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Commentary, Song of the Stars |
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(1) Even-time is drawing nigh
And in the fastly dimming sky
Bright Anor sinks her flaming head
Anor is the Sindarin word for the Sun, so this is describing a sunset.
And silver Ithil, round and fair,
Ascends once more the starry road
Of night, and mighty figures high.
Ithil is the Sindarin word for the Moon. You might remember both the words Ithil and Anor from the lands of Ithilien and Anórien in Gondor, and also from the cities of Minas Anor and Minas Ithil (which later became Minas Tirith and Minas Morgul). An interesting sidenote: Unlike many of the myths familiar to us, the Elves always referred to the Sun as a she and the Moon as a he. Mighty figures, a term I made up, refers to the constellations.
(2) The stars of hrívë, clear and bright
Hrívë is the Quenya word for winter. (See stanza #7 for summer.)
Surround the swordsman of the sky
Arrayed in silver and in blue
Upon his shoulder a scarlet jewel.
Menelvagil, Telumehtar fair,
Shakes his sword at the frostbit air.
This is talking about the constellation Orion, commonly known as Menelvagil in Sindarin, Menelmacar in Quenya, and sometimes referred to as Telumehtar. Most of the stars in this constellation are silvery or bluish (especially Rigel), except for the bright red star on his shoulder, Betelgeuse, known to the Elves as Borgil.
(3) And at his feet soars Helluin
Ice-blue fire flickering
A drop of water in a sea of stars
Yet ever bright with silver glow
As seen by Elves awakening
In Cuiviénen, long ago.
Helluin is the Elves' word for the star Sirius in Canis Major. The name means ice-blue. It is the brightest star in the night sky, hence the words ever bright on line 4. In the very hour of the Elves awakening in Cuiviénen, the "blue fire of Helluin flickered in the mists above the borders of the world" (Silmarillion, Ch. 3).
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