A description of each of the 14 Valar, along with their main roles in Arda and a themed second breakfast for each one to help keep them all straight!

If you’ve ever had trouble keeping track of all the Valar in The Silmarillion – there are 14 of them after all! – you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a description of all 14 and their main roles in Arda, as described more in full by Tolkien in The Silmarillion. I’ve also included a themed second breakfast that I created with each Vala in mind – some are a bit of a stretch, but it’s helped me to keep them all straight. So hopefully it can help you too!

The Lords of the Valar

Manwë Súlimo

• Spouse of Varda
• Dearest to Ilúvatar and so understands his purposes most clearly
• Lord of the realm of Arda, ruler of all dwelling there
• Delights in the wind, clouds and air
• Has no thought for his own honour and is not jealous of power
• He loves poetry and song: ‘poetry is the delight of Manwë, and the song of words is his music.’
• Blue is the fire of his eyes and his sceptre is made of sapphire (made by the Noldor for him)
• Second Breakfast: I chose bagels for Manwë because once they’re covered with cream cheese, the looked like fluffy clouds to represent the skies and air that Manwë loves.

Ulmo

• Lord of Waters
• He is single, dwells alone in the Outer Ocean, and doesn’t stay anywhere long
• Second in might to Manwë
• Loves both Elves and Men and never abandoned them
• His horns are names the Ulumúri
• News from all of Arda comes to him through all forms of water
• Second Breakfast: Hopefully this sea-themed blue smoothie bowl is self-explanatory to represent Ulmo, Lord of Waters!

Aulë

• Spouse of Yavanna
• Next in might after Ulmo
• Has lordship over all the substances of which Arda is made
• Smith and master of all crafts
• He fashioned the lands, and ‘wrought much in fellowship with Manwë and Ulmo’
• Melkor was jealous of him because the two were the most alike in thoughts and powers
• Second Breakfast: This one may be a bit of a stretch, but to me a cereal bowl made a lot of sense for Aulë. All of the different ingredients remind me of the tools and creations of a craftsmen – especially the cereal rings!

Oromë

• Spouse of Vána
• Less strong than Tulkas, but more dreadful in anger
• Loved the lands of Middle-earth and left them reluctantly for Valinor, so often goes back
• Hunter of monsters and fell beasts
• Delights in horses and hounds and trees
• Also known as Aldaron and Tauron, Lord of Forests
• His horn is named the Valaróma
• Second Breakfast: I chose avocado toast for Oromë because of the forest vibes, especially from the spinach leaves!

Mandos/Námo

• Spouse of Vairë
• One of the Fëanturi, masters of spirits, older brother of Lórien
• His true name is Námo, but goes by the place of his dwelling, Mandos
• The Doomsman of the Valar
• Keeper of the Houses of the Dead
• He forgets nothing and knows all things that shall be
• Second Breakfast: I entered this bowl around the pomegranate, because when I think of the underworld I immediately think of Persephone and the role pomegranate played in her story.

Lórien/Irmo

• Spouse of Estë
• One of the Fëanturi, masters of spirits, younger brother of Mandos
• His true name is Irmo, but goes by the place of his dwelling, Lórien
• Second Breakfast: Lórien’s second breakfast had to be a Lothlorien themed smoothie bowl, complete with the golden leaves it’s so known for.

Tulkas Astaldo

• Spouse of Nessa
• ‘Greatest in strength and deeds of prowess’, known as ‘the Valient’
• Last to come to Arda and be counted as one of the Valar
• He delights in wrestling and contests of strength, and can outrun all things on feet
• His hair and beard are golden, and his flesh ruddy
• Second Breakfast: Tulkas’ bowl is a hearty and messy turmeric porridge bowl, cause that just made sense to me.

The Queens of the Valar

Varda

• Spouse of Manwë
• Lady of the Stars, maker of the stars
• The light of Iluvatar lives in her face
• Power and joy is in light
• Elves hold her most in reverence and love, calling her Elbereth
• Second Breakfast: Varda’s bowl features purple porridge with starfruit and banana stars and a yogurt swirl.

Yavanna Kementári

• Spouse of Aulë
• Older sister of Vána
• The Giver of Fruits
• She loves all things that grow in the earth
• The Queen held next in most reverence after Varda
• Second Breakfast: A green smoothie serves as the base for Yavanna’s bowl. I loaded on the toppings – leaves, flowers, fruits, and more – to get all the plant goodness. Let me know if you think it’s a bowl fitting of Yavanna.

Nienna

• Sister of the Fëanturi (Mandos and Lórien)
• She dwells alone
• ‘She is acquainted with grief, and mourns for every wound that Arda has suffered in the marring of Melkor’
• Her song was woven into the themes of the World (which created Arda in the Ainulindalë)
• She dwells west of West and ‘the windows of her house look outward from the walls of the world’
• Second Breakfast: This Nienna-inspired breakfast bowl had to be blue for sadness. I also displayed the toppings of banana, blueberries and coconut sprinkles in an arc that reminds me of tears.

Estë

• Spouse of Irmo
• Known as Estë the Gentle
• ‘Grey is her raiment; and rest is her gift’
• Second Breakfast: I can channeling comfort food vibes for Estë’s second breakfast with these banana scones.

Vairë

• Spouse of Mandos
• Known as the Weaver, she ‘weaves all things that have ever been in Time into her storied webs’ and the halls of Mandos that ever widen as the ages pass are clothed with them’
• Second Breakfast: I was thinking that a weaver’s loom might look a little bit like waffles (too much of a reach?), so used them as the base for Vairë breakfast.

Vána

• Spouse of Oromë
• Younger sister of Yavanna
• Known as the Ever-Young
• ‘All flowers spring as she passes and open if she glances upon them; and all birds sing at her coming.’
• Second Breakfast: I had to serve up a pretty-in-pink flower-y springtime bowl for Vána’s breakfast.

Nessa

• Spouse of Tulkas
• Sister of Oromë
• Lithe and flatfooted, she loves deer and can outrun them
• Delights in dancing
• Second Breakfast: I made a pink celebratory wedding breakfast bowl for Nessa, thinking about her nuptials with Tulkas in chapter 1! But I also easily could have gone with something more green and earthy…

I hope this helps give you a better idea of each of the Valar and their roles in Arda! Let me know if you think a different second breakfast would suit one better as well. You can also check out more tidbits on the Valaquenta here!