Spirits (creatures)
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Spirits refers to beings whose nature in essence were of non-corporeality.
[edit] Groups
[edit] Ainur
- Main article: Ainur
Before Eä, Eru created the spirits known as the Ainur, the Holy Ones. The greater were called Valar and the lesser Maiar.[1]
Some of the spirits were associated with a certain element, or physical phenomenon:
- Air spirits: Spirits shaped like hawks and eagles delivered messages to Manwë as he sat in his throne in Ilmarin upon Taniquetil.[2]
- Fire spirits: The Maia Arien is said to have been "from the beginning a spirit of fire".[3] Melkor seduced some of the fire spirits, which became known as the Balrogs.[4]
- Water spirits: A host of spirits followed Ulmo to maintain the waters of Arda, of whom the Maiar Ossë and Uinen were the greatest.[5] Perhaps Salmar, and Goldberry and the River-woman were such water spirits.
- Shadow spirits: It is told that Morgoth sent "spirits of shadow" against Tilion, as he hated the light of the Sun and Moon.[3]
[edit] Evil spirits
All Ainur originally adhered to Eru, but the Vala Melkor became corrupted and fell from the grace of Eru.[1] Melkor "gathered to himself spirits out of the voids of Eä that he had perverted to his service", and these became known as the Úmaiar or demons.[6]
In the late Third Age, spirits of "evil vigilance" are said to have abode in the Two Watchers.[7] The Barrow-wights are furthermore said to be evil spirits who had entered in deserted mounds, stirring the bones of the dead.[8]
[edit] Other
Tom Bombadil was probably a "spirit" (of some sorts) of the earth.[9] Goldberry and the River-woman would perhaps belong to such an order.[10]
[edit] Other names
In Quenya, a collective name for the spirits is ëalar.[11]
[edit] Other versions of the legendarium
In an early version of Tolkien's mythology, tiny, gleaming spirits appear dancing in a poem about Tavrobel.[12]
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Account of the Valar and Maiar According to the Lore of the Eldar"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Beginning of Days"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Valaquenta: Of the Enemies"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Beginning of Days" ("Salmar came with [Ulmo] to Arda, [...] and Ossë and Uinen also, to whom he gave the government of the waves and the movements of the Inner Seas, and many other spirits beside.")
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman", pp. 53 (§17), 79 (commentary to §30)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Tower of Cirith Ungol"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
- ↑ Tolkien described Tom as "The spirit of the this earth made aware of itself": Letter to Nevill Coghill (Excerpt reproduced here
- ↑ Steuard Jensen, "What is Tom Bombadil? Viable Theories: A Nature Spirit?", Tolkien FAQ (accessed 3 March 2021)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Three. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: (I) The First Phase: 3. Of the Coming of the Elves", p. 165 (commentary on § 18)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Christina Scull & Wayne G. Hammond (eds), The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "Once upon a Time and An Evening in Tavrobel", pp. 284-5>