Ainur
The Ainur are beings that feature in Middle-earth.
Contents |
History
The Ainur emanated directly from the thoughts of Eru Illuvatar, in a purely spiritual sense before the creation of the world. The Universe was created through the "Music of the Ainur" or Ainulindalë, music sung by the Ainur in response to themes introduced by Eru. This universe, the song endowed with existence by Eru, was called Eä in Quenya. The Earth was called Arda. The Ainur were the 'offspring of Ilúvatar's thought' and each was given understanding only of that part of the mind of Ilúvatar from which he or she came. The exception to this was Melkor, a brother in spirit to Manwë, who later became The Lord of the Valar and he was given some of the parts from which the others had come, but for all his gifts he did not know the full mind of Eru. Melkor and Manwë were the most powerful of the Ainur. The Ainur were 'kindled with the Flame Imperishable', which can be taken to mean that they were granted free will by their Creator. Ilúvatar instructed them in the arts of music, until he brought them together to make the Music of the Ainur: the great song that created the Vision of Ilúvatar and ultimately the real world. In time, there came to be two classes of them which included the lesser Maiar and the greater Valar.
Overview
They were primordial spirits who existed with Ilúvatar.
They existed in two classes: the lesser Maiar and the great Valar.
Members
- Manwë :
- Ulmo :
- Varda :
- Aulë :
- Yavanna :
- Mandos :
- Melkor :
- Sauron :
- Gothmog :
- Gandalf :
- Saruman :
Notes
- The Ainur were created by J. R. R. Tolkien and featured in the setting of the Lord of the Rings universe.
Appearances
- The Lord of the Rings:
