The Maia
 

This'll only need a simple answer. Did Eru create the Maia just out of the blue to serve the Valar?

And have I spelt Maia right?

Eru creasted the Ainur to help make Arda. Some of the Ainur went to Arda and became the Valar, or Powers of the World. Lesser Ainur also went with the Valar. These were the Maiar. They weren't created to serve the Valar, they just did. Melkor also got some Maiar to join him i.e. Sauro and the Balrogs. That gets me thinking, did any Ainur stay with Eru, or did they all come to Arda?

Yes.

[ July 11, 2002: Message edited by: burrahobbit ]

In the land of ambiguity, burra is king.

Since burra's edit, I have reclaimed the title.

[ July 11, 2002: Message edited by: Stephanos ]

In the Silmarillion it is said

The Balrogs were Maiar?

Yes.

"For of the Maiar many were drawn to his splendour in the days of his greatness, and remained in that allegiance down into his darkness; and others he corrupted afterwards to his service with lies and treacherous gifts. Dreadful among these spirits were the Valaraukar, the scourges of fire that in Middle-earth were called the Balrogs, demons of terror."
-The Valaquenta

A list of the Maiar Tolkien speaks of in the Silmarillion - Ilmare, Eonwe, Osse, Uinen, Melian, Olorin (Gandalf/Mithrandir), Sauron (Gorthaur the Cruel), Salmar, Arien, Tilion, Curunir, Radagast, "others of the Istari who went into the east of Middle-earth, and do not come into these tales" (being Alatar and Pallando), and "the Valaraukar, the scourges of fire that in Middle-earth were called the Balrogs, demons of terror."

Thuringwethil and Ungoliant are also possibilities, as is, in the opinion of some, Tom Bombadil. That's another story for another day though.

[ July 13, 2002: Message edited by: Legalos ]

Tom Bombadil was a Maia? Hmm, worthy of discussion!

Bwa and indeed hahahaahaha!!!

*cough* Dragons! *cough*

[img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Aren't Dragons simply winged Balrogs?
[img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

Then I guess the Coldrakes are winged balrogs who swallowed to much icecream...

Dragons are not winged balrogs. They are creations of Morgoth, balrogs are Maiar that were corrupted. Also, many dragons did not have wings (Glaruung -which I'm sure I spelled wrong- did not). It was only in the final battle between Morgoth and the host of the Valar that winged dragons appear. There is some debate as to whether balrogs have wings.

Debate? Wings? Balrogs? Has the art of irony finally died? [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

Stephanos - Here's an interesting thread that just resurfaced on Balrogs and Wings:

Fly?

[ July 12, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

I thought Dragons were lizards that Morgoth bred, like the monsters he created from other animals.

Oh for goodness sake, I give up.

Give me a 'sar'! Give me a 'casm'!

Were there Maiar other than Balrogs and Sauron who joined Morgoth?

*cough* Dragons *cough* [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Dare you?!

By the way, I'm pretty sure I won that debate. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

No. Not really. I just gave up trying to argue with you because obviously nobody was making any progress in convincing anyone of anything. [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Yes, Aldagrim, although in absence of text I shall not say that with finality. From memory, however, I will draw attention to the line I believe found in the Valaquenta, "He gathered to himself many lesser spirits". Tolkien's pantheon comprised several gradings of spirit, from Valar, through Maia and below.

The only real divisions(aside from perhaps potency and power but that is just your standard population diversity) of 'spirits', that I am aware of, which Tolkien seems to present are:

• ëalar- natural discarnates(ergo the Ainur(eg Maiar, the Valar,)
• fëar- natural incarnates(ie 'souls')(ergo Men, Elves, Dwarves, )

[ July 15, 2002: Message edited by: Fingolfin of the Noldor ]

Hmm, but of the ëalor, were there not others than the Valar and Maiar? I have this opinion yet my texts are in my homeland some great distance away and thus I cannot find language to support my thought in this.

Yes. For more info, click here.