In a revelation that has sent ripples of excitement through the scholarly communities of Middle-earth studies, a new comprehensive analysis has emerged, shedding light on the often-overlooked Queens of the Valar. The deep dive, presented by the popular lore channel Nerd of the Rings, promises to redefine how fans understand the foundational cosmology of J. R.
R. Tolkien’s legendarium, focusing specifically on the feminine powers that shaped the very fabric of Arda.
The new video, titled “Queens of the Valar,” serves as the first installment of a two-part series designed to demystify the complex hierarchy of the divine beings known as the Valar. For decades, casual readers and even dedicated enthusiasts have struggled to recall the specific domains and deeds of these primordial entities. This comprehensive guide aims to correct that, placing the Queens at the forefront of the narrative and arguing for their indispensable role in the battle against the dark forces of Melkor, the original Dark Lord.
According to the analysis, the Valar are not merely abstract concepts but are the “powers of Arda” who shaped and rule the world, residing on the continent of Aman, also known as the Undying Lands. The video establishes a crucial theological distinction, comparing Eru Ilúvatar to a monotheistic God with a capital “G,” while the Valar are akin to polytheistic gods with a lowercase “g.” This framework is essential for understanding the polytheistic yet unified cosmology that Tolkien meticulously crafted, where divine power is delegated and distributed among distinct personalities.
The narrative structure of the video is anchored in three pivotal timeline events that serve as the bedrock for all Valar history. The first is the “Song of the Ainur,” the cosmic musical symphony through which the universe was created. It was during this primordial performance that Melkor first introduced discord, setting the stage for the eternal conflict between good and evil.
The second event involves the “Two Lamps,” colossal beacons of light that once stood at the northern and southern ends of Arda, illuminating a symmetrical world before their destruction by Melkor.
The third and perhaps most significant event for the Queens is the creation of the “Two Trees” of Valinor. These majestic plants, Telperion and Laurelin, provided light to the Undying Lands after the destruction of the Lamps. Their eventual destruction by Melkor and the monstrous spider Ungoliant is a pivotal tragedy, yet their final flower and fruit were salvaged to become the Moon and the Sun.
The Queens of the Valar are intrinsically linked to these celestial bodies and the very light of creation, a connection that has profound implications for the rest of Tolkien’s history.
The first and most prominent Queen profiled is Varda Elentári, known as the Queen of the Stars. The video emphasizes that Varda is the highest of the female Valar and is considered one of the three “High Ones” of Arda. Her knowledge is said to encompass every region of Eä, the created universe, and she is described as being too beautiful for words, radiating the very light of Eru Ilúvatar himself.
From the very beginning, Varda perceived the evil in Melkor’s mind during the Song of the Ainur and despised him, establishing a deep-seated enmity between them.
The analysis reveals that Melkor fears and hates Varda more than any other Vala because she is associated with light, a force he cannot control. This fear is well-founded, as Varda’s actions have consistently thwarted his plans. During the Spring of Arda, she filled the Two Lamps with light, and later, when the Elves awoke, she set new stars in the sky specifically for them, using the dew from the silver tree Telperion.
This act of creation is described as the greatest labor of the Valar since the beginning of time, cementing her status as the most beloved of the Valar to the Elven people.
The reverence the Elves hold for Varda is a recurring theme throughout Tolkien’s works. They call upon her in their darkest hours, using her Sindarin name, Elbereth Gilthoniel. The video highlights specific instances from “The Lord of the Rings,” such as the Elves singing her praises in the Shire and Frodo calling out to her when attacked by the Nazgûl at Weathertop.
Aragorn himself notes that her name is “deadly” to the Ringwraiths, underscoring the spiritual power she wields against the forces of darkness.
Furthermore, Varda’s role extends to the creation of the Silmarils, the three jewels crafted by Fëanor. It was Varda who hallowed these gems, making it so that any evil creature who touched them would be burned. This divine sanctioning is a critical detail, explaining why the Silmarils became such coveted and dangerous objects.
At the end of the First Age, Varda also placed Eärendil, the mariner, into the sky with a Silmaril bound to his brow, creating the brightest star, a symbol of hope against Morgoth.
The second Queen profiled is Yavanna, the Giver of Fruits, who is described as the Queen of the Earth. Responsible for all growing things, Yavanna is second only to Varda in reverence among the Elves. Her usual form is that of a tall woman robed in green, and she is the wife of Aulë the Smith, the creator of the Dwarves.
The video notes a fascinating dynamic in their relationship, as Yavanna feared that her husband’s creations would cut down all the trees of Middle-earth, leading to a direct appeal to Eru Ilúvatar.
This appeal resulted in the creation of the Ents, the shepherds of the trees, a direct answer to Yavanna’s prayers. This story highlights her role as a protector of nature and her deep connection to the living world. When Melkor destroyed the Two Lamps, it was Yavanna who enacted the “Sleep of Yavanna,” a protective slumber that fell upon Middle-earth to preserve its flora and fauna until light could return.
This act demonstrates her immense power over life and her willingness to intervene to safeguard her domain.
Yavanna’s greatest creation came after the destruction of the Lamps, when her song brought forth the Two Trees of Valinor, Telperion and Laurelin. These trees became the primary source of light for the Undying Lands. However, after their destruction by Melkor and Ungoliant, Yavanna examined their remains and declared she could heal them if she had the light of the Silmarils.
When Fëanor refused, she, with the help of Nienna, managed to coax a last flower and fruit from the dying trees, which were then fashioned into the Moon and the Sun by Aulë.
The video also touches upon Yavanna’s involvement in the Third Age, revealing that she begged the Maia Curumo, who would become Saruman, to take her servant Radagast the Brown with him as one of the Istari, or Wizards. This seemingly minor detail is presented as a potential seed of the contempt Saruman later felt for Radagast, adding a layer of political intrigue to the divine council’s decisions. Yavanna’s foresight and concern for the natural world are shown to have long-lasting consequences, even in the later ages of Middle-earth.
The third Queen, Nienna, the Lady of Mercy, is presented as a figure of profound sorrow and pity. On the surface, she may seem like a “Debbie Downer,” but the video argues she played a pivotal role in the history of Arda. As the sister of the Lords Mandos and Irmo, Nienna is associated with grief, mourning, and the wounds inflicted upon the world by evil.
Yet, it is said that those who listen to her learn wisdom and endurance in grief, making her a source of strength rather than despair.
Nienna’s part in the Music of the Ainur was one of deep sadness, which introduced grief into the world, a necessary counterpoint to joy. She lives alone in the distant west, in the Halls of Nienna, near the Halls of Mandos, where she comforts the dead who cry out to her. Her most significant connection to the main narrative is her close relationship with the Maia Olórin, who is known to fans as Gandalf.
It is said that Gandalf learned much from her, which explains his profound compassion, his understanding of pity, and his patience.
The video explicitly draws a line from Nienna’s teachings to Gandalf’s crucial decision to pity Bilbo Baggins and not 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 him when he had the chance, a moment that changed the course of the War of the Ring. Nienna’s influence is also felt in the physical world, as she wept on the mound of Ezellohar, watering the earth with her tears, which helped the Two Trees grow. After their destruction, her weeping cleansed the filth of Ungoliant, enabling Yavanna to bring forth the last fruit and flower that became the Sun and Moon.
Perhaps the most controversial aspect of Nienna’s story is her support for Melkor when he sued for pardon after his first capture. Despite spending her time mourning his destruction, she spoke in favor of his release, a decision that ultimately backfired catastrophically. This act highlights her boundless capacity for pity, even for the most evil of beings, and serves as a tragic lesson in the dangers of misplaced mercy.
Her role complicates the simple binary of good and evil, suggesting that even divine wisdom can be flawed.
The fourth Queen, Estë, is known as “the Gentle” and possesses the power to heal all hurts and weariness. Her favorite place is the island of Tol Eressëa within the tree-shadowed Lake of Lórellin in the gardens of Lórien, a location in Valinor distinct from the later Elven realm in Middle-earth. Estë and her husband Irmo tend to the Elves of Valinor, providing them with refreshment and rest.
Even the other Valar are said to go to her gardens to find ease from the burdens of Arda, underscoring her importance as a source of respite.
Estë’s influence extends to the celestial mechanics of the world. The video reveals that Varda originally intended to place the Sun and Moon in the sky simultaneously, one traveling from the east and the other from the west, to allow for a mingling of their lights. However, Estë and Irmo spoke against this, arguing that the excessive heat and light would wither their gardens, hide the stars, and banish restful sleep from the earth.
Varda heeded their counsel, changing the course of the celestial bodies so they would take turns in the sky.
This intervention demonstrates that the Queens were not merely passive figures but actively shaped the fundamental conditions of life in Arda. Estë’s concern for rest and healing had a direct impact on the daily cycle of day and night, a detail that fans may never have considered. Her power is quiet and restorative, a stark contrast to the more dramatic displays of power from Varda or Yavanna, yet it is no less essential to the well-being of the world.
The video then moves to the lesser-known Queens, starting with Vairë the Weaver. Vairë is the wife of Mandos, the Doomsman of the Valar, and is responsible for weaving the story of the world. The tapestries she creates clothe the Halls of Mandos, chronicling everything that has ever happened.
The video notes that the Elf-queen Miriel, the mother of Fëanor, entered into Vairë’s service after her return to life, recording all the deeds of the House of Finwë. This positions Vairë as the keeper of history, a role of immense importance in a world where memory is sacred.
Next is Vána, the Ever-Young, the younger sister of Yavanna. Like her sister, Vána has influence over the flora and fauna of Middle-earth. It is said that all flowers spring as she passes and open if she glances upon them, and all birds sing at her coming.
She is described as having the beauty of both heaven and earth upon her face, and she lives in gardens filled with golden flowers. Vána is married to Oromë the Huntsman, and two notable Maiar served her: Arien, who later guides the Sun, and Melian, who would leave to become a queen in Middle-earth.
The final Queen profiled is Nessa the Dancer, known for her incredible speed, being “swift as an arrow.” She could outrun the deer that followed her in the wild and was renowned for her dancing ability on the evergreen lawns of Valimar. Nessa is the sister of Oromë and married Tulkas the Strong on the Isle of Almaren in the Year of the Lamps.
Her domain is one of joy, movement, and vitality, representing the more playful and energetic aspects of the divine.
The video concludes by summarizing the seven Queens of the Valar: Varda the Queen of Stars, Yavanna the Giver of Fruits, Nienna the Lady of Mercy, Estë the Gentle, Vairë the Weaver, Vána the Ever-Young, and Nessa the Dancer. This comprehensive overview is designed to equip fans with the knowledge to confidently name and discuss these powerful figures. The presentation argues that understanding these Queens is essential to grasping the full scope of Tolkien’s mythology, as they are not secondary characters but co-equal architects of the world.
The release of this analysis has sparked significant discussion among fans, with many expressing surprise at the depth of influence wielded by these characters. The video’s focus on the Queens serves as a corrective to the often male-dominated narratives of fantasy, highlighting the essential feminine principles of light, nature, mercy, healing, memory, and joy that underpin the entire legendarium. The promise of a follow-up video covering the Lords of the Valar has only intensified the anticipation within the community.
As the lore community digests this new presentation, the call to action is clear: the next time someone challenges you to name the Valar, you can confidently list the Queens and their domains. The legacy of these divine beings is now more accessible than ever, ensuring that the Queens of the Valar will no longer be relegated to the footnotes of history but will be recognized as the central figures they have always been. The story of Middle-earth is, in many ways, the story of their light, their grief, and their enduring hope.
