[The Saucepan Man]

Just thought that I'd resurrect this thread as, having just read the tale of Luthien and Beren, I was greatly taken by the character of Huan.

My immediate thought upon reading that Huan was originally one of Orome's Hounds was that he was one of the Maiar. I was delighted to see that this possibility is reflected in JRRT's writings.

One objection to this theory is that, as a Maia, he couldn't just be "given" to Celegorm. But, surely, if he was willing, he could have entered into the service of the Eldar. Is there any futher evidece of whether or not he was a Maia? If not, what are his likely origins? I suppose that there were creatures in Valinor that were not Maia, such as Ungoliant, and that they could enter into the service of the Valar, such as a non-Maia Huan might have done.

And, that aside, isn't Huan one of the great heroes of the Silmarillion? He personifies (if that is the right word, when dealing with dogs) the faithful and valiant hound, but happily is no longer prepared to be faithful when he perceives that his master (Celegorm) is doing wrong. Any character that kills that many werewolves (including the mightiest of their kind) and sees off Sauron must desreve a place amongst the truly great characters of JRRT's works.