Unseen though they may be, the Valar are vital to Frodo's journey to Mordor - way back in the beginning, there was the supreme Creator, Eru Ilúvatar. Riffing on Bible lore, Eru brought the Valar into existence as a fantasy equivalent of archangels. Blessed with godlike powers and immortality, the Valar are revered throughout Middle-earth. Tasked with watching over the Children of Ilúvatar (Elves and Men), the Valar intervened only in the direst circumstances, largely keeping to themselves in Valinor.

Pulling from more ancient belief systems, many of the Valar specialize in a unique aspect of creation. The people of Middle-earth would pray in honor of whichever Vala was relevant to their needs, whether that be sailing, farming, or killing folk. In stories concerning Middle-earth, the Valar play only a background role, seldom mentioned and even less often spotted, but their importance cannot be overstated. Each member of Eru's highest-ranking order stood for something in particular in the grander scheme, remaining indirectly present throughout the legendarium.

Manwë Súlimo

King Of The Valar

Not only did Manwë preside over the winds, but he was also the appointed leader of the Valar and supreme ruler of all Arda. Decisions the Valar took were a collaborative effort, but Manwë ultimately had the final say on matters, and was the closest to Eru, merging disparate elements from figures such as Zeus and the archangel Michael. Manwë (who is often associated with the color blue) obviously doesn't feature in The Lord of the Rings, but his presence can be felt in a number of ways.

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Gandalf the Istar was a servant of Manwë, and Valinor's king encouraged him to the fight against Sauron. More significantly, Manwë first sent the Great Eagles to Middle-earth, meaning that the eagles from The Lord of the Rings trace directly back to Manwë. As the master of the air, any suspiciously helpful gusts in Middle-earth lore (such as the breeze that blows Saruman away after the Scouring of the Shire) can be interpreted as Manwë's subtle intervention.

Varda Elentári

Queen Of The Stars

Queen of the Stars and the Vala of light, Varda can also claim to be queen of Manwë's heart, since the pair are married (it's a common theme - the Valinor dating pool is pretty slim) and rule over their domain together. Varda's most significant contribution to Tolkien lore concerns the various sources of light in Arda. Varda lit the Two Lamps - the original pre-tree lights - then used dew from the Two Trees of Valinor to create stars in the night sky, before later turning her hand to the sun and moon.

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After Fëanor crafted the Silmarils, it was Varda who blessed the jewels so that evil hands couldn't handle them. Known as Elbereth among the Elves, Varda was responsible for setting Elrond's father, EärendiHigh Elf Elrond is trying to step out of his shadow.

Yavanna Kementári

Giver Of Fruits

All of the trees, fruits, and natural growth in Middle-earth can be attributed to the Vala known as Yavanna, who sang these wonders into existence. By far her greatest feat was the raising of the Two Trees of Valinor as replacements for Varda's destroyed lamps. Essentially the "Mother Earth" of Tolkien mythology, Yavanna's power could heal lands defiled by Morgoth, albeit only to a certain extent.

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In The Rings of Power episode 6, Arondir tells Bronwyn, "It is believed that one of the Valar watches over growing things," and although he doesn't offer a name, it is Yavanna he is referring to. Yavanna's love of nature perfectly opposes her husband's area of expertise - industry. They say opposites attract, which may hold true for these two legendary Valar.

Aulë The Smith

Husband Of Yavanna

While Middle-earth's Elves will often speak of Yavanna or Elbereth, Dwarves are far more likely to mention Aulë - and there's a good reason for that. Aulë was the Valar of crafting and smithery, making divine objects such as the Two Lamps and the sun and moon, which Varda filled with light. So deeply did Aulë love crafting, he even made his own race on Middle-earth - the Dwarves.

Despite breaking the rules by attempting to conjure sentient life, Eru looked upon Aulë mercifully, and permitted the Dwarves into his grand tapestry, since he already anticipated this outcome. The stout race's obsession with mining and forging, therefore, comes directly from their creator. Dwarves may revere him, but Aulë has a terrible track record in of followers. His two Maiar servants were Mairon and Curumo - in other words, Sauron and Saruman.

Mandos (Námo)

Judge Of The Dead, Husband Of Vairë

Originally known as Námo, Mandos was the Valar's resident judge. Whether it be Melkor or Fëanor, divine acts of wrongdoing would be met with a statement of doom delivered by Mandos. Though predominantly a judge, any mortal might perceive Mandos more akin to a god of death. When Elves and Men died in Middle-earth, their souls arrived in the Halls of Mandos, where the Vala himself would judgment like a super-charged St. Peter.

In his capacity as judge, Mandos also decreed that Elrond and Elros could choose between the paths of Elves and Men - a decision ed down to other half-Elven descendants.

Mandos also possessed the ability to bend these rules with Manwë's permission, such as when he resurrected the tragic lovers Beren and Lúthien. In his capacity as judge, Mandos also decreed that Elrond and Elros could choose between the paths of Elves and Men - a decision ed down to other half-Elven descendants. Mandos also sent famous Elves Finrod and Glorfindel back from his halls, granting them second life.

Vairë The Weaver

Wife Of Mandos

Very little is written about the Vala called Vairë. She would weave tapestries depicting the world's happenings, and then hang these all across the Halls of Mandos like a history book. Vairë is also lucky enough to be married to the stern, gloomy namesake of the building her work hangs within.

Famous Elf Finwë, the forefather of perhaps the most famous house of Elves, the Noldor, lost a wife to Vairë. Finwë's first wife, Míriel, died and went to the Halls of Mandos, as the spirits of dead Elves do. However, Míriel eventually became an assistant of Vairë's, recording all the deeds of Finwë's house.

Ulmo

King Of The Sea

Often depicted both physically and thematically as a mirror of Poseidon or Neptune, Ulmo reigned over all waters. Because the seas connected him to Middle-earth, Ulmo was the Vala most in touch with its people, and he deliberately dwelled outside Valinor without marrying. Because Ulmo loved the Children of Ilúvatar so dearly, he intervened in their affairs more regularly than others of his kin.

During the First Age, for example, Ulmo secretly advised Finrod (Galadriel's brother) and Turgon on where to build strongholds hidden from Morgoth. When Elwing, Elrond's mother, cast herself into the sea holding a Silmaril, Ulmo spared her life by turning her into a seabird. Ulmo was one of the surliest of the Valar and was not often described in endearing , being rather a terrible and mighty force to be reckoned with.

Oromë Aldaron

The Great Rider, Husband Of Vána

Like the Greek god Artemis, Oromë was the Valar's god of the hunt. Predictably, then, Oromë preferred the environs of Middle-earth to Valinor, and was similar to Ulmo in of both spending time there, and being friendly with the locals. Indeed, it was Oromë who first discovered the Elves and christened them, before ing on his knowledge of the forests.

Oromë impacted Middle-earth history in another big way by gifting his pet wolf, Huan, to one of Fëanor's sons. Huan played a large part in the tale of Beren and Lúthien, and even took a decent chunk out of Sauron. Originally belonging to the cruel Celegorm, the hound of Oromë eventually came to love the beautiful Elf maid Lúthien and switched his loyalty to her.

Vána The Ever-Young

Wife Of Orome

While having Yavanna as a Vala for trees and nature and Vána geared toward flowers might seem a little overboard, Vána is Yavanna's younger sister (and also Oromë's wife), so both share a similarly plant-based sphere of influence. Tolkien didn't write much regarding Vána's impact on Middle-earth, but she does leave flowers everywhere she walks, which is pleasant.

Vána was served by one particularly famous Maia - Melian. The Maiar were of the same race as the Valar - Ainur. However, they were of a lower order. Therefore, Melian's service to Vána was a professional one, and her allegiance clearly stood her in good stead to lead an empire when she arrived in Middle-earth and married the Elf Thingol. Thingol and Melian's union engendered the famed forest kingdom of Doriath.

Tulkas Astaldo

Champion Of Valinor, Husband Of Nessa

No Vala is really dedicated to war, since the concept of bloodshed was largely alien to begin with, but Tulkas - the warrior of the group - fits the mold of an Ares or Mars. Depicted in Norse, Viking-esque , Tulkas is most notable for his opposition of Morgoth, as even when other Valar were hesitating over direct action, Tulkas was permanently ready for a ruck. Inevitably, it was Tulkas who got the better of Morgoth during the villain's first foray into Middle-earth.

Morgoth chose the night of Tulkas' wedding to raid the lamps of Arda. This terrible act, carried out with the giant spider Ungoliant, robbed Middle-earth of its light...

Morgoth and Tulkas had a rather personal feud, it was understood. Morgoth chose the night of Tulkas' wedding to raid the lamps of Arda. This terrible act, carried out with the giant spider Ungoliant, robbed Middle-earth of its light, forcing Varda to eventually reconsider how to light the place with trees.