The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
First rose in I 542 or soon thereafter;1 remained visible as the Morning or Evening Star
Location
Flying between Valinor and the Void beyond the world
Origins
Eärendil's vessel Vingilot, hallowed by the Valar and piloted by Eärendil with a Silmaril bound to his brow
Race
Divisions
Edain (through his father), Noldor (through his mother)
Culture
Family
Pronunciation
Eärendil is pronounced 'eh-are'ndil'
Meaning
Eärendil means 'sea-lover'
Other names

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About this entry:

  • Updated 21 August 2016
  • This entry is complete

Star of Eärendil

The Morning and Evening Star

"Surely that is a Silmaril that shines now in the West?"
Maedhros, on first seeing the Star of Eärendil
Quenta Silmarillion 24
Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath

The shining light of the Silmaril rescued from Angband by Lúthien and Beren, and carried into the skies by Eärendil aboard his vessel Vingilot. As it first rose in the West, it was recognised by Maedhros as the Jewel of his father that he had sought for so long, now placed out of his reach beyond the confines of the world.

It was Eärendil and the light of his Star that led the Edain to Númenor in the early Second Age, and at that time the light of the Star was so brilliant that it hid all the other stars in the sky. From its guiding light came one of the Númenóreans' names for their land, Elenna, meaning 'Starwards'.

The light of Eärendil's Star played a crucial role much later in history, too: it was light from this Star that was trapped in Frodo's Star-glass, his gift from Galadriel, which helped him survive his journey into Mordor. Even today, the Star still shines - the story of Eärendil and his Silmaril was the Elvish account of the 'star' we know today as the planet Venus.


Notes

1

I 542 is the year that Eärendil succeeded in reaching Aman and speaking before the Valar. It was after this that the Valar carried Vingilot to the Door of Night so that the Star of Eärendil could take to the skies, but we do not know for sure how much time passed between the two events. The wording of the relevant passage in The Silmarillion does not give any specific timings, but the phrasing there implies that the Star rose almost immediately after Eärendil's arrival in Valinor.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 21 August 2016
  • This entry is complete

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