Wizards

2020-01-06T01:48:26Z

47.18.100.138: /* History */

{{rewrite}}
{{people infobox
| name=Wizards
| image=[[File:Angel Falto - The Istari.jpg|250px]]
| caption="[[:File:Angel Falto - The Istari.jpg|The Istari]]" by Angel Falto
| pronun=
| othernames=''Istari''
| origin=[[Maiar]] sent to [[Middle-earth]]
| location=[[Orthanc]] (Saruman)<br/>[[Rhosgobel]] (Radagast)<br>[[East]] (Blue Wizards)
| affiliation=[[Sauron]] (Saruman in late [[Third Age]])
| rivalry=[[Sauron]]
| language=
| members=[[Saruman]], [[Gandalf]], [[Radagast]], [[Blue Wizards]]
| lifespan=Immortal
| distinctions=
| height=
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=
}}
{{quote|Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.|[[Gildor|Gildor Inglorion]]<ref>{{FR|Three}}</ref>}}

The '''Wizards''' of [[Middle-earth]], also known as the '''Istari''' in [[Quenya]] and the '''[[Ithron|Ithryn]]''' in [[Sindarin]], were a small group of beings outwardly resembling [[Men]] but possessing much greater physical and mental power.

All gone.

== Etymology ==
Tolkien's Istari were not wizards in the common sense of the word, but rather more like 'wise men' or even 'messengers.' [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]], a lifelong philologist and devoted Catholic, deliberately used the word wizard, as it connoted 'wisdom' and conveniently conveyed to the reader the 'other worldly' powers of the characters. These sentiments were best worded by Tolkien himself in the first paragraph of the essay ''The Istari'' in the [[Unfinished Tales]]:

<blockquote>Wizard ''is a translation of Quenya istar (Sindarin ''ithron''): one of the members of an "order" (as they call it), claiming to possess, and exhibiting, eminent knowledge of the history and nature of the World. The translation (though suitable in its relation to "wise" and other ancient words of knowing, similar to that of ''istar'' in Quenya) is not perhaps happy, since ''Heren'' Istarion or "Order of Wizards" was quite distinct from "wizards" and "magicians" of later legend; they belonged solely to the Third Age and then departed, and none save maybe Elrond, Círdan and Galadriel discovered of what kind they were or whence they came.''</blockquote>

The [[Quenya]] word ''Istari'' means "those who know".<ref name=L156>{{L|156}}</ref> The word seems to come from the verb ''[[ista-]]'' ("to know"), and possibly the [[Wikipedia:Agentive ending|agentive ending]] ''[[-ro]]''.<ref>{{webcite|author=[[Helge Fauskanger]]|articleurl=http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/affix~1|articlename=Quenya Affixes|website=Arda}}</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==

In [[Gnomish]], one of [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s early conceptions of an [[Elvish|Elven]] language, the word for "wizard" is ''curug'' (and "witch" is ''curus''). An alternative word is ''thothweg'', also translated as "wizard".<ref>{{PE|11}}, pp. 27, 73</ref> In ''[[The Hobbit]]'', while no mention is made of an Order of Wizards, Gandalf tells [[Beorn]] that Radagast is his "cousin".<ref>{{H|Queer}}</ref> In the ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'' it is said that the wizards appeared in Middle-earth about {{TA|1000|n}},<ref name="Istari">{{UT|Istari}}</ref> but in ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'' a rough note by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] said that the [[Blue Wizards]] (Alatar and Pallando, or [[Morinehtar]] and [[Rómestámo]]) came much earlier in the [[Second Age]].<ref>{{PM|Last}}, The Five Wizards, pp. 384-385</ref> [[Christopher Tolkien]] stated that much of the writings about the Istari are rapid jottings and often illegible.<ref name="Istari"/>

==Other fiction==
A wizard, who puts a spell on the dog Rover, appears in Tolkien's story ''[[Roverandom]]''. The bewitchment turns Rover into a toy.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''2001-03: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
:In Peter Jackson's film version of ''The Lord of the Rings'', two of the five Wizards (Saruman and Gandalf) were portrayed and featured heavily in the film trilogy (as the characters do in the books.)

'''2012-14: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:'''
:Although Radagast has a small role in ''The Lord of the Rings'', his role was omitted in Peter Jackson's film trilogy. However, Radagast had a substantial supporting role in ''The Hobbit'' films, and Saruman had a brief appearance.

{{references}}
{{ainur}}
[[Category:Maiar]]
[[Category:Wizards| ]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/ainur/maiar/istari]]

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Wizards