Dates : Descended into Arda at its beginning;immortal.
Race : Ainur.
Division : Valar (Aratar).
Meaning : Literally 'Invention'.
Pronunciation : ow'leh.
Other Names : Mahal.
Titles : The Smith.
Spouse : Yavanna.
One of the Aratar,the eight greatest of the Valar,Aul� was the Vala concerned with the substance of Arda;rock and metal.As his name suggests,he was also the builder and inventor of the Valar.He constructed Angainor,the chain of Melkor and the vessels of the Sun and Moon.In anticipation of the coming of the Children of Il�vatar, Elves and Men,Aul� went so far as to create a race of his own,the Dwarves.Il�vatar blessed them with life but would not suffer them to be born before the Elves,so Aul� set them to sleep in Middle-earth until the Elves had awoken.When the Elves came to Valinor,the Noldor became fascinated by the lore of Aul� and became his students.F�anor was his greatest pupil and from him learned the craft to make the Silmarils.
Name : Est�.
A lady of the Valar,the spouse of L�rien (Irmo),who dwells with him in the gardens of L�rien in Valinor.
Name : L�rien.
Dates : Immortal. Entered Arda at its foundation.
Race : Ainur
Division : Valar
Order : F�anturi (Masters of Spirits).
Meaning : '(god) of dreams'
Other Names : Irmo (His true name).
The common name given to the Vala Irmo, from the gardens in Valinor where he dwelt with his spouse Est�.
Name : Mandos.
Dates : Immortal. Entered Arda at its foundation.
Race : Ainur.
Division : Valar (Aratar).
'Order' : F�anturi (Masters of Spirits).
Meaning : 'prison-fortress'.
Other Names : N�mo.
Titles : Doomsman of the Valar.
The Doomsman of the Valar and keeper of the slain in his Halls in the west of Valinor;his true name is said to be N�mo.His spouse was a Queen of the Valar,Vair�.
Name : Manw� S�limo.
Dates : Immortal.Existed before the making of Arda.
Race : Ainur.
Division : Valar.
Pronunciation : ma'nweh soo'limoh.
Meaning : 'Manw�' means 'Blessed One'.'S�limo' is translated as 'Lord of the Breath of Arda'.
Titles : Elder King,High King of Arda,King of Arda,Lord of the Breath of Arda,Lord of the West.
Greatest of the Valar,spouse of Varda and King of Arda;he dwells in his halls on Taniquetil,highest of mountains and the winds and airs of Arda are under his command.
Name : Nessa.
The spouse of Tulkas and sister to Orom�,who delights in dancing on the green lawns of Valimar.
Name : Nienna.
Dates : Immortal;existed before the foundation of Arda.
Race : Ainur.
Division : Valar (Aratar).
Pronunciation : nee-e'nna.
Meaning : Approximately 'She Who Weeps'.
A Queen of the Valar,the sister of Mandos and Lorien,who dwells alone on the western borders of the World.Nienna ranks as one of the eight Aratar,the most powerful of the Valar.Grief and mourning are Nienna's province;in her halls in the distant west,she weeps for the suffering of Arda.Her part in the Music of the Ainur was one of deep sadness and from this grief entered the world in its beginning.She teaches pity and endurance;though she rarely travels to the joyful city of Valmar,she goes more often to the halls of her brother Mandos to comfort and counsel those in the Halls of Waiting.The Maia Ol�rin, who was later to travel to Middle-earth as Gandalf,learned much from her.Nienna played a part in the making of the Two Trees of Valinor;she wept on the mound of Ezellohar,watering it with her tears.After the destruction of the Trees by Melkor,she once again wept on their wounded remains,cleansing the filth of Ungoliant and helping to bring forth the last fruit and flower that were to become the Sun and the Moon.The pity of Nienna is most clearly seen in her support for Melkor when he sued for the pardon of the Valar.Though she spends her time in the world mourning for the destruction he has wreaked in Arda when he sued for release after his three ages of Captivity,Nienna spoke on his part.
Dates : Descended into Arda at its beginning; immortal.
Race : Ainur.
Division : Valar (Aratar).
Pronunciation : o'romeh.
Meaning : Approximately 'Loud Trumpeter'.
Other Names : Aldaron,Araw,B�ma,Tauron.
Titles : Huntsman of the Valar,Lord of Forests.
The Huntsman of the Valar,the brother of Nessa and one of the eight Aratar.In ancient times,he rode often in the forests of Middle-earth and it was he who first discovered the Eldar at Cuivi�nen.
Name : Tulkas.
Dates : Immortal.Entered Arda at its beginning or soon after.
Race : Ainur.
Division : Valar.
Pronunciation : too'lkas.
Meaning : 'Strong, steadfast'.
Titles : Astaldo.
The last of the Valar to descend into Arda, and the most warlike; he did battle with Melkor in the years when the World was young.
Name : Ulmo.
Dates : Immortal.Existed before the making of Arda.
Race : Ainur.
Division : Valar.
Pronunciation : oo'lmo.
Meaning : 'He who Pours'.
Titles : King of the Sea,Lord of Waters.
Lord of the seas and one of the greatest of the Valar;in the dark days of the First Age,he kept watch on Elves and Men while the others of his order remained in Valinor.He is famed for bringing Tuor to Gondolin and so ultimately bringing about the downfall of Morgoth in the War of Wrath.
Name : Vair�
A Queen of the Valar,the spouse of Mandos,who weaves the tales of the history of Arda.
Name : V�na.
A lady of the Valar,the sister of Yavanna and spouse of Orom�.Flowers were said to open and birds sing, at her passing.
Name : Varda.
Dates : Immortal.Existed before the foundation of Arda.
Race : Ainur.
Division : Valar (Aratar).
Pronunciation : varda' elenta'rree.
Meaning : Varda means 'sublime' (in the sense of 'high' or 'lofty').Her title Elent�ri means 'Star-queen'.
Other Names : Elbereth.
Titles : Elent�ri,Gilthoniel,The Kindler,Lady of the Stars,Queen of the Stars,Tintall�.
Name : Yavanna.
Dates : Descended into Arda at its beginning;immortal.
Race : Ainur.
Division : Valar (Aratar).
Meaning : 'Yavanna' means 'Giver of Fruits'.Her surname 'Kement�ri' is said to mean 'Queen of the Earth'.
Pronunciation : ya'vanna kementah'ree
Titles : Giver of Fruits,Kement�ri,Queen of the Earth.
Called the 'Giver of Fruits',Yavanna was the Vala whose province was all growing things upon the earth. She was the spouse of Aul� the Smith.
