Queens of the Valar | Tolkien Explained

[@NerdoftheRings]

Who is your favorite among the Valar? Do you ever feel the need to use flash cards to remember all their names? :)

[@Akechi910]

It's Melkor, I'm positive most of the fans favorite vala is Melkor, it's a love and hate feeling about him while he killed and destroyed many people and things that were important he is the most charismatic of the vala and did more things in the world than the other useless valar who just sat there and saw the world and it's creatures burn till someone came to them and said: hey umm our world is burning over there and everything is getting destroyed for the mistake you guys made so care to come and help us out after +500 years?

[@Akechi910]

Melkor is not the vala we necessary love, but the one we have the most admiration for.

[@thorondor1593]

Manwe is a great guy. Excellent aerodynamicist too.

[@dariusmot8440]

Yep i know all their names: Melkor Manwe Varda Ulmo Aule Yavannah Orome Niena Mandos Lorien Este Vaire Vana Tulkas Nessa

[@nigeldepledge3790]

My favourite is Estë. Grey is her raiment, and rest is her gift.

[@holymolythejabroni9040]

Nienna is my favorite Valar by far. She’s such a unique god, and really encapsulates the overarching theme of Tolkien’s entire legendarium: mercy.

[@untruelie2640]

She and Varda are certainly the most "original" Valar Tolkien created. However, I personally like Ulmo even more. But you are right, she is the personification of Tolkien's most important literary motive, although I would say that it isn't mercy, but grief for things that are gone forever and the mourning about the fundamentally damaged Arda. There is a deep underlying sadness in all of Tolkien's work, but it's not necessary a bad thing, since it makes us value the good things even more.

[@TemperedMedia]

Nienna weeping on the remains of the Two Trees is the essence of repentance washing away past sins, birthing life-giving fruits. Tolkien's devout Catholicism poured into her character perfectly, as (aside from the influence of the occult) Catholicism is probably the most somber and mournful of all the world religions that I have encountered.

[@pirojfmifhghek566]

I like that her character is complicated. We all naturally tend to think of mercy as a virtue, but that kind of absolute ideology was also instrumental in enabling Melkor to wreak havoc on the world followed by two entire ages of destruction and misery.

[@david9243]

Im happy to see a fellow Niennaite. I love that there is a Vala for such distant specifics as mercy, compassion and growth and that she entered the world in grief (its such a Tolkien thing to write) and that her powerful spirit was carrying by her brightest pupil Gandalf to the shores of Middle Earth. Everything he did had her legacy over it like sparing the life of Gollum (or teaching people about sparing his life), awakening the hearts of men during the last age, seeing the uncorruptable steadfast nature of the hobbits when no one else did and that he made them grow in courage and character - this is Niennas growth. Grief and growth arent mutually exclusive. In grief you can make things grow because you learn to value and what to value as she represented the duality. What happened in the third age is Niennas triumph and everything she represents.

[@Shahzoda9Turdimurodova]

Too mine 😇😘

[@celeborn_of_lorien]

I've always loved Elbereth. The wonder and brilliance she lends the world is unsurpassed. It's no wonder to me why the Elves revere her so greatly.

[@laurelelasselin]

A Elbereth Gilthoniel!

[@wesieboy56]

i love how much Nerd goes into telling how much they love her, its amazing

[@gutz166]

Well, I love Iove Yavanna's and Aule's back and forth just after Illuvatar agreed to create the Ents...so organic just like real life couples. As for my favorite...Nessa the dancer.

[@JonBoullion1020]

You mean their Marriage? 😐

[@KororaPenguin]

And it must have been to Aulë, Yavanna, and Melian that the Istari went for help making forms that would work for ages and ages.

[@jadelynn2826]

"Feanor, a jerk of an elf" I love that and I'm using that

[@aesir1ases64]

"badass"

[@wildfire9280]

@@aesir1ases64 “bad ass”

[@Charles_S09]

@@wildfire9280 “Bass”

[@abdullahimuse8119]

Feanor did nothing wrong.

[@treyowen9213]

@@abdullahimuse8119 uuuuh, yeah he did.

[@grandpatzer]

My favourite of the queens of the Valar is Nienna, whose influence upon Gandalf planted a seed of pity and mercy for the good and gentle folk of Middle Earth. It was this influence that caused Gandalf to remain truest to his mission when all other wizards failed.

[@Akechi910]

Fun fact: Melkor once asked Varda's hand in marriage but she refused due the reason shown in the video and instead married his brother Manwe who was a "good" boy better than the "evil" Melkor so our guy Morgoth hated both of them very much for this particular reason too.

[@FreedomAndPeaceOnly]

Smart Women cast asside the wannabe-hawt badboy adventure and take the hand of less _"dominant"_ Men who treasure them way more regardless.

[@azaram8133]

Virgin Melkor vs Chad Varda

[@Akechi910]

@@FreedomAndPeaceOnly Yes I believe she was correct on rejecting Melkor cuz he had evil intensions and would only use her for his benefits, what I'm saying is her choosing Manwe wasn't the smartest choice either I mean Manwe is not the smartest of the valar cuz later on he freed Melkor then leading to more tragedies for the people of the world, I think Ulmo was a more suitable choice to be Varda's husband cuz he was certainly wiser than Manwe and understood the situation and the pain the people were in more.

[@azaram8133]

@@Akechi910 Perhaps Varda is the brains in the pairing

[@EvilSandwich]

So Melkor basically Incel'd so hard, it destroyed the Two Lamps.

[@michaelkelleypoetry]

Yavanna and Aulë are probably my favorite Valar. I just love the whole backstory to the dwarves and Ents. If it wasn't for Aulë's humility, the dwarves may have ended up as kind of race like the Orcs.

[@mfcabrini]

Tolkien in a KZbin video said that the Valar are like saints in the Catholic Church. You all probably know that he was a devout Catholic. My favorite is Yavanna. Perfect that her little sister makes flowers bloom and birds sing.

[@Amphitera]

that's pretty funny, because they are like copy-pastes of various pagan gods/fairies. but then, the church never did anything BUT copy whatever was already there.

[@RHICfct]

Varda is by far my favorite Valar, To create such glorious things as Stars and Celestial objects is what made Melkor fear, and hate her the most, and with good reason i think, i always thought Varda was more powerfull than Melkor because she could create what he craved... Light, This is why Melkor turned to darkkness, something he could create and contole. Also she was the manifestation of Ëa in a way, so if i see the stars i always think about Varda!

[@laurelelasselin]

A Elbereth Gilthoniel silivren penna míriel o menel aglar elenath o galadhremmin ennorath Fanuilos, le linnathon nef aear, si nef aearon!

[@Archgeek0]

I like the bit where she up and made a constellation of bright new stars shaped like a scythe and positioned to sweep its blade right over Angband as a direct challenge. Very "You want Arda? Come out and *get* it, coward." of her.

[@laurelelasselin]

@@Archgeek0 'And high in the north as a challenge to Melkor she set the crown of seven mighty stars to swing, Valacirca, the Sickle of the Valar and sign of doom.' - The Silmarillion

[@leenaleewitch3731]

Well the fact she could create was a big case of jealousy for him.

[@willardsteele4857]

She casts spells at level 100 and knows all the spell in existence. I’d be scared of that too if I were Melkor.

[@scottwilliams895]

Ending with that clip of Colbert... inspired. I hadn't seen that interview, so I truly didn't know what happened. I was all set to look up that video directly after this one. And then... BOOOOOM! "You come into MY house!"

[@rook1513]

"A jerk of an elf." Awesome.

[@EXMORTUSTV]

Lol. Still one of the most badass elves ever.

[@foolproofman]

​ @EXMORTUS TV "...Therefore I say that we will go on, and this doom I add: the deeds that we shall do shall be the matter of song until the last days of Arda." And so it was and is.

[@EdricLysharae]

So true.

[@AnnaMarianne]

I'm reading this comment before watching the video, and I'm guessing that the quote is about my most favouritest Elvish princeling, Fëanor. Edit: Knew it I love him so much

[@smoggyghost3773]

The jerk of the elves/!

[@dariusmot8440]

Manwe and varda! I like how Melkor feared Varda the most! And it is very interesting for them to live at the top of the tallest mountain

[@General12th]

@@FreedomAndPeaceOnly Take your assetry somewhere else. The Legendarium has no need for your putrid bile.

[@dylanx886]

@@FreedomAndPeaceOnly not sure about this interpretation. Morgoth wasn’t driven by a call for “diversity,” he was driven by greed and envy, and to possess all of arda in his one will - the opposite of diversity. Eru and the valar embrace and love the diversity of the world, rejoicing in their shared belonging and harmony in the song of creation.

[@FreedomAndPeaceOnly]

@@dylanx886 I just wanted to hate a bit on the forces of disorder in our world, which are liberals, diversitists, leftists etc. May they all die slow and painful deaths. =)

[@desmonides]

Living at the top of the tallest mountain is a very cookie cutter home of various pantheons 🏔

[@damonwillis3004]

While I do love Varda, Nienna has a special place in my heart. There's just something about her that's so magnetic to me.

[@Delta040301]

Melkor: Screw your lamps, screw your elves. *Sees Mairon and blushes* Melkor: I'm keeping this. Also screw your trees.

[@bosertheropode5443]

Morgoth: Screw you guys, I'm going home

[@joshuajoseph5998]

Tolkien was a devout Catholic. Varda was his counterpart for the Virgin Mary, who is Queen of Heaven. It is widely known that satan (Morgoth) feared her more than all the angels and saints put together, for it is in her account, satan refused to accept that a weak mortal could be superior to him.

[@Knight860]

Nienna is also important for her mercy and represents the Christian tenant of pity/mercy for others. Without her, Bilbo might of killed Gollum and dramatically changed the ending of the LOTR's with Sauron possibly reclaiming the ring from a corrupted Frodo.

[@faustomadebr]

@@Knight860 Exactly. Pretty much all Valar can be compared with some Greek/Nordic god, but Nienna is unique, because forgiveness is unique to christians among mythologies in general.

[@gelinrefira]

Ohh you mean Guan Yin.

[@desmonides]

Veneration of Mary is a heresy that is extremely antithetical to Scripture

[@joshuajoseph5998]

@@desmonides and Jesus said to his disciple Simon: "you are Peter, and on this rock i will build 50,000 protestant churches." Amen.

[@mimirtells]

My favourite is definitely Elbereth. Melkor from the boys obviously. Yes, he is still a Vala in my eyes... Nice video man

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks for watching! I think I’ll have to make Melkor his own video - lots to cover there!!

[@mimirtells]

@@NerdoftheRings I would love that. He is definitely a super interesting character. Also waiting for the next part of the Valar video

[@iliangathot9254]

I love how you went from beautiful words and descriptions to "a jerk of an elf" and moved on.

[@Raiseflag_Surrender]

They are not 'gods' - only elves and men called them gods, they didn't call themselves that but rather Powers (Valar is translated from Elven tongue as Powers or Beings of Power). By the way Powers - is a name of angelic 'level' in Christianity. There are 9 'levels' of angels arranged in three orders. The angelic beings of the highest order are - Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones, the middle order are - Dominions, Virtues and Powers and the lowest order are Principalities, Archangels and Angels. In Tolkiens' world there are only three kinds of angelic beings - Ainur (those who stayed near the throne of Eru and never descended into Arda) resemble beings of the highest order, Valar - who shaped and reshaped Arda's face and were basically guardians of the planet and thus resemble the middle order and Maiar - who helped common creatures as Istari and thus resemble beings of the lowest order. P.S. Tolkien was a devout Catholic Christian so he was well aware of all that I mentioned above.

[@NerdoftheRings]

You are correct that they are not gods. I made the comparison that they are like "gods" so folks could understand the ranking between them and Eru - and because, as you say, the elves and men somewhat saw them that way. One thing I would correct in your statement is that the Ainur consists of all the Valar and Maiar - so Gandalf, Melkor, Sauron, Saruman, Yavanna, Varda - they're all Ainur. Thanks for watching!

[@ATalesTruth-]

@@NerdoftheRings I will say compared to god from other mythologies they are more powerful to some Also can you do how powerful the valar are or even the maiar

[@hughobyrne2588]

"Este has the power to heal all hurts and weariness" Actually no, there was one whose weariness was not healed. The intense fiery energy of Feanor's soul was so great that giving birth to him drained Miriel of all her energy, and even her will to live. She lost hope that she'd ever be a functioning living elf, and basically died from that hopelessness(/weariness). The story that follows is interesting: Finwe, and even the Valar, lost hope for her as well, believing she would never be fit enough to live embodied - for the rest of the duration of the world! - leading to the 'divorce', as it were, between Finwe (still living and embodied) and Miriel ('dead' in body, living only in spirit in the halls of Mandos). This divorce led to complications later on, when Finwe remarried, then Miriel finally felt ready to face the world again, and the idea that Finwe should have two wives both alive and embodied was... troublesome.

[@moscanaveia]

The Silmarillion never speaks of the marital problem. What does come up os Fëanor's jealousy and resentment of his wiser brothers, Fingolfin and Finarfin

[@jandunn169]

Beyond sublime.....When I heard the name Elbereth Gilthoniel I immediately remembered that I knew the prayer. Thank you for including this in your video.. My favorite parts of LOTR are the Elven starlit scenes.....Love your videos. I love Varda and Yavanna.

[@agnilariou7776]

While watching this video a though occured to me. Of course Varda is way more powerful but aren't there some parallels between her and Galadriel? I mean Varda is for the Valar what Galadriel is for the Elves. They are both described as extremely beautiful even for the standards of their races, Varda created the stars the moon and the sun, so she is linked with light, Galadriel literally means Lady of Light. Varda was the first to understand what Melkor had in mind even before the music of the Ainur, and Galadriel had an insight in people's thoughts and motives even greater that these people understood themselves AND she understood the evil nature of Anatar better than everyone else similar to how Varda understood Morgoth's evil intentions from the very beginning. Melkor hated Varda above all Valar and Sauron thought that, in Galadriel, he had found a worthy opponent.

[@robstai9110]

In the computer game Nethack, writing "Elbereth" on the ground can help keep monsters at bay.

[@EvaSnyder]

Since Tolkien was a Catholic, I would think the Valar and the Maiar are ranks of angels. That would fit with Melkor being the angel that rebelled and became Satan. Catholic Archangels are quite powerful.

[@jaapuitroepteke2750]

Good thing he didn’t use the original depictions of elves. That would have been quite a disturbing 😅

[@MrHardeep95]

@@jaapuitroepteke2750 what’re the original depictions of elves?

[@angeljaceherondale]

Yep, which would in this, makes Manwe Michael, the 'twin' and counterpart to Lucifer.

[@howdareyouexist]

yes but they are also influenced by greek and norse gods

[@Thiago_Alves_Souza]

I think it's a mix of his faith plus Nordic/Anglo-Saxon and Celtic lore. Tolkien wanted to create a new mythology for England and all of those influenced British culture.

[@emily-crawford-soprano9181]

I was thinking about the best way to adapt the "creation symphony" of the first age and how cool would the story of the Valar be as an oratorio? Kinda like a concert based sacred drama, traditionally telling a sacred/religious story Arias to introduce the Valar, and Melkor bringing that discord, we could get like, atonal and shit at times. Unison choruses when Eru speaks, traditional voice leading choruses for narrator prose. Soloists can be more than one of the Valar for efficiency's sake. Guys, is Nienna a soprano or a mezzo? Should Melkor try to sing the Eru themes all the time and "fail" ? Would you want to comission Howard Shore for this task or would you be more stoked for an up and coming composer who loves Middle-Earth?

[@jimmyboy131]

Interesting idea. I might suggest listening to "The Siren", by Nightwish, from their live show End of an Era. That type of song is what I imagine such a symphony might include.

[@jimmyboy131]

Nienna might be a dramatic soprano. Yavanna would be a lyric soprano, like the singer in The Siren, and that would be the song she sings as she's creating the stars.

[@karlpoppins]

I think the kind of harmony you'd want to use for this work would be a clash between late Impressionism (Eru, Valar) and Expressionism (Melkor). If I were composing this, I would not opt for traditional oratorio/mass structure but instead approach the piece as one continuous work (picture something like Daphnis et Chloé but way more dissonant at times). The first arc of the work would start out of very little (pianissimo Eru theme) then introduce the important Valar and come to a climax with Eru and his Valar unison interrupted by Melkor's dissonance (you could do something like parallel minor chords on the brass, overlaying impressionistic major harmonies by a dissonance of a half-step or tritone). The rest of the piece would involve these arcs whereby Eru and his Valar are interrupted by Melkor's loud and oppressive themes (I don't remember the exact sequence of events). At the end of Creation you'd get mostly consonant harmonies but with some soft intrusions of dissonance, a sign of Melkor's underlying corruption of Eru's work.

[@FairyRingRAW]

lmao 🤣

[@bluezauza]

My favourites are Námo, Irmo , Este and Nienna. They are the healers of the soul.

[@Valerio_the_wandering_sprite]

8:58 It was probably unintentional, but in that picture Nienna bears a striking resemblance to Daenerys, except that her patronage of pity and compassion eventually saves both the world and its inhabitants.

[@theblade1251]

She's very proud on what her student became olorin teaching impacted him on his time on middle earth

[@Phantom_Zer0]

Thats an insult to Tolkien.

[@concept5631]

@@Phantom_Zer0 🤨

[@lhadzyan7300]

Varda´s importance is very high, as the quote that Melkor/Morgoth actually fears and hates more than anyone else, except Illuvatar, is very interesting. Furtherly she manages to make some substitue source of Light whenever the main sources as the Lamps, Trees or Sun & Moon were gone, as the STARS. The Silmarills were consecrated by her, so the main power on them happens to be after her power, as also she was the supporter of the life of the Two Trees as the Water Spring nearer reinforced them untill Ungoliant came to destroy all that, even droughting the spring and thus herself increasing her power inmensely. Still Varda seems to have a key-role on bringing back the Two Trees into life after the Dagor Dagorath as the New Arda restarts, by destroying the Silmarills to release their magic within. So the importance of her being actually the true second powerfull being of Ea after Eru and quite matched with Melkor, Ungoliant and Manwe is very interesting and it´s oftenly overlooked.

[@SkywalkerSamadhi]

Of theses three Varda is my favorite. I've got a thing in real life for the Stars. I understand completely why the elves valued her above all. The stars she created were the first thing they saw when they awoke beside Cuivennen and they felt connected to them for the entirety of their existence. "You come in to my house??" That was awesome!!

[@RaiVanaGames]

2:12 Varda 6:12 Yavanna 8:59 Nienna 11:01 Estë 12:12 Vairë 12:33 Vána 12:25 Nessa

[@seven0929]

OMG 12:51 This picture is just amazing!

[@John_Fugazzi]

You spoke "A Elberith Gilthoniel" beautifully. I had the LP of Tolkien reciting passages from LOTR and that was always my favorite.

[@vixendoe2545]

Yay!! Women first! Love the background music. This post is a keeper just for the massive amount of information. Thank you!! Love Varda, Oh hail! Elbereth Gilthonial!! Nienna is pretty cool too for sure.

[@NerdoftheRings]

So glad you liked it!! Thanks for watching!

[@vixendoe2545]

My pleasure. Always. Thank you for all you do. It is so appreciated.

[@jamesschrader8667]

Manwe ~ Zeus Melkor ~ Cronus Varda ~ Hera Tulkas ~ Hercules Aule ~ Hephaestus Ulmo ~ Poseidon Yavanna ~ Gaia Nessa ~ Aphrodite Orome ~ Artemis Vana ~ Demeter Este ~ Asclepius Mandos ~ Hades Vaire ~ Moira Nienna ~ Eleos Lorien ~ Morpheus I compared the Valar to the Greek gods to understand their roles better.

[@SophiaAstatine]

Varda feels more like Nyx. In the sense that you probably don't want to piss her off and she is very powerful. And also the whole association with night that's implied in being queen of stars.

[@yeahnope620]

The parallel between Cronus and Melkor does not hold up. Cronus being the master of time and also matter, would make him a merging of several of the valar. Yes indeed one could argue that earth is his domain. Whereas Melkor had a much lesser impact upon the world.

[@spenserwhite4603]

Me watching as a good Christian boy like Tolkien Varda is talked about Me: oh look, Mary,

[@tatianasalazar4066]

What similarities do yo see between Varda and Mary?

[@spenserwhite4603]

@@tatianasalazar4066 well, obviously it’s not a one to one correspondence, but the main similarity is how Frodo invokes her name in trouble similar to a Hail Mary and the Elves have songs to her similar in construction to the Hail Mary. Also, their art is similar.

[@tatianasalazar4066]

@@spenserwhite4603 so... there are many dieties around the world that are also invoked in times of trouble. Besides, Frodo pray at her because he was in darkness and she is the "Lady of the Light". And what art? But anyway, think and believe in what you please

[@spenserwhite4603]

@@tatianasalazar4066 I mean, a lot of people who study Tolkien’s work professionally agree with me. You can’t separate his Christianity from his work (as much as he wanted to it still spilled in.)

[@tatianasalazar4066]

@@spenserwhite4603 I know about his christianity, it's quite obvious in his works, but he also got inspired by various mythologies, and that's obvious too

[@jandunn169]

Interesting that Vaire is given so little time in this story, as the Weaver goddess is prominent and very important in many mythologies (Nordic, Celtic (Orchil) Navajo) weaving the fates of humans. Then Ungoliant, in the form of a spider is made into an evil character.

[@KulturanCov]

I tear up a little thinking of how a valar for pity is counted as one of the queens and biggest powers in Tolkiens world. I do believe that pity and understanding are enormous powers, easily underestimated.

[@Jiggerjaw]

Let's see, without watching... Manwe, Yevonna, Varda, Ulmo, Tulkas, Orome, yeah that's it I think I'm tapped out. Oh and I guess Melkor... And I don't know how to spell them because I listened to Silmarillion as an audiobook most recently, rather than reading it.

[@Jiggerjaw]

Oh shoot Aule!

[@producermind9030]

Love the ending.. throwing down some JRR..! Boom!!

[@tscarb]

Well done That was beautiful I would love more stories about the ents!!

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks for watching! I’d love to do a video on the ents. Might be fun to do a reading video from a section with Treebeard too!

[@tscarb]

I appreciate you dude I really do Many people are doing things about the entwives and those brown land stories but I’ve always wondered after listening and re-reading some things what would happen if an Ent took a walk in the old Forest you know it? What if he decided to stay? What would that do?

[@Shaden0040]

Here is an idea for a video. For those of the fellowship that went to aman, once there, Where did they go to? I suspect Frodo and bilbo went to dwell in Lorien with Este. Where went Elrond, Galadriel, Celeborn, Legolas, Gimli, and Samwise Gamgee?

[@Akechi910]

Although my knowledge is not full but Celeborn didn't went to aman with the others because he was a sindar and sindar elves they loved middle earth more than aman and unlike noldor who all migrated to valinor few of the sindar went to aman after the war of the ring.

[@superblahman]

@@Akechi910 I believe he did go, I think he explored the world for as bit, and then left iin the early Fourth Age, probably around the time Sam went west.

[@JH-zs3bs]

Well for Sam it is obvious, he'd go where Frodo went. Even without their Friendship, where would you go as one of only three hobbits in the land of the undying if not to the other two Hobbits?

[@PanzerShrek94]

Ignorant people "Tolkien was sexist,he didn't write strong women characters"

[@hamidshuttari4492]

Question: when the two trees are destroyed, why didn't/couldn't Yavanna and Nienna just recreate them again like they did the first time??? Come to think of it why not just recreate the two lamps in the first place?????

[@loganw1232]

Varda is similar to the Virgin Mary.

[@Shaden0040]

Varda is also known as Elbareth Gilthoniel. Frodo calls upon her in the lair of Shelob while he holds forth the phial of Galadriel that holds the light of Earendil's Star (One of the silmarills) caught in reflection in the waters of the Mirror of Galadriel and contained in the Phial.

[@teehongyee4074]

*elbereth

[@woolflower8316]

Yes this is explained on the video...

[@narsilreforged]

Sorry but the Silmarills are in three places, the sea, sky, (with Earendil)and fire (under ground) as we can see in the end of the Silmarillion. What she gave to Frodo was probably something made in Gondolin or by Celebrimbor.

[@teehongyee4074]

@@narsilreforged nah, its probably the light of the silmarils from Earendils star captured in a phial

[@narsilreforged]

@@teehongyee4074 I agree. That’s probably what it is because anytime Sam or Frodo used it they call to Varda lady of stars so it would make sense.

[@phuongminhdao7492]

Nienna and Este are my favourite ones. I wonder when the Elf heal others, do they say prayers to Varda or Este?

[@KeppyKep]

Fantastic. So much information. I know I won't remember all their names, but I know much more about their histories, roles, and how they fit into the main stories

[@TheBenzooh]

i love yavanna and aluë and the dwarves. it explains everything about the dwarves. who they are. the reason aluë felt like he had to hide his creations from her. she made it so the dwarves would not feel the need or love for any of her creations. the trees. so thats why dwarves are hole diggers and live underground. i love it

[@janepowers8741]

Love these videos. Thank you so much for making them!

[@felipaorfr]

This is awesome, waiting for the "Lords of the Valar" video!

[@Phoenix-King-ozai]

Is it true that Originally Melkor had a thing for varda and she rejected him seeing his innate evil and chose Manwe ? Then on, Melkor hated her and her light with a passion and that’s why he and his servants destroyed the trees, its saplings and anything light giving ?

[@juliahempstead9237]

Our second daughter is named Nienna My seventh daughter is Elenya

[@Jayniboi]

3:12 somehow i imagined them just sitting there eating popcorn and watching the battle of the last allience and the second ringwar just chilling and doing nothing about it

[@FantasticExplorers]

500th!!! WHAATTT!!! OMG! I LOVE THAT JAMES FRANCO CLIP!!!!

[@qwertyTRiG]

I was getting Yavanna and Elbereth mixed up.

[@NerdoftheRings]

That’s part of the reason I did this video - I would get different Valar mixed up and forget names all the time!

[@wilsontheconqueror8101]

Well done! Thanks for the information on a beautiful world Tolkien created!

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Universeknight10055]

This great videos & make more great videos. This video get two ✌ thumbs 😊😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤🔥🔥🔥👍👍. I enjoy and fun of lord of ring and other. I want read lord of rings. I want know about lord of ring universes.

[@KulturanCov]

I always had to think of how Yavanna and Aule must have had an awkward relationship. Her, the creator of all green things such as trees, and him the industrialist and smith, wood hacker and burner.

[@jeffreysommer3292]

I loathe Stephen Colbert, but even I have to give him points as a Tolkien nerd.

[@hunguyen1402]

I love this story it so wonderful story on earth

[@huanhoundofthevailinor2374]

Ulmo probably my favourite and I would never be able to name them all hard to remember my own name at times lol

[@blakebennett3987]

Varda is probably my favorite. her works are so divine that beholding them enlightens the soul. Its a cool concept that feels like a synthesis of the pagan and catholic influences rather then more one or the other like the others.

[@DeeMorrison818]

Thanks so much for doing this. I began reading the Simarillion and this will help a lot!

[@NerdoftheRings]

Enjoy your dive further into Middle-earth!! 😁

[@simoncooper6752]

This is Brilliant, Thank you! Just what I needed. I finished reading The Silmarillion a couple of months ago and I kept struggling to wrap my head around all the different names.

[@NerdoftheRings]

I’m the same way! One of the side benefits of doing a Tolkien KZbin channel is it helps me memorize a ton of stuff I would otherwise not known off the top of my head! 😁

[@gylastra3163]

Hey, I have always wanted to read all of tolkin legandarian,can you guide me from where should I start ,I have the 4 books LOTR and hobbit, should I start from there?

[@NerdoftheRings]

Great question! The Hobbit is by far the easiest read, so it’s a great place to start. Then read the Lord of the Rings. After that, I’d recommend The Children of Húrin. It’s summarized in The Silmarillion, but the book is a fully contained narrative story - and its a great book. From there, you can go to The Silmarillion, which is a more challenging read. After that, you can get into the more academic reads like Beren & Lúthien, Fall of Gondolin, and the History of Middle-earth books - all of which contain some narrative story, along with a good amount of background info on Tolkien’s revisions and writing process.

[@gylastra3163]

Nerd of the Rings thanks for the guidance

[@timothymulia]

can I ask if in Tolkien's universe it is explained whether there are shrines for the prayer of the kings and queens of the valar or is there a special shrine for the prayer of eru iluvatar?

[@aryahammon3630]

In the movies, Legolas says that his people were the first to teach the trees to speak. Is that just a movie thing, or did the elves have anything to do with the ents amd trees under Yavanna?

[@joshuapatrick682]

You say Feanor refused the Valar but I remember reading it where he asked for a moment to think about it at which time it was reported they had been stolen?

[@PJOZeus]

Either Nienna or Ulno (Poseidon-esque lord of the Valar) have to be my personal favourites, and despite disagreeing, they are awfully similar in personality

[@emperornapoleon6204]

Props to Stephen here! He has clearly been watching Nerd of the Rings😉 or read the Silmarillion, but either way, he’s educated😂

[@vinnythewebsurfer]

“Yavanna, giver of gifts” *Sauron intensifies*

[@tan_the_man]

I think Nieanna is my favorite. something about what she does is really touching and I could absolutely see helping other beings in middle earth

[@angeljaceherondale]

A jerk of an elf made me smile x''D

[@christopherbryansaldana5714]

Make more Videos about dwarves please, specially their wars with the dragons😊

[@popeye8314]

Does Vana has something to do with the young lady that lives with Tom Bombadil?

[@foolproofman]

I do not know about you guys, but all of this (the comsology of Tolkien) makes more sense to me, than all the nonsense our society revolves around.

[@cynthiavanteylingen7922]

Join the club reality is less explained in my life. Then the whole of middle earth and i havent evem read the books just watched the movies and lots of explainer videos. I did read the hobbit but fell asleep. How come i can read 2000 pages of robert jordan non stop but lotr zzzzz.

[@yeahnope620]

@@cynthiavanteylingen7922 meanwhile you made the supporting of a terrorist regime the entirety of your identity hahahaha. Maybe you should read some more.

[@cynthiavanteylingen7922]

@@yeahnope620 wait what terrorist regime we are talking abouy books...

[@EvaSnyder]

I love the way you pronounce the names.

[@forestgreen41]

Love this video as usual! Great Work!! May I ask for a video?? (I don't know where to ask) I would like to know about the main female characters. There are so few named and important women in Tolkien's work, and yet when we do hear about them, they are usually really important.... So... pleaaaaaase???? (my favorites are Eowyn and Luthien btw)

[@shehansenanayaka3046]

Brilliant video. We always appreciate your hard work and dedication towards these videos. Love and appreciation from Sri Lankan fan of you. 🇱🇰🤝🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@Smusie]

Can we please appreciate the artwork you showed? There were some really beautiful paintings.. :) ♥

[@fegu]

Colbert is amazing

[@truepercula]

Not sure "gods" would be accurate. Song of the Ainur sung by "angels" and the Valar would be closer to Archangels given Tolkien's Judeo-Christian background.

[@Jamiefallslikeabrick]

Who unlikes a video like this?...I can't understand why you would even watch it if you wasn't into this content....this is surely Morgoth spreading his discord from the void.

[@acephas3]

Varda is OP and almost the single most responsible for Melkor being unable to completely dominate once the elves were born. She blessed the hill, the sun pushes back the Orcs everyday until the end of time, saw Melkor for what he was when Manwë could not; her light defeats the shadow. TL/DR - All Valar are associated with an element and her element happens to be Holy.

[@acsu96]

My favorites have to be Nienna, especially in her relationship with Olórin, and her attachment to pity and hope; and Ulmo, since I have a fondness for when the Greek gods interfere in the quests of heroes and he reminds me most of them. In particular I recall his appearance in the story of Túrin for some reason sticks out in my mind.

[@CyrusTheRed]

Another excellent video! Looking forward to The Kings of the Valar video next!

[@johndododoe1411]

Still waiting, it's been 7 months.

[@Bluefooted23]

Which picture is the one at 4:01? The one with the woman with the starry hair? That's so cool!

[@vikingmike97]

Would love a more in depth video on Tulkas. That dude is one bad man

[@djJaXx101]

If i was Gandalf... Barkeep: What can I get you Ganfalf: I was totally there at the creation of THE PLANET! and pint of beer please

[@PETERGIMLE]

In the outro you call Yavanna 'the giver of gifts'. Aren't you accidentally mixing up 'The Giver of Fruit' and 'The Lord of Gifts'?

[@maggotmusic757]

Wow they were really just going to keep the moon and sun just sitting there baking everything and leaving everyone without sleep LoL

[@PriyaPans]

Will there be a video on the maiar and how they all the along. Gandalf and saruman and radagast and he blue wizards perhaps and maybe others too?

[@NerdoftheRings]

I love talking about the wizards! I'm sure I will do a video on them before long! :)

[@MRdaBakkle]

Rude. Fëanor is no Jerk. Just misunderstood.

[@cryo1186]

I would not call lightly Fëanor a jerk, as he was not trusting Valar anymore due to Morgoth's lies. Valar were not totally polite in requesting his most precious creations. If he is to be called a jerk, what about Nienna and other Valar being idiots in believing Melkor could be a good boy?

[@Marleyjr00X]

Yavanna is my fave. Literally mother nature.

[@ZemplinTemplar]

Whenever I explain the Valar and Maiar to anyone not familiar with Tolkien's fictional pantheon, I tend to say the Valar and the Maiar are the guardian spirits of the world, each specialized, all of them serving Eru (the Valar the "bosses", in charge, the Maiar in a more servant/pupil/vassal position). This is also consistent with likening them (and Maiar) to the proverbial "guardian angels" (if you will), but without referring to them as either literally gods or angels/archangels. I also like to bring up the fact (to Tolkien newbies) that even the hobbit calendar (and the Arnor/Númenorean calendar it was inspired by) has at least one day of the week that references the Valar.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

Correct me if I'm wrong but are there no black Valar, Maiar, Elves or humans in the Tolkienverse?

[@marklizama5560]

I’m not sure about black, but there is a tribe of early humans called the House of Bëor, of whom some members had dark skin; and I have seen fan art of Rian, a member of the House of Bëor, that portrays as having really dark skin.

[@Alejojojo6]

- *_Valar_* : No not really. Although the Valar usually dont have a true form nor sex (Ulmo rarely takes a body for example), they adopted one to be in front of the Elves who lived with them. As the elves are rather "white", they took white forms. Although some may have black appearance if you want to think so, like Nienna or Vaire. This is because the others are described in detail in their physical form and are considered fair skin and light haired in it's descriptions. - *_Humans_* : some tribes of men were black or dark skinned. But they had been corrupted by Sauron to workship him and evil and very few stayed loyal to the valar. Specially those of Harad and Far Harad. They are actually called the Orientals and described as darker skin. - *_Elves_* : The answer is no, as they are fair like light and fair skin is more in tone with the light and black with the darkness. So it would not make sense. Also their descriptions macht more white appearances. The Noldor are said to have light skin, dark hair and blue eyes while the Vanyar have blond hair and fair skin. The Teleri have white hair. - *_Dwarves_* : Yes, some may be dark. There are 7 "tribes or Clans" and some are said to be darker than others. - *_Maiar_* : We dont know but mostly like the Valar, those described arent said to be black. Although many existed in Valinor so why not. Some also rarely took a form. - *_Hobbits_* : There is a tribe said to be darker... but in the sense of olive skin rather than black.

[@silverdoe3691]

"And because Shively isn't dead"

[@freishavocadoo7399]

varda after the two broken lamps and the trees: "F this, im gon put two big ass balls in the sky"

[@GrymmSoul]

It's like when a toddler keeps knocking over a lamp their parents keep having to replace, so they just end up putting the next lamp on the highest shelf in the room....

[@JimmyZuz]

What's the name of the music played during the varda section?