Tulkas

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Tulkas
Vala
Steamey - Tulkas.jpg
"Tulkas" by Steamey
Biographical Information
Other namesTulukhastāz (V)
Astaldo, Tulcus, The Valiant, The Strong
PositionChampion of the Valar
LocationValinor
LanguageValarin, Quenya
Family
SpouseNessa
Physical Description
GenderMale
Hair colorGolden (hair and beard)[1]
GalleryImages of Tulkas

Tulkas was a Vala. He was the most warlike of the Valar and the spouse of Nessa.

Attributes

Tulkas was so strong and quick that he needed no weapon or steed. He delighted in deeds of prowess and strength such as wrestling and fighting. But he was not dreadful; he laughed loudly in sport and war and his anger dispelled darkness and clouds.[2][3]

He was a hardy friend and slow to wrath, but also slow to forgive. He was however mindless and did not learn from the past; always quick in action, he was not good in counselling.[2][4]

His flesh was ruddy and his hair and beard golden.[2]

History

Tulkas was the last of the Ainur to descend into Arda, 1499 Valian Years after the arrival of the other Ainur. He heard of their First War with Melkor and came to them from the far heavens. But for his arrival, the Dark Lord might have defeated the Valar. [5] Hearing the sound of Tulkas' laughter and beholding his wrath, Melkor fled before him, and the Spring of Arda was begun.[3]

After the Two Lamps were erected and the Valar had made their first dwelling at Almaren, Tulkas wedded Nessa in a great feast. Being weary and content he slept, and Melkor decided his hour to retaliate had come.

Antonio Vinci - Tulkas

When at last the first Children of Ilúvatar awoke, the Valar took council regarding the matter of Melkor. At length it was decided that, for the sake of the Elves, the Valar should regain guardianship of the world and remove Melkor. Tulkas was glad of this decision. In the War for the Sake of the Elves, after a long siege at Utumno, it was Tulkas who wrestled with Melkor and cast him upon his face. Tulkas bound Melkor with the enchanted chain Angainor, forged by Aulë. For a while the world was free from Melkor's influence.

When Melkor repented of his actions and was pardoned by Manwë, Tulkas was disappointed with this decision, ever distrustful of Melkor. But having fought Melkor in the name of authority, he could not rebel himself, and accepted Manwë's decision.

Tulkas also tended to be impatient; before the Awakening of the Elves he urged the other Valar to wage war against Melkor. After the Darkening of Valinor he also hurried Fëanor to take a decision about surrendering the Silmarils. Tulkas and Oromë searched in vain for Melkor, unable to penetrate the unlight cast by Ungoliant.

It is said that in the Dagor Dagorath, Tulkas will once more oppose Melkor, and will directly fight him in the battle and play a large role in his defeat. The victor is unknown, as it will be supposedly by the hand of Túrin that Melkor is slain once and for all.[6]

Etymology

The name Tulkas (pron. [ˈtulkas]) means in Quenya "strong, steadfast".[7] Tulukhastāz ("the golden-haired")[note 1] was the original Valarin name for Tulkas.[8]

In Noldorin, his name is Tulcus ([ˈtulkus]).[7]

Other names

He was also called Astaldo (Q: "the Valiant", pron. [asˈtaldo]).[1] Astaldo replaced the earlier name Poldórëa.[9][10]

In Eriol's Old English translations, Tulkas is referred as Afodfrea "Strength-ruler".[11]

In an early manuscript, Tolkien suggested a surname of Tulkas: Ender.[12]

Genealogy

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aulë
 
Yavanna
 
Vána
 
Oromë
 
Nessa
 
TULKAS
 
 
 
 


Other Versions of the Legendarium

In some versions it is said that Tulkas was of the spirits who didn't come into . In other versions, it is said that Tulkas was one of the spirits who entered the vast regions of Eä, until he came to Arda to help Manwë.[13]

Notes

  1. Tulukhastāz is said to consist of the Valarin elements tulukha(n) ("yellow") and (a)šata- ("hair of head").

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Account of the Valar and Maiar According to the Lore of the Eldar"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Of the Valar"
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Beginning of Days"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part Two: Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings, VI. Quenta Silmarillion", p. 206 §7
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: The History of the Silmarils"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part Two: Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings, VI. Quenta Silmarillion", p. 333
  7. 7.0 7.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I, p. 270
  8. 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'", p. 399
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The History of Middle-earth Index, p. 361
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 181 (forms: Poldórea, Poldor, Poldomo)
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "III. The Quenta: Appendix 1: Fragments of a translation of The Quenta Noldorinwa into Old English, made by Ælfwine or Eriol; together with Old English equivalents of Elvish names"
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies — Part One" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter and Patrick H. Wynne), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 45, November 2003, p. 11
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: First section of the Annals of Aman"
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