All Questions
8
questions
4
votes
2
answers
1k
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Balrogs: Valar, Maiar or Spirits?
I encountered the following bit, regarding Balrogs, in The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter 144:
The Balrogs, of whom the whips were the chief weapons, were primeval
spirits of destroying fire, ...
- 784
9
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How did the Girdle of Melian work?
The Girdle of Melian is described like: "unseen wail of shadow and bewilderment".
But how it exactly impeded intruders?
Did it contain physical obstacles like tricky rivers, self-spawning precipices,...
- 2,878
8
votes
3
answers
662
views
Was Melian embodied like the Istari during her time in Doriath?
In The Silmarillion, we get the story of Melian and Thingol; Melian, being a Maia, does not have a body that she is bound to, but rather was able to take on the shape and likeness of creatures of the ...
- 16k
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How many of the Ainur were unable to change their physical form?
The Ainur are spirits who do not need bodies, but they can assume them. From the Ainulindalë in the Silmarillion:
Their shape comes of their knowledge of the visible World, rather than of the World ...
- 4,793
60
votes
4
answers
22k
views
Why does Gandalf show such reverence for Galadriel and Elrond?
Particularly in the Hobbit movies, Elrond mentions that Gandalf answers to Galadriel. Though Gandalf is a Maiar, one of Ainur, shouldn't he be regarded as one of the elders one above the Noldor?
- 653
2
votes
1
answer
567
views
Are there any more Valar? [duplicate]
If I'm not mistaken, a total of 14 Valar, not including Melkor, are named in The Silmarillion. Are these the only Valar, or are there others who are not named/mentioned?
Bonus question: As I ...
- 70.1k
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How strong were the Maiar, physically speaking?
Is there any mention of it anywhere? As strong as humans? As strong as orcs? Stronger, perhaps?
- 2,583
50
votes
6
answers
18k
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Can the Valar or Maiar die?
In The Lord of the Rings and the The Silmarillion some Maiar (Sauron, several Balrogs, Saruman) are defeated. But did these Maiar actually die and if they did, do they go to Halls of Mandos or what ...
- 2,662