Maia (Middle-earth)
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The Maiar are a race from J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy legendarium. They are lesser Ainur that entered Eä in the beginning of time.
The Maiar (singular: Maia) were lesser Ainur which in The Silmarillion were said to have descended into Arda (Earth) to help the Valar, members of the higher order of the angelic Ainur, to shape the World. The Silmarillion says they were numerous, but not many were named by Men or Elves.
Some of the chief Maiar spirits in Middle-earth were Eönwë;
the banner-bearer and herald of Manwë, whose might in arms is surpassed by none in Arda. - Valaquenta : Of the Maiar.
and Ilmarë, known as the handman of Varda in the Valaquenta
According to the Valaquenta in The Silmarillion each of the Maiar was associated with one or more particular Valar (gods), and they were of similar stock, though less powerful. For example, Ossë and Uinen, were spirits of the sea, belonged to Ulmo, while Curumo, who came to be known in Middle-earth as Saruman, belonged to Aulë the Smith.
Others included Sauron (most powerful of Aulë's people), Aiwendil, who was known in Middle-earth as Radagast the Brown and belonged to Yavanna, and Olórin, later (and better) known as Gandalf, who belonged to Manwë and Varda,
though his ways took him often to the house of Nienna where he learned pity and patience - Valaquenta
which aided him in his later struggles to unite the Free Peoples of Middle-earth against the power of Sauron.
Alatar and Pallando, the Blue Wizards, were Maiar under Oromë who went east and never returned according to Unfinished Tales.
The Balrogs were described in the Ainulindalë, like Sauron, to have been Maiar corrupted by Melkor. Their associated Vala is not known. Gothmog was the Lord of the Balrogs.
Melian served both Vána and Estë, and later married the Elven king Thingol.
Arien was a Maia who bore the sun through the heavens, and Tilion, who loved her, was the bearer of the moon.
It is likely that Thuringwethil, the vampire who served Sauron, was also a Maia.
| Ainur from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium | |
|---|---|
| Ainulindalë (Music of the Ainur) | |
| Lords of the Valar: | Manwë | Ulmo | Aulë | Oromë | Námo (Mandos) | Irmo (Lórien) | Tulkas |
| Queens of the Valar (The Valier): | Varda | Yavanna | Nienna | Estë | Vairë | Vána | Nessa |
| The Enemy: | Morgoth (a.k.a. Melkor) |
| Maiar: | Eönwë | Ilmarë | Ossë | Uinen | Salmar | Sauron | Melian | Arien | Tilion | Gothmog Curumo (Saruman) | Olórin (Gandalf) | Aiwendil (Radagast) | Alatar and Pallando | Durin's Bane |
