no substantive mythological detail about Varda/Elbereth is provided in the file metadata to alter the cosmological summary.other
  4. [4]
    Dragon UnPACKer 5.70 (archive listing). Archive.org item appearing in the provided source list; cited here only as part of the provided materials that reference the name 'Elbereth' in ancillary contexts but do not supply additional legendarium content.other
  5. [5]
    Diario de un Metalhead 782 MINOS Pepe Arriols (archive listing). Archive.org screenshot listing that includes the name 'ELBERETH' in a tracklist; included among supplied materials but contains no primary textual information about the entity in Tolkien's cosmology.other
well-documented