Nessa

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Nessa
Vala
Elena Kukanova - Nessa.jpg
"Nessa" by Alice Falto
Biographical Information
TitlesThe Dancer
LocationValinor
Family
SiblingsOromë
SpouseTulkas
Physical Description
GenderFemale
GalleryImages of Nessa

Nessa was a Valië. She was the wife of Tulkas and sister of Oromë.

Nessa was noted for her speed, fast like an arrow, able to outrun the deer who follow her in the wild, and also for her dancing ability, as she danced on the ever-green lawns of Valimar.[1] She wed Tulkas upon the Isle of Almaren[2] in the Year of the Lamps 3400.[3]

In the "due order" in which the queens of the Valar were named, Nessa was named last.[1]

Etymology

Nessa ([ˈnesːa]) is a Quenya word meaning "young" from root; in the same text, Nessa has also the name Indis "bride".[4][5]

The Noldorin names of Nessa were Neth (a cognate of the Quenya/Qenya word) or Dineth, a Noldorin word meaning "bride", related to the Q word indis.[6]

In a later text, Pengolodh notes that Nessa's name is "not elvish" and probably represents a Valarin title, much like the name of her spouse, adopted in Quenya, but there is no record.[7]

Genealogy

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aulë
 
Yavanna
 
Vána
 
Oromë
 
NESSA
 
Tulkas
 
 
 
 

Other versions of the Legendarium

In The Book of Lost Tales, Nessa was one of the Valarindi, daughter of Orome and Yavanna. Her son with Tulkas was Telimektar.

Nessa was seen at the House of Tulkas bringing goblets of wine and drinks to his champions.[8]

Early Etymology

Her names were Helinyetille meaning "Eyes of Heartsease", from helin ("violet, pansy"), and Melesta, from mele ("to love").[9]

Early genealogy

 
 
 
 
 
 
Aulë
 
Yavanna
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vána
 
Oromë
 
NESSA
 
Tulkas
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nielíqui
 
 
 
 
 
Telimektar
 
 
 
 

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Of the Valar"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Beginning of Days"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: First section of the Annals of Aman", 3400
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", pp. 376-7
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Early Qenya and The Valmaric Script", in Parma Eldalamberon XIV (edited by Carl F. Hostetter, Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden), p. 14
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry NI1
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Appendix D. *Kwen, Quenya, and the Elvish (especially Ñoldorin) words for 'Language': Note on the 'Language of the Valar'"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "III. The Coming of the Valar and the Building of Valinor", p. 75
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I
Ainur
Valar Lords Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · Melkor
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