The Encyclopedia of Arda - Ainur (original) (raw)

Dates Originated before the making of the world; immortal Location Dwelt in the Timeless Halls in the Void, but many later entered Arda Origins Divisions Included the beings known as Valar and Maiar Pronunciation eye'noor ('eye' as in the English word) Meaning Other names Note Ainur is a plural term; the singular form is Ainu Indexes: Ainur Alphabetical: A About this entry: Updated 25 January 2002 This entry is complete

The Holy Ones "There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought..." _The Silmarillion_Opening words of the Ainulindalë The primordial spirits, who existed with Ilúvatar, and with Him created the world through the Music of the Ainur. After the creation of Arda, many of the Ainur descended into it to guide and order its growth; of these there were fifteen more powerful than the rest. Fourteen of these great Ainur became the Valar, or Powers of Arda. The fifteenth, Melkor, turned aside from that path and became the first Dark Lord. The many lesser Ainur that accompanied the Valar into Arda are known as Maiar. Origins of the Ainur The Ainur were the first, and mightiest, beings created by Ilúvatar in the depths of time before the beginning of the world. The Ainur were the 'offspring of [Ilúvatar's] thought', and each was given understanding only of that part of the mind of Ilúvatar from which he or she came. The exception to this was Melkor, the greatest of the Ainur, who had a part of the gifts of all the others. The Ainur were 'kindled with the Flame Imperishable', which can be taken to mean that they were granted free will by their creator. Ilúvatar instructed them in the arts of music, until he brought them together to make the Music of the Ainur; the Great Song that created the Vision of Ilúvatar and ultimately the real world. The Ainur and the World Through the Music of the Ainur, Ilúvatar created a Vision of the world; he showed it to the Ainur, and explained much of its nature and destiny to them - so the Ainur have much knowledge of the world, but are not omniscient. Then, Ilúvatar granted the world true being. Melkor and many of the other mighty Ainur desired to descend into it and form it in readiness for the coming of the Children of Ilúvatar (that is, Elves and Men). These became the beings known as the Valar and the Maiar. Those Ainur who entered the world at its beginning remain bound to it until its end. Though Melkor was eventually thrown into the Void by the others, he is prophesied to return before the end. Little is known of the ultimate future of the Ainur, even by themselves, but it is said that, after the great battle at the end of the world, they will make a Second, even greater, Music with the Children of Ilúvatar. The Line of Melian Among the many Ainur that entered the world long ago, there was one of the order of the Maiar named Melian. Alone of all the Ainur, she wedded one of the Children of Ilúvatar, King Elu Thingol of Doriath. From her, a strain of the Ainur entered the bloodlines of the Elves and Men, passed down through generation after generation, and was still present at the time of the War of the Ring. Elrond was Melian's great-great-grandson, and Aragorn, too, was her descendant, though through many more generations than Elrond. See also... Aman, Circles of the World, Dark Lord, Eru, Eruhíni, Eye of Barad-dûr, Flame Imperishable, Ghosts, Great Music, Great Song, Heart of Fire, High King of Arda, Holy Ones, Ilúvatar, Later Ages, [See the full list...]Light of the Trees, Little Kingdom, Lords of the Sea, Music of the Ainur, Olórin, Outside, Powers of Arda, Powers of the World, Queen of Doriath, Saruman, Second Music of the Ainur, The Deathless, The Powers, The Song, Third Theme, Timeless Halls, Timeless Halls, Timeless Halls, Timeless Void Indexes: Alphabetical: A Ainur About this entry: Updated 25 January 2002 This entry is complete For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page. Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1997-2000, 2002. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ. Website services kindly sponsored by Axiom Discovery aptitude and skill testing.Personality is one part of understanding a candidate's suitability for a role, but aptitude can also be crucial.