Arien
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Arien | |
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Maia | |
Biographical Information | |
Other names | none |
Death | Immortal |
Physical Description | |
Gender | Female |
Gallery | Images of Arien |
- "Too bright were the eyes of Arien for even the Eldar to look on, and leaving Valinor she forsook the form and raiment which like the Valar she had worn there, and she was as a naked flame, terrible in the fullness of her splendor."
- ― "Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor"
Arien (Q, pron. [ˈari.en], stem Ariend-) was a Maia who guided the Sun.
History
After the destruction of the Two Trees, Arien, a Maia was chosen by the Valar to guide a vessel made by Aulë which held the last fruit of Laurelin above the airs of Arda. This vessel was of course the Sun. In the days of the Two Trees Arien had tended Laurelin and was a spirit of fire, not unlike Balrogs before their downfall to shadow thanks to Melkor. She was therefore able to stand the heats of the Sun. It is said that she was mightier than Tilion, the Maia chosen to guide the Moon, who loved her and followed her through the night sky sometimes catching up to her and becoming burned and blackend by her heat.
Other Versions of the Legendarium
In other writings, Morgoth wanted to claim Arien as a wife, and ravished her, upon which she abandoned her body and "died", leaving the Sun to travel through the skies uncontrollably and burning parts of Arda the world. As well, it is stated in other abandoned writings that she was a Maia of Varda. It is not clear if it was Tolkien's intent to keep these elements in The Silmarillion tradition, had he lived long enough to publish it.
Etymology
Arien means "Maiden of Sunlight" in Quenya, from árë "sunlight" and -ien feminine suffix.
Since Arien is connected to the "daisy" (corruption of day's eye), it is possible that the name comes from árë + hen "eye".[source?]
Ainur | ||
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Valar | Lords | Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · |
Valier | Varda · Yavanna · Nienna · Estë · Vairë · Vána · Nessa | |
Maiar | Arien · Blue Wizards · Eönwë · Gandalf · Ilmarë · Melian · Ossë · Radagast · Salmar · Saruman · Tilion · Uinen | |
Úmaiar | Sauron · Balrogs (Gothmog · Durin's Bane) · Boldogs | |
Concepts and locations | Almaren · Aratar (indicated in italics) · Creation of the Ainur · Fana · Máhanaxar · Ainulindalë · Order of Wizards (indicated in bold) · Second Music of the Ainur · Timeless Halls · Valarin · Valinor · Valimar |
Middle-earth Cosmology | |
Constellations | Anarríma · Durin's Crown · Menelmacar · Remmirath · Soronúmë · Telumendil · Valacirca · Wilwarin |
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Stars | Alcarinquë · Borgil · Carnil · Elemmírë · Helluin · Luinil · Lumbar · Morwinyon · Nénar · Star of Eärendil · Til |
The Airs | Aiwenórë · Fanyamar · Ilmen · Menel · Vaiya · Veil of Arda · Vista |
Narsilion | Arien · Moon (Isil, Ithil, Rána) · Sun (Anar, Anor, Vása) · Tilion |
See also | Abyss · Arda · Circles of the World · Eä · Timeless Halls · Two Lamps · Two Trees · Void |