| “ | There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they were with him before aught else was made. | „ |
| ~ Ainulindalë: The Music of the Ainur |
Summary
The Ainur are the primordial angelic spirits made by Eru Ilúvatar in Tolkien's Legendarium. The first creations ever produced by their God, the Ainur are the "Holy Ones" that existed before "aught else" as the offspring of Ilúvatar's thought. They would be the ones to sing the "Music of the Ainur" to bring forth the vision of the world he would bring life to, and with the creation of the universe of the Legendarium know as Eä, many of the Ainur descended into it to build, guide, and govern the creation that they had helped to conceive.
Among then, the 14 most powerful of the Ainur (Apart from Melkor) were know as the Valar or Powers of Arda, while those lesser spirits that had descended alongside them to help then in their task were know as the Maiar. As members of the same race, much of the abilities and resistances of each individual were shared between them, although the degree and variety of their ability to affect the world varied depending on their rank amongst the other Ainur.
Within Eä:
Common Abilities: These are the abilities all the Ainur had upon descending into Eä. As members of the same race, the Maiar and all other orders of the Ainur possess the same general abilities as the Valar, albeit to a lesser degree.[1]
- Superhuman Physical Characteristics:
- Extrasensory Perception: Even in a restricted or crippled state, Maiar like Gandalf or Sauron are capable of perceiving locales and beings from kilometers away with their "sight".[2][3] As beings who dwelt in and aided in the creation of the blessed realm of Valinor it can also be assumed that the Ainur, much like Elves who have resided within Valinor, live in and perceive both the unseen and seen world.[4] They should thus be capable of perceiving formless spiritual entities like Wraiths or other Ainur.[4]
- Immortality (Types 1, 3, 4 and 5), Regeneration (Low-Godly, possibly Mid-Godly), Intangibility, Incorporeality and Non-Physical Interaction: The "true life" of the Ainur is incorporeal, with the bodies of the Ainur being mere raiment to them, with the physical forms of the Ainur being molded, shaped, remade, or discarded at their will, with but few exceptions for those who are truly "incarnate".[5][6][7] Despite this incorporeal status, the Ainur were capable of struggling with, and affecting each other during the Ainulindalë and following the initial descent into Eä.[5] Notably the souls of the Ainur are capable of even spiritual recovery and healing from a crippled state so long as they have not been so severely weakened or damaged beyond recovery.[8][Note 1]
- Self-Sustenance (Type 1 and 2, possibly Type 3): Those members of the Ainur who are not bindingly incarnate do not require sustenance.[9] It is also implied that they do not have any physical needs as long as they do not become too attached to material desires, with Maiar like Tilion and Arien physically residing in space.[9][5] However, they have required rest on rare occasion, with even some Valar sleeping on occasion, although the amount varies from individual to individual and with some apparent influence from their role, as is evident with Estë who bestowed the world with the gift of "rest".[1][10] Notably a unique weakness of Maiar who are physically incarnated as the Istari is physical weariness, something alien to the Ainur (although spiritual fatigue is presumably separate).[11]
- Magic: In Tolkien's Legendarium, magic of all kinds falls under two categories, "magia" and "goeteia".[12] Magia produces "real results", be it the creation of fire or the summoning of lightning. Goeteia produces illusory effects, be it for art or deception. These powers are not ordinarily capable of learned but are instead an inherent ability to those races that can be considered "magical". As evidenced by Sauron and Gandalf, this includes the Ainur.[12]
- Shapeshifting and Size Manipulation: As the bodies of the Ainur are but raiment to them, formed out of their power over matter, they can shift and change their own forms at will. Maiar and Valar like Arien and Yavanna can appear as a "naked flame" or a "tree under heaven".[1][5] Others like Olorin/Gandalf can take the form of other races like Elves or simply no form at all.[1]
- Conceptual Manipulation (Type 3): The Ainulindalë (The Music of the Ainur) was the product of the collective work and conflict of the Ainur, with the Music being used to create and defined almost all that exists within Eä, including things such as fate and almost all the various components that constitute reality.[5][13] Concepts such as "evil" and "rebellions" were introduced by Melkor's discordant music, whereas the loyal Ainur introduced their own concepts in accordance with Eru's teachings, such as with Nienna who wove mourning into the themes of Eä before its inception.[1][14] While the Ainur that had descended into Eä were unable to recreate a feat similar to the Music in scale and have never been shown destroying or overpowering concepts as they did in the Music, much of their abilities in this regard remained largely intact. This included the manipulation of the created concepts, with usage of concepts that fell under an Ainu's purview being as natural to them as breathing, whereas usage of foreign concepts would prove draining and potentially crippling if overused.[15]
- Sound Manipulation and Subjective Reality: As the singers of the Ainulindalë, the Ainur were capable of using using "songs of power".[16] These songs were capable of inducing various effects as per the user's will and words, as seen in the duel between Sauron and Finrod, wherein an exchange of words was used to create the effects that were used in the struggle between the two.[16] The known effects range from the growth of life by Yavanna in the early days of Arda, the creation of "clear visions" of events by Finrod, and weather manipulation by Luthien.[10][16][17] "Words of Command" share seemingly similar properties, with uttered words having an effect on reality unless resisted by protections such the "runes of power" that were upon the western door to Khazad-Dûm.[1][18]
- Mind Manipulation and Telepathy: The Valar and Maiar [Note 2] are stated to have "stronger" and more "penetrative" thoughts compared to all others, being capable of communicating with their minds/ósanwe more swiftly that they can with speech/lambë with no regard for distance.[9] Said communication can be used to combat opposing minds, with Gandalf remaining capable of doing so with Sauron across kilometers in his relatively limited state as Gandalf the White.[2][19] Indeed, minds of a higher order are capable of influencing those of a lower order.[20]
- Matter Manipulation and Creation: It was the Ainur who "laboured in the regions of Eä" to create the universe that matched that of the vision shown to them by Eru.[1] While only the Valar had a great command of the whole of the physical material of the universe, all the Ainur in general are capable of manipulating matter, having done so in the creation of their physical forms/fanar.[7]
- Light Manipulation: Even while in a restricted state, Maiar like Gandalf have used light as an offensive and utility tool on multiple occasion.[1][21][22][23] Even the very forms of the Ainur usually radiate light to varying degrees, with their bodies seemingly containing a light within.[7][24]
- Darkness Manipulation: Even while in a restricted state, Maiar like Gandalf can either darken an entire room at will or fill it with their shadow.[22][25]
- Elemental Manipulation: Even while in a restricted state, Maiar like Gandalf or Durin's Bane are capable of using various elements at will. Fire; water, ice, and lightning have all been manipulated by members of the Maiar during battle to varying extents.[2][4][1][21]
- Holy Manipulation: The Ainur were created as the "Holy Ones", being the "angelic" and "divine" sub-creators/authors that made the world and delegated the various spheres of rule/government they were assigned to.[5][26] Indeed, the sanctity of their being is evident from the "fragrance", with the unclad Maiar possessing an "odour of sanctity".[7][27]
- Empathic Manipulation: The light of Aman/Valinor upon the faces of those Elves who had been to Valinor inspired feelings of "awe" to the Elves who witnessed them.[28] This same light is present upon the faces of all the Ainur in Valinor, for it is the light of the Two Trees that shone this same light upon the entire continent.[26] Ainur like Oromë or Melian thus inspire the same awe upon onlookers as a result.[29][30]
- Precognition: Upon entering the confines of time and space, the Ainur could still fully perceive the past in its entirety while retaining a limited perception of the future based on their memories prior to descending into Eä.[31]
- Soul Manipulation: The "spirits" or Ainur "could 'emit' their influence" upon things external to themselves, with the primary function of doing so being to "emit" their influence upon other spirits or the souls of "incarnate" individuals such as Elves, men, dwarves, etc.[15]
- Age Manipulation: In Valinor, each living thing (be it plant, animal, or sentient being) is under the care of the Valar and their attendant Maiar. As such, all things with Aman are maintained within their beauty and youth, with the Elves seeing no waning to their physical forms.[32] However, this did not prevent an end to mortal things with Valinor, as despite retaining their youth, mortal animals would pass on, albeit not "die".[32]
Common Resistances: These are the resistances all the Ainur had prior to entering Eä. Unlike the immortality of the Elves, which lasts as long as the world does, or "counterfeit" forms of immortality, the immortality of the Ainur can be described as "true immortality", with their existence predates Eä.[13][14][33] As such, it is impossible for their lives to be truly ended within the context of the Legendarium, with Sauron surviving his existence being "reduced to a vanishing point".[8][26]
- Sound Manipulation and Subjective Reality: As seen in the duel between Sauron and Finrod, wielders of the "songs of power" were capable of countering and resisting opposing songs with their own.[16]
- Mind Manipulation and Telepathy: Alongside the inherent resistance provided by the Barrier of Unwill, members of the Ainur were capable of mentally combatting foes to resist their attacks.[2][19]
- Soul Manipulation: Along with the inherent indestructibility of souls in LotR, the bodies of the Ainur are but mere raiment, making them resistant to the removal of their soul.[7] As noted in the section on regeneration, they are also able to heal spiritual damage over time.
- Matter Manipulation: The bodies of the Ainur are formed with their own control over matter, making it simple for them to reshape, remake, and undo any alterations performed.[7][34]
- Empathic Manipulation: The Ainur do not particularly perceive each other in a remarkable light, with Maiar like Ossë, Sauron, or Saruman rebelling against their respective Vala without particular compunction.[1]
- Death Manipulation: The Immortals of the Legendarium are considered "deathless", albeit to varying extents.[35] As such, the concept of spiritual death is of no real concern to the likes of the Eldar, with the "griefs and burdens of deathlessness" being the concern of the Elves as long as the world they are bound to continues to exist.[10][26] While the bodies of the Elves are destructible, they are beyond death within the context of the Legendarium, with their fëa/souls persisting past bodily destruction, even retaining a will and potentially a consciousness.[36] The Ainur share in and exceed this immortality, possessing "true immortality" rather than one tied to Eä like the Elves, with their being persisting even when reduced to the smallest remnants of themselves whereas their natural state is as bodiless spirits.[8][14][26] Moreover, as the Ainur naturally exist as spirits, the summoning of bodily deceased souls to the Halls of Mandos are a minor inconvenience as they may easily exit with their natural abilities so long as Mandos or Eru do not bar their exit.[37][Note 3]
- Illusion Creation: Usage of goetic magic that would be considered illusory to humans would be considered mere "artistic" works by Elves and Ainur, with the difference being as clear as fiction and life to their senses.[12]
- Magic: Even whilst in a restricted state, Maiar like Gandalf were capable of performing counter-spells and surviving the results of magical detonation.[18]
- Conceptual Manipulation (Type 3), Void Manipulation, Immortality Negation (Types 1, 3, 4 and 5) and Regeneration Negation (Low-Godly, possibly Mid-Godly): The inherent inability of the Ainur to be slain within the context of the Legendarium suggests they should be able to survive the inherent Concept Manipulation of fellow Ainur and the Void Manipulation of the Valar. Furthermore, it is stated that none could deal death to any of the race of the Valar, not even each other, save Eru only,[38] and Melian, a Maia, was stated to be of the race of the Valar twice,[30][39] therefore this could likely make the Ainur resistant to Immortality and Regeneration Negation, especially if the inherent indestructibility of souls in LotR and the Ainur's inability to be slain are to be considered.
Valar and Greater Maiar: The Greater Maiar and Valar are considered the "great spirits" that stand above the other Ainur, with the Valar being chief among them.[15] While the Greater Maiar are comparable albeit inferior to the Valar in regards to most abilities, as they are those Ainur who are "nigh as great" as the Valar, it should be noted that the latter remain mightier overall, being the ones considered to be "gods" by some and "great" among the Ainur by the Elves.[1] This means that they possess some abilities that the Greater Maiar do not.
All Common Abilities and Resistances enhanced:
- Possibly Abstract Existence for the Valar: The Valar are stated to be akin to the soul of Eä, encompassing a similar position to what the soul/fëar/fëa of the body/hröa of what the Children does.[34] However, this may be largely metaphorical to a certain degree.[34][Note 4]
- Life Manipulation for the Valar: The Valar are capable of granting corporeal life to beings, although they are not capable of making life that possesses free-will without the assistance of Eru.[40][41]
- Causality Manipulation for the Valar: Through the creation of the "major patterns" from the "great pattern" of Eru, the Valar are capable of setting forth "designs" that result in separate events across time, diverging into their own patterns, by design of the Valar or by divergences caused by free-will.[13] The Valar's actions in the Music of the Ainur also set forth various different "living patterns" that would take place once Eä formed.[13]
- Void Manipulation and Dimensional Manipulation for the Valar: As suggested by Tolkien's cosmological Ambarkanta maps, the Door of Night and Gate of Morning were creations of the Valar that allowed passage to and from the Timeless Void beyond creation. In order to create these passageways, the Valar penetrated the "impassable walls" englobing Eä within the Timeless Void while keeping the "Outer Dark" separate from the universe even when opened.[42][43]
- Sleep Manipulation for the Valar: As part of the "Hiding of Valinor", any mariner who came near "Enchanted Isles" that were made by the Valar would become "weary" and "loathe" the sea, whereas those who stepped upon the isles themselves would become entrapped and sleep until the "Changing of the World".[5]
- Fate Manipulation: The Ainulindalë is defined as Fate to all things within Eä, with it being stated to have real power over all things in the World, with only those outside of it remaining unbound.[10][13] While it is unlikely that even the Greater Maiar and Valar could recreate the Music whilst within the confines of the universe, Ainur with powerful wills, such as a diminished Morgoth, were capable of bending fate to their will by "designing" the future for their enemies.[44]
- Enhanced Soul Manipulation: The Valar moved the spirits/souls of Elves into new bodies when they were unable/unwilling to make their own.[37] The Valar and Greater Maiar/Mayar are said to have been also capable of emitting their "influence" upon other souls/spirits, likely including offensive action, given the statement regards the raw power and usage of said power of said Ainur.[15][Note 5] It's implied that they were even capable of altering souls if they wanted to, with a stipulation of Eru being that they could not do so as part of his laws.[32] Indeed, Morgoth is stated to have impaired the soul/fëa of humans due to their rebellion against Eru, having a claim to the souls of the rebellious.[45]
- Enhanced Conceptual Manipulation (Type 3) and Subjective Reality: As the spirits of Greater Maiar and the Valar greatly surpassed those beneath them, they were more readily capable of exerting their influence over the world and its underlying concepts. Powerful spirits like Manwë were capable of emitting their influence over the world with the same ease as "breathing", with the emission of his power being described as the imposition of his "will or desire" upon the world.[15]
- Enhanced Mind Manipulation: The Valar were considered the "greater minds" compared to all but Eru.[45] They could peer into disembodied minds with ease, with them being completely open to their view.[37] With sufficient coercion, they can even bypass the "barrier of unwill" should a target's will be sufficiently weakened beforehand.[46][Note 6] Their mastery of the mind is so supreme that language is not "imperative" to their uses, with the Valar holding the highest "authority" in matters of the mind.[9]
- Enhanced Matter Manipulation and Creation: The Valar "had a command, great individually, almost complete as a united council, over the physical material of Eä (the material universe)".[7] They could use this to create bodies for themselves and others, build the material universe, and construct the various regions and landscapes of Arda.[1][5][7][37]
- Enhanced Light Manipulation: The Valar were capable of gathering "great stores" of light to themselves and creating objects that could light the entire world like the Two Lamps or the Two Trees.[10]
- Enhanced Darkness Manipulation: As part of the "Hiding of Valinor", the Valar filled seas around them with "shadows and bewilderment", darkening the waters around the "Enchanted Isles" so that they were referred to as the "Shadowy Sea".[5]
- Enhanced Holy Manipulation: The Valar were capable of granting blessings of grace to individuals; items, locations, groups, and even entire races.[27][32][47][48] The entire continent of Valinor had its very stones and waters hallowed by the work of the Valar.[10] The Silmarils were hallowed by Varda to be untouchable by evil or mortal hands.[49] Manwë hallowed the flower and fruit of the Sun and the Moon.[5]
- Enhanced Emphatic Manipulation: The forms of the Valar are capable of inspiring great awe and reverence in onlookers, with the "glory and majesty of the Valar" stunning Ingwë, Finwë, and Elwë in overawe and dazzlement.[29][50] This level of awe was such that Ulmo feared that it would overawe their "free-will", yet such is but a fraction of the level of awe and reverence their full being can accomplish, with their "overwhelming majesty" being veiled by the various forms they take, including even the glimpses of their most "awe-inspiring manifestations" that can override free-will itself.[46][50] More mundane but still potent examples of this ability can be seen in the ability of the Valar to imbue sailors with a hatred of the very seas they travel.[5]
- Locational BFR for the Valar: By thrusting an individual through the Door of Night that are past the "Walls of the World" (when Arda was still flat) the Valar are capable of trapping someone in the Timeless Void, the same Void that existed before creation and the Timeless Halls themself.[51]
Aratar: The Nine members of the Aratar are said to be "chief" in "power and reverence", being incomparably superior to even the other Valar as they are stated to be "beyond compare all others" be they Maiar or Valar,[1]
All Abilities and Resistances of the Valar and Greater Maiar enhanced:
- Enhanced Emphatic Manipulation: The Majesty of the Aratar is beyond compare to even the likes of the Valar or Maiar.[1]
Timeless Halls/Ainulindalë
Common Abilities: These are the abilities all the Ainur prior to the making of Eä.
All Common Abilities from "Within Eä" greatly enhanced:
- Beyond-Dimensional Existence: The Ainur exist in a higher and more primary reality compared to Eä, viewing the universe and space-time of the Legendarium as a secondary and small reality which Eru holds as mere thought, with Tolkien emphasising the difference as akin to that between myth and reality.[13][26][52] They thus predate and exceed the boundaries of space and time to the extent that it is but fiction to them.
- Greatly enhanced Fate Manipulation, Conceptual Manipulation (Type 3), and Subjective Reality: The Ainulindalë (The Music of the Ainur) was the product of the collective work and conflict of the Ainur. The Music/Theme is defined as Fate to all things within Eä, being stated to have real power over all things in the World, with only those outside of it remaining unbound.[10][13] The Music created and defined almost all that exists within Eä, outside of the Children of Ilúvatar, including its various concepts. Concepts such as "evil" and "rebellions" were introduced by Melkor's discordant music, whereas the loyal Ainur introduced their own concepts in accordance with Eru's teachings, such as Nienna who wove mourning into the Music.[1][5][14] These concepts remain in place even with their creator being banished outside of the universe, such as with Morgoth's discord, and were capable of affecting the Timeless Halls of Eru and potentially beyond.[5][51] These concepts and results were the pure product of the thoughts of the Ainur, with each Ainu being instructed by Eru to adorn the Music with their thoughts, with the aforementioned concepts of discourse arising from Melkor's own discordant thoughts, whereas the concepts like mourning and grief were woven into the Music from Nienna's own thoughts.[5] Indeed, alongside direct creations, such as the waters of Ulmo, the converging of concepts could result in the birth of new ones, with snow, frost, rain, and clouds coming about from the contrasting concepts of water under Ulmo and the destruction of Melkor's heat.[5]
- Greatly enhanced Sound Manipulation: The Voices of the Ainur were capable of creating the Ainulindalë.[5]
- Void Manipulation: The Music of the Ainur is capable of affecting the Timeless Void, turning it from "Void" to "not void".[5]
All Common Resistances from "Within Eä" greatly enhanced
- Greatly enhanced Sound Manipulation, Fate Manipulation, Void Manipulation, Conceptual Manipulation (Type 3), and Subjective Reality: Even when their music was overpowered during the Ainulindalë, those loyal to Eru were unharmed by the discord of Melkor and like-minded members of the Ainur, with even those in the epicentre and next to Melkor being merely "dismayed" at the perceived chaos rather than injured.[5] By the third iteration and theme, the two groups of Ainur were evenly clashing with their music.[5]
- Greatly enhanced Soul Manipulation: As spiritual beings that had not yet taken on a form, any attacks upon fellow Ainur by opposing Ainur must have been spiritual in nature, something which the Ainur could, as detailed above, seemingly perform even following their descent into Eä and diminishment. As no notable Ainu was ever detailed as being notably injured in the various struggles prior to the descent into Eä, it can be assumed they were at least capable of withstanding each others attacks to a notable degree.
- Greatly enhanced Death Manipulation: As the Halls of Mandos did exist yet, it can be assumed that defeated spirits would not be called to any location in particular. Indeed, as their true-life is spiritual, their existence is thus truly deathless, for spirits with free-will in LotR are truly indestructible.[6][53]
All Abilities and Resistances of the Aratar, Valar, and Greater Maiar are greatly enhanced, although the Valar would not possess Abstract Existence prior to their descent into Eä to become its "soul".
Notes
- ↑ The exact justifications for Immortality are addressed throughout the Page as many of them serve as components for the justification of other abilities and resistances. -- In summary, there are three types of immortality in the Legendarium: -- 1. Elvish Immortality: Immortality within the confines of the world. As long as the world continues, the Elves cannot die. -- 2. Counterfeit Immortality: "Immortality" as conveyed by the Rings of Power (for mortals) and existence as a wraith. Essentially longevity + undeath. -- 3.True Immortality: Immortality beyond the confines of the world/universe. Truly immortal, one cannot experience a true death. -- The Ainur fall under the latter for multiple reasons. Their origins predate creation, a quality of "true immortality" which is beyond the Legendarium's boundaries. They are utterly deathless, even when reduced to mere shadows of themselves they continue to "live". Their true life is spiritual, and as souls in LotR are invulnerable and cannot be destroyed, their life is utterly indestructible. As their natural state is as a soul, thus they are naturally beyond any death, even bodily death (unless incarnated fully into the material, as noted in note 3, and even that is not true death but purely a bodily death).
- ↑ The in-universe notes found in the Ósanwe-kenta states that the abilities of the Maiar are comparable to the Valar in regards to their mental abilities. The notes of Loremaster Pengolodh are summarised as stating that they "are concerned primarily with the Eldar and the Valar (including the lesser Maiar of the same order)"
- ↑ And even then, there is no outright imperative or únat that says spirits must return to the Halls of Mandos. One may reject the call as per their free-will and theoretically remain fighting as long as they retain sufficient power. For instance, Ainu like Sauron and Saruman remain in place upon their bodily death. It is only once they are are blown away by winds from Valinor that they are dispersed elsewhere (lacking now the power to resist due to incarnate death as opposed to simply bodily death). To elaborate, an "incarnate" is a being whose soul and body (fëa and a hröa) are naturally united. A being whose "true life" is one of a physical and spiritual union. Ainur are not naturally incarnated, with their true lives being spiritual, but can become incarnated like Istari or Morgoth in his later years. In such a state, an Ainu is "bound to a bodily form", and with its destruction comes the destruction of an Ainu's capabilities. This does not kill them, for they are truly deathless, but it does cripple them beyond recovery, save for the likes of Morgoth and likely the Valar.
- ↑ The editorial notes state that "the Valar give material form to the basic, undifferentiated prime matter (Q. erma) of Arda, in accordance with the Music of the Ainulindalë and the Vision of Arda shown to them by Eru prior to its physical creation; and so are, in a sense, its spirit." Note, this is the editor's thoughts, not J.R.R Tolkien's.
- ↑ For instance, "the emission of power" seen in instances like Manwë's spirit subduing the servants of Melkor or in his likely banishment of Sauron outside the boundaries of the universe in Return of the King.
- ↑ Albeit this is not achievable through brute force alone. While the minds of the Valar were "stronger" than lesser Ainur, bypassing the barrier of unwill without weakening of an individual's will is impossible. Tolkien states that the Children of Ilúvatar (Elves and Humans) had to be dominated for this to succeed. Domination, "force", "fear", "pain", "awe", "reverence", "wisdom", and "majesty" are examples provided by Tolkien. The only known example of a Vala/Greater Maia who bypassed the barrier through these means is Morgoth, who did so by tricking individuals to believe him to be God while dominating their will. Indeed, overcoming an Únat without loopholes is not possible unless you are Eru, aka the creator of the Únati.
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Silmarillion: VALAQUENTA
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Book Three, Chapter Five The White Rider
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Book Six, Chapter Three Mount Doom
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter 1 Many Meetings
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 Silmarillion: AINULINDALË
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Nature of Middle-Earth, Part One: Time and Aging, IV Time-Scales
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 The Nature of Middle-Earth, Part Two: Body, Mind and Spirit, XIV The Visible Forms of the Valar and Maiar
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Morgoth's Ring: PART FIVE. Text VII
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 The Nature of Middle-Earth, Part Two: Body, Mind and Spirit, IX Ósanwe-kenta
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Silmarillion, Chapter 1: OF THE BEGINNING OF DAYS
- ↑ Letters of Tolkien: Letter 156
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Letters of Tolkien: Letter 155
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 The Nature of Middle-Earth, Part Three: The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants, II The Primal Impulse
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Letters of Tolkien: Letter 212
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 The Nature of Middle-Earth, Part Two: Body, Mind and Spirit, XIII Spirit
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Silmarillion, Chapter 19: OF BEREN AND LÚTHIEN
- ↑ Silmarillion, Chapter 17: OF THE COMING OF MEN INTO THE WEST
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter 5 The Bridge of Khazad-Dûm
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter 10 The Breaking of the Fellowship
- ↑ The Nature of Middle-Earth, Part Two: Body, Mind and Spirit, VII Knowledge and Memory
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter 2 The Council of Elrond
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Book Three, Chapter Six The King of the Golden Hall
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Book Five, Chapter Four The Siege of Gondor
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Book Five, Chapter Ten The Black Gate Opens.
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter 1 A Long-Expected Party
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 Letters of Tolkien: Letter 131
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 The Nature of Middle-Earth, Appendices: Metaphysical and Theological Themes
- ↑ The Nature of Middle-Earth, Part One: Time and Aging, VII March of the Quendi
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 Silmarillion, Chapter 3: OF THE COMING OF THE ELVES AND THE CAPTIVITY OF MELKOR
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Silmarillion, Chapter 4: OF THINGOL AND MELIAN
- ↑ Morgoth's Ring: PART FIVE. Text XI
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 The Nature of Middle-Earth, Part One: Time and Aging, XII Concerning the Quendi in their Mode of Life and Growth
- ↑ Letters of Tolkien: Letter 325
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 The Nature of Middle-Earth, Part One: Time and Aging, III Of Time in Arda
- ↑ Silmarillion: AKALLABÊTH
- ↑ Morgoth's Ring: THE VALAQUENTA, OF THE SEVERANCE OF MARRIAGE: NOTES
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 The Nature of Middle-Earth, Part Two: Body, Mind and Spirit, XV Elvish Reincarnation
- ↑ Morgoth's Ring: PART TWO. Third section of the Annals of Aman, 1100. The Chaining of Melkor
- ↑ Silmarillion, Chapter 22: OF THE RUIN OF DORIATH
- ↑ The Nature of Middle-Earth, Part Three: The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants, III Powers of the Valar
- ↑ Silmarillion, Chapter 2: OF OF AULË AND YAVANNA
- ↑ Morgoth's Ring: AINULINDALË, Version C
- ↑ The Shaping of Middle-Earth, Chapter 5: The Ambarkanta
- ↑ The Children of Húrin: Introduction
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 The Nature of Middle-Earth, Part Two: Body, Mind and Spirit, X Notes on Órë
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 The Nature of Middle-Earth, Part Two: Body, Mind and Spirit, XII The Knowledge of the Valar
- ↑ The Nature of Middle-Earth, Part One: Time and Aging, XI Ageing of Elves
- ↑ The Nature of Middle-Earth, Part Three: The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants, XI Lives of the Númenóreans
- ↑ Silmarillion, Chapter 7: OF THE SILMARILS AND THE UNREST OF THE NOLDOR
- ↑ 50.0 50.1 The Nature of Middle-Earth, Part One: Time and Aging, XIII Key Dates
- ↑ 51.0 51.1 The Silmarillion, Chapter 24: OF THE VOYAGE OF EÄRENDIL AND THE WAR OF WRATH
- ↑ Letters of Tolkien: Letter 200
- ↑ Letters of Tolkien: Letter 211
Credit to...
Tyranno223 on the VS Battles Wiki Forum for allowing me to use this.
