Races
This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality. |
|
This article or section is a stub. Please help Tolkien Gateway by expanding it. |
Many races inhabit Tolkien's legendarium. They vary in appearence, intellect, manner and more, but will here be divided into two specific catagories: Those who speak, and are thus (for the most part) intelligent, and those that cannot.
Origins
Each race has it's origin, and each of those is different. In the beggining there was Eru, Iluvatar, the Creator. He has no beggining according to Tolkien's Legendarium and so from him come all other races. First he makes Ainur, the holy ones. He prepares to make a creation of Elves, then the Men. These races are blessed amongst the other races, who primarily come afterwards by other means.
Ainur
Valar
The Valar are the first actual race, but do not really take regular appearence in Middle Earth, being considered Gods. They are the dominant Ainur, the other holy beings serving them (with the exception of Eru). They are spiritual form, but do take physical form when they speak to the peoples of Arda. They live in Aman. Each Valar have their own purpose,, much ike the mythological gods of Greece and Rome.
They are as follows:
- Manwë is the chief of the Valar
- Varda is the chief godess of the Valier, Maker of the stars and spouse of Manwë]]
- Aule is the smith and master of crafts.
- Yavanna is the Goddess of nature
- Vana is called the ever young. Spouse of Oromë and sister of Yavanna.
- Oromë, for he is the god of the hunt.
- Tulkas was greatest of the Valar in strenght and deeds of prowess.
- Melkor, called Morgoth by the Noldor, he went astray and was jealous of the other valar. Because of this he became the first Dark Lord and rebelled against the Valar, bringing evil into the world.
- Ulmo, lord of the waters.
- Námo Mandos, keeper of death in his famed halls.
- Irmo Lórien, lord of dreams
Maiar
The Maiar are lesser Ainur, being servants to the Valar. They are seen more often carrying out tasks in middle earth. Most notable are: Sauron,servant of Melkor, Ossë, servant of Ulmo, Melian, who married the elf, Elu Thingol. There are many Maia, and certainly more than the valar. Many are noted but some are just counted among the servants of the Valar. Notably among these are the Balrogs, demons of fire, who are possesed with spirits of Maiar.
Istari
The Istari are Maiar, sent by the Valar in the form of Men, or rather wizards, in order to aid the fight against evil. Being Maiar they have extrodanairy capabilities, being able to turn the tide of many a battle. Because of their great power there need not be many of them, so there were five. They were led first by Saruman, The White, who headed the order. He later turned to evil and became Saruman of Many Colors, forsaking his position in the order. Replacing him was Gandalf, the Grey, who was later Gandalf, the White, signifying his leadership of the order. It was he who aided the Fellowship of the Ring in their quest to destroy the Ring of Power, also aiding defenders of Minas Tirith against Sauron's host, as well as a host of other deeds. The third is Radagast, the Brown, who was renowned for his love of nature and capability of conversing with it, but it is said he was distracted from his course. The last two are eluded to often as the Blue Wizards, whose names were Alatar and Pallando when they were in Valinor. It is said they went east and strayed to evil. Their names were then Morinehtar and Rómestámo, respectively. They are hardly spoken of after they went east. So of all the five Istari, only Gandalf Mithrandir stayed true to their original duty.
Elves
Elves, called the Firstborn of illuvatar, were the first people of middle earth. They were created by Eru and are described generally as tall and fair, but have many specific characteristics. They were placed in middle earth and summoned for a journey to Aman. They are divided by those who refused, those who stopped along the way and those who made it to Aman.
Men
Men were te secondborn, looking much like men but slightly less in stature, and not as fair. They never were accepted in aman, but for a few special exceptions. They too are seperated in loyalty, but still comprise a majority of those who are 'good', and are called Edain. Evil men include the Swarthy men or Easterlings. Being second they are cut off in smaller tribes at first, but later the dominion of men surpasses elves as the leaders of middle- earth.
Dwarves
The Dwarves came last of the 'good' peoples, though they are not intrinsically good. They were made by Aulë, who in eagerness to create people of his own, made the Dwarves, despite the fact that he could not inspire life. Because of this he was forced to destroy them, but at the last moment Manwë had pity on them, and so the Dwaves came to existence. Short in stature and hardy they keep to themselves and are prone to good or evil.
List of races
List of races that inhabit Arda
List of Beast Races known to talk:
