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Ainur
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Height of average adult
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Variable
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Immortal
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The Ainur, or "Holy Ones" (sing. Ainu), were the first beings created by Eru, the one God. According to the Elda tale known as the Ainulindalë, their spirits predated the creation of Eä, "The World that Is." They came into Existence in the very Beginning.
Eru's thought gave birth to two groups of Ainur: the exalted Valar (Q. "Powers"), and their lesser but more numerous brethren, the Maiar (Q. "Hands" or "Beautiful Ones"). Together, these immortal servants form a community borne out of Eru's conception, a community entrusted with both the making and guardianship of Arda, "the Place" (Endor, "Middle-earth," is the central continent in Arda). Eru (who the Eldar call "Iluvatar") kindled the Ainur with the Flame Imperishable, the Secret Fire, giving the Holy Ones Being and Vision. After sending the Flame to burn at the heart of Eä, the One spoke to the Ainur. He imparted themes of music and the Ainur sang. They sang separately at first, but Eru eventually gathered them in the Timeless Halls and instilled in them a grand theme. This theme guided the Ainur into harmony and gave birth to the Great Music. The Ainu chorus sang the Great Music, and the pattern and being of all that exists was born. Eä — the World and the Heavens — grew out of the Song, as did Fate.
Ainu History[]
If you recall, Eru's thought gave birth to the Ainur, the offspring of his mind. The One then brought these servants together and spoke to them, instilling them with a single, glorious, musical theme and calling upon them to sing. This they did and, in countless time, the music became refined and the voices joined in glorious harmony. This was the Great Music that gave birth to Eä. Each Vala had a part in this Song, and each sang his or her own purposeful melody, and together they forged Menel (the Heavens) and Ambar (the Earth). At the heart of this wondrous marvel called Existence was the Flame Imperishable, the Secret, Life-giving Fire.
The Origin of Evil[]
Unfortunately, innocence and unity were sundered during this Creation. One of the greatest Ainur sought a larger part in the scheme and sang according to his own desire. This Ainu, Melkor, would later become known as Morgoth: the "Black Enemy." His desire to manipulate the Flame of Life and create his own vision was the beginning of Evil, for Morgoth was Evil incarnate. He was the sole renegade among the greater Ainur and he entered Eä with his own, twisted passions and conceptions.
Overview[]
- Ainur
- Eälar
- Valar
- Maiar and Umaiar
- Spirits of air
- Spirits of fire
- Fire Demons
- Balrogs
- lesser balrogs or Regmyl
- seven Balrog-Lords
- Fiery Grim
- Red demons or Lesh-Y
- Balrogs
- Spirits of water
- Spirits of Ulmo
- Water-Demons
- Demon-serpents
- Helegrogs or ice-demons
- Belegaerogs
- Nandini or Nymphs
- Earth-spirits
- Earth-demons
- Cave-demons or "scouts"
- Clubbers
- Lassaraukar or forest-demons
- Lithrogs or dust-demons
- Sand demons
- Fairies
- Earth-demons
- shadow-spirits
- Shadow-Demons
- Black demons
- Demons beyond the Pale
- Dindair, Shadow-shapes or Phantoms
- Fell Hunters
- Horror from the Deep
- Hunters of Morgoth
- Nackers
- Vampires
- Shadow folk of Mandos
- Uvalear
- Shadow-Demons
- others
- Spirits of Aman
- Creatures of Angband
- Giant-kind
- Fire giants
- Frost giants
- Hill-giants
- Stone Giants
- Eälar
- spirits of the Void
- Nameless
- Caerogs
- Tentacles
- World-eaters
- Spider-demons
- Nameless
Ainur of Renown[]
- For a list of Ainur of note or renown, see Category:Ainu.