Spiders?

[Formendacil]

Ungoliant may or may not be a Maia. The evidence would suggest, it seems, that it is not.

However, she is clearly not a being with an origin akin to Eru. She must, in my opinion, be a creature of his making (somehow) in origin.

My reasoning is that unless she is derived from Eru, then she is logically his peer. not necessarily His equal, but of the same level of being.

However, this simply does not fly, because Ungoliant is WEAKER than than the created creatures of Eru. She feared Melkor in his prime. She feared the Valar, and would not venture into Valinor without Melkor's coaxing and aid. She was also driven off by mere Balrogs.

Now, if Ungoliant was Eru's peer- no matter how weaker, she would not be in such fear of His creations, or in such danger from them.

So, in my opinion, Ungoliant must of necessity be a creation of Eru's of some sort. This does not necessarily make her an Ainu in origin. Or, if she was, then she is still not automatically relegated to a Vala or Maia status.