During the First Age and while the first temple held sway in Hildorien, Melkor selected certain mortals and altered them by imparting a small portion of his own radiance, thereby warping them and making them taller, stronger and more imposing. These were the "Hănmani" (Me. "Exalted ones"), who became Melkor's first priests, priest‑kings and temple guards. As his power later waned, he ceased to expend his own might directly on mortals and reserved its transmission to his creatures instead, the dragons among them. The dark seed however remained, and the "morgothic element" persisted among Men, rendering that race irredeemably fallen. After Morgoth's banishment his pupil Sauron continued to bestow gifts upon mortal servants, but lacking his master's unmeasured might he confined himself to providing artifacts such as the rings of power and morgûl-blades, or to instructing them in sorcery, rather than imparting his own power. Thus Sauron produced Sorcerers and Undead but made no new "Giants" among Men.
See: Avatani High-Men Thaurrim
Known Hănmani[]
Aroch Artsír Âsriël Ashrâm Dúar Erén Habu Hethron Hormur Indrû Kalion of Angband Kashai Khorazir Môrazra Shûlan-Yîwan Udûnphel Ulcham Uráth Main overview: Domain of the Lidless Eye Portal
Notes[]
Melkor's distribution of some of his might among Men is alluded to in the Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth but never described at length. A similar motif, of men warped and serving Melkor at his temple in Hildorien, was developed in the "Silm film" fanfiction project. The giving of part of Melkor's radiance to Men may be compared, in certain respects, to the transformation of the High elves by the "light of Aman" when exposed to the light of the Two Trees and the presence of the Valar, or to the enhancement of the Númenóreans through gifts of Elves and Valar. It is possible that these "Changed" Men endured a doubled existence in both Arda and the shadow‑realm, and so might be condemned after death to a wraith‑like fate akin to the Nazgûl.
Editorial Note: This entry contains speculative or fan-based material — such as fanon, fanfiction, or theory constructs — that may not be directly supported by canonical texts. Interpretations offered here are part of the NNCA’s speculative corpus and should not be mistaken for primary Tolkien sources.