Wizards
 

Hi all,

This is probably a silly question but concerning Galdalf and other wizards, are they human? (Men, as opposed to elves, hobbits, and other lifeforms) How old is Gandalf? He seems quite old, but if he is a man would be just a babe in comparison with Elrond etc.

They are Istari (Maiar) who were sent to Middle-earth to aid in the war on Sauron, they are very old and have existed (as spirts) since the begining on creation! So the wizards (i.e. the 5 Istari) were around way befor elves like Elrond etc

Suilad,

The word 'Wizard' has a very specific meaning in Tolkien; it is intended as a translation of istar, meaning "Wise Ones" and applies only to those Maiar who came to Middle-earth in the Third Age. The word's more general use, for any person who works magical acts, does not apply in this context.

Came to Middle-earth c. III 1000. Saruman was slain in III 3019 and Gandalf left Middle-earth in III 3021; the fates of the other Wizards are unknown.

Kind Regards: LadyMeg [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

A search might get you more better results. But you can have a look at these to cut a long answer short for you Amantalwen Legodriel.
Wizards
Gandalf

theyare maiar. they were send to middle earth in the middle of the third age to combat sauron, but were not allowed to force people to do their bidding. when they defeated sauron at the end of the third age, their task was done, and they returned to Valinor, west of the sea.

The wizards were not sent to combat Sauron. If they were, they would've stormed Mordor, captured Sauron, and left town.

They were sent to guide the people against Sauron, not fight the war for them. Gandalf was only allowed to take a more direct approach when it was clear that the other four wizards had turned away from their mission.

The only Wizard who we know to have returned to Aman is Gandalf.

This is a redundant topic. Sorry, c'est la vie! (that's life). It has been asked a LOT of times before. But you're new, so I'm not usoing colourful language... [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] (Only joking, I'd NEVER use colourful language! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img])

[insert cool Skwerl picture here] [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

So what was Gandalf doing down Dol Guldur way vis a vis the Necromancer while Bilbo and the Dwarves muddled their way around Mirkwood, Lake Town and the Lonely Mountain? Was Saruman still on message at that point? [img]smilies/confused.gif[/img]

Gandalf's driving Sauron out of Mirkwood, was a issue that he had long been mulling over, and that Saruman, fearing that Sauron should find the ring in the Gladden, finally consented for him to be driven out.

Gandalf did not drive out Sauron from Dol Guldur. He tried to confirm the identity that they guessed him to have: Sauron. He was till that day only known as the Necromancer.
The White Council afterwards drove Sauron away from Mirkwood, or at least that was their plan and they succeeded. But Sauron was ahead of them and already had his escape-route ready and Barad-dur was already made ready by his Nazgûl.

Saruman, at this point, was already beginning to search for the Ring himself. He knew that the Ring fell into Anduin near the Gladden Fields. His servants searched all the area there, and he took to scrolls of old knowledge. He too participated at the attack of Dol Guldur, but only to make sure that Sauron was away from Mirkwood (which was far to near to the Gladden Fields), and to make sure that the White Council would still trust him as their leader, so that he could still hear all they had to tell about things concerning the Rings.

The Wizards, or Istari, were sent to M-e to guide the Free Peoples against Sauron. They were not allowed to use open 'magical' force (or at least in a very small proportion). They had to instruct them and let them fight and withstand Sauron. Gandalf (and maybe Radagast) were the only ones true to their mission, but Gandalf is the only one of whom we know that has returned to Aman.

greetings,
lathspell

Sorry to labour the point, but isn't driving Sauron out of Mirkwood a bit more than instruction and guidance?