What species was Sauron?

Sauron is the title character and the primary antagonist, through the forging of the One Ring, of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, where he rules the land of Mordor and has the ambition of ruling the whole of Middle-earth.

Was Sauron originally an elf?

Prior to the publication of The Silmarillion, Sauron's origins and true identity were unclear to those without full access to J.R.R. Tolkien's notes, so that early editions of the Guide to Middle-earth described Sauron as "probably of the Eldar Elves".

Is Gandalf a Valar?

In Valinor, Gandalf was called Olórin. He was one of the Maiar of Valinor, specifically, one of the people of the Vala Manwë; he was said to be the wisest of the Maiar. He was closely associated with two other Valar: Irmo, in whose gardens he lived, and Nienna, the patron of mercy, who gave him tutelage.

Why can't Gandalf touch the Ring?

Though someone could start out with good intentions, the Ring would eventually corrupt them. And that is why Gandalf can't touch it. He is afraid that if he did, it would corrupt him and make him just as bad as Sauron since Sauron put so much of himself and his evil into the One Ring.

Is Galadriel a Maiar?

Galadriel possessed a tremendous amount of magical powers, and was said to be the greatest of the Ñoldor after Fëanor. When she still lived in the Undying Lands, she had been a pupil of Yavanna and Aulë, and she later became a friend of Melian the Maia.

Sauron in the First Age | Tolkien Explained

Does Gandalf know he is a Maiar?

He's aware of the Blessed Land and those residing there. But he has never seen a Maia before, not unlike Galadriel, Elrond or even Glorfindel. He couldn't have known Gandalf was a Maia; all he knew is that he came from Valinor as a messenger.

Is Sauron a Balrog?

These "spirits of fire" were in the service of Melkor before time and were corrupted to his purposes after coming to Ea. This means that Sauron and Saruman as Maiar of Aule were not Balrogs as they did not originate with Melkor during the music.

Is the Balrog a Maiar?

The Balrogs, or Balrogath ("Balrog-kind") were Maiar corrupted by Morgoth during the creation of Arda, who cloaked themselves in shadow and flame and carried whips and swords. Famed Balrogs include Gothmog, slain by Ecthelion, and Durin's Bane, slain by Gandalf.

Are Uruk Hai Elves?

The Uruk-hai are simple crossbreeds of human and orc, equivalent to a corrupted version of half-elves. There are two subspecies: Morgul Uruk-hai, bred by Morgoth and Sauron, similar to orcs but much larger and stronger.

How did Sauron become Eye?

When Sauron was defeated by Prince Isildur of Gondor, his finger was severed, as was the Ring. He also lost his physical form and from then on, Sauron manifested as an Eye.

Are balrogs stronger than dragons?

Balrog. Even in the earliest writings, when Balrogs were much, much weaker and more numerous than they are in the conceptions you probably identify with them (as in, what Gandalf fights), Balrogs are stated outright to be more powerful than dragons.

Is Tom Bombadil a Maiar?

One, that Bombadil is a Maia (or an "unaffiliated" Ainu), presumably one not named specifically elsewhere in the texts. The other, that Bombadil is some sort of nature spirit of a type never explicitly mentioned in Tolkien's writings after LotR.

Why is Gandalf also called mithrandir?

Although Gandalf is his most commonly-used moniker, he went by several other names as well. In his origins as a Maiar spirit in Valinor, he was known as Olorin. In Gondor, he was known as Mithrandir, meaning Grey Pilgrim. The White Rider was his name to those who saw him on his great white horse, Shadowfax.

What type of Elf is Legolas?

Legolas is a Sindarin Elf from the Woodland Realm of Northern Mirkwood. His father, Thranduil, is the King of the Silvan Elves living in that realm, making Legolas the Prince of Mirkwood.

Why didnt the Ring affect Bilbo?

Hobbits are simple creatures and do not wish for much, so there is nothing for the Ring to use against a hobbit. Frodo is the hobbit that is corrupted the most next to Gollum and Bilbo, which is why he is unable to throw the Ring into the fire.

Why did the Eagles not fly Frodo to Mordor?

The eagles can't carry the Fellowship to Mordor because Gandalf can't simply summon a squadron of birds to divebomb Mount Doom.

Why can't Sam carry the Ring?

He realises he can't make Frodo part with the ring without doing great psychological/physical harm to him. At the very end, instead of carrying the ring, he carries Frodo on his back to the doors of Mount Doom.

Who created Maiar?

There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they were with him before aught else was made.

Are the Istari Maiar?

The Wizards, initially known as the Istari or Heren Istarion (Order of Wizards), were five Maiar spirits sent to Middle-earth while embodied as old Men to aid the Free Peoples against the threat of Sauron.