Alcarinquë

From Tolkien Gateway

Alcarinquë was a name of one of the stars in Arda.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

In the distant past, at the time of the awakening of the Elves, Varda added many brilliant stars to the heavens using the shimmering dews of Telperion the Silver Tree.[2] Among these were the familiar star-patterns we still know today, and other lights that were not truly stars. Among these was Alcarinquë - the planet we know as Jupiter.[3]

Alcarinquë would likely have been the brightest object in the skies at that time. When Varda created Alcarinquë and the other new lights the Elves first awoke.[2] It was not until the Elves had been to Aman and the Noldor were returning to Middle-earth that the Moon and the Sun were created[4] and Venus - the Silmaril of Eärendil - was not placed in the heavens until much later.[5]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Alcarinquë (or Alkarinque) is a Quenya name meaning "The Glorious",[1][3] likely derived from the Quenya adjective alcarinqua ("glorious").[6][7][8]

References

Middle-earth Cosmology
 Constellations  Anarríma · Durin's Crown · Menelmacar · Remmirath · Soronúmë · Telumendil · Valacirca · Wilwarin
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 · · Timeless Halls · Two Lamps · Two Trees · Void