Eru Ilúvatar – The God of the Legendarium
Eru or Ilúvatar is all mighty God of the Legendarium universe and the creator of the world of Tolkien, the Legendariujm. Ilúvatar has created the ‘World’ or the Eä in accords of the Legendarium.
Eä refers to the existing space of the whole Legendarium while Arda refers to the Earth of where most of the events of the Legendarium occurs. Ilúvatar created all life forms with the Flame Imperishable including the elves and humans who were referred as the Children of Ilúvatar.
Dwarves were created by the Valar Aulë, while Ilúvatar has gave the dwarves a soul. As the dwarves weren’t created by Ilúvatar himself the dwarves were called the foster children of Ilúvatar. Ilúvatar created the Ainur (Valar, Maiar) and delegated most of the work of the World or Eä to the Ainur.
Ilúvatar would live in the Timeless Halls while the Ainur along with Ilúvatar together shaped the earth Arda together. However, there are some occasions where Ilúvatar would interfere with the events that occurs in the Arda such as the revival of Gandalf after Gandalf fought with the Balrog.
Timeless Void – The space outside of Ilúvatar’s authority
The Timeless Void is also called the Abyss and this is the space outside of Eä. The Timeless Void was outside of the powers of Ilúvatar.
The Timeless Void is different from the Timeless Halls where Ilúvatar has stayed. Many dark creatures such as the ungoliants are believed to originate from the Timeless Void where Ilúvatar’s power didn’t interfere. The dark lord Morgoth (Melkor) was banished to the Timeless Void after his defeat.
Eä – The Universe of the Legendarium
Eä refers to the world that Eru Iluvatar has created and has authority where the Timeless Void resided from the Eä. Ilúvatar would reside in a different dimension that is independent from the Eä.
Arda – Earth of the Legendarium
While Ea referred to the space and universe of J.R.R. Tolkien’s world, Arda referred to the planet Earth of the Legendarium. Middle Earth referred to the continent of Arda where the children of Ilúvatar would reside.
Ainur – ‘Angels’ of the Legendarium
The Ainur are the holy supernatural beings that were created by Eru Ilúvatar. The Ainur were like the angels of the Legendarium created by J.R.R. Tolkien. The Ainur would consist of the Valar which is like the high superior angels while the Maiar were the lower-class angels.
The Ainur were immortals and contributed to shaping the Eä with a harmonious music called the Music of the Ainur or the Ainulindalë.
However, a fallen corrupted Valar named Melkor also known as Morgoth was envious of the Fire Imperishable that could create life and grew its own ambitions.
Melkor’s own greed and ambition made a dissonance among the Music of the Ainur that caused the Ea to be imperfect where mountains would surge from the plains, ice would form from the waters unlike Eru Ilúvatar’s will.
Melkor would later become the fallen Vallar and the dark lord where he would even corrupt some of the Maiar to join the dark forces of him.
Valar
Valar was the higher class of the Ainur and could be considered as the arch angels of the J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe the Legendarium.
The 15 of the most powerful beings among the Ainur were called the Valar where there would only be 14 Valar remaining because Melkor who was once a Valar has corrupted and challenged Eru Ilúvatar threatening the fate of the Ea.
Each Valar was given a gift or talent from Ilúvatar as Ilúvatar has delegated all the responsibilities of managing Arda to the Ainur.
The Valar became the Powers of Arda and they’ve became a god-like figure to the creatures of Arda and they were also worshipped as part of a religion.
The seven Valar Lords
Manwë – King of the Valar
Manwë was the most powerful Valar, thus the most powerful being among the Ainur.
Mandos - Lord of Doom
Mandos has ruled the Halls of Mandos which was a prison for the Ainur. Mandos was also responsible for the punishment and judgements among the Ainur.
Lórien – Lord of Dreams -
Ulmo – Lord of the Waters
Aulë – Master of craftsmanship
Aulë was the creator of the Dwarves while Iluvatar gave the dwarves a soul. Aulë was also the master craftsman who has created the sun and the moon as well.
Oromë - Lord of the Trees
Tulkas – Champion of the Valar
Tulkas was the last to join the Valars and he was considered the most battle capable among the Valar.
Queens of the Valar(Valier)
Varda – Lady of the Stars
Nienna – Lady of Mercy
Nessa – The Dancer
Vána – Queen of Flowers
Yavanna – Queen of the Earth
Yavanna’s companion was Aulë and she has requested Aulë to create the Ents to protect the animals and plants that Yavanna as created. Yavanna also creates the Two Trees of Valinor. The Two Trees Telperion(Silver Tree) and the Laurelin(Gold Tree) that are responsible for making the Moon and the Sun and the three Silmarils. The Telperion also becomes a symbol for Numenor and Gondor as the White Tree of Gondor.
Vairë – The Weaver
Estë – The Gentle
Maiar
Maiar were the ‘lesser angels’ among the Ainurs where a Maiar would each serve a certain Valar and have a specialized talent to aid the Valar they serve.
The Maiars were also a form of immortal where even if their physical form is destroyed, they could retain their soul and could return once their physical form is restored.
The balrogs were once maiar but became the dreadful fire lord demons after they were corrupted by Melkor, the corrupted Valar and the dark lord. Sauron was also a maiar that once served Aulë, however Sauron has corrupted and joined the dark forces of Morogoth(Melkor)
Sauron has trained and became skilled in craftsmanship while serving Aulë the Master of Craftsmanship which he used to forge the One Ring and the rings of power.
Gandalf or Mithrandir, Saruman and Radagast were also Maiar that were called the Istari among two other unknown wizards that were deployed to the Middle-Earth by the Valar to save Middle-Earth from Sauron.
Thus, Gandalf could live alongside the whole history of mankind and he wielded great power and knowledge because he himself was a Maiar, an angel like being in J.R.R. Tolkien’s world.
