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:: chapter III :: the races ::

The Ainur are the spirits who existed with Ilúvatar at the beginning of the time. Together with him they created the world (Arda) through the Music of the Ainur. After the creation of Arda, many of the Ainur descended into it to guide and order its growth and of these were fifteen more powerful than the rest. Fourteen of these Ainur became the Valar and the fifteenth was Melkor. First Melkor was one of the mightest Valar but then he became the first Dark Lord. The many less powerful Ainur that accompanied the Valar into Arda are called Maiar.

The Valar :

Valar is the name of the fourteen powerful Ainur who took a physical form and entered the world (Arda) after its creation. They should give order to the world and fight against the evils of Melkor (who was also one of the Valar, but who was expelled from the order)

"In the beginning Eru, the One, who in the Elvish tongue is named Ilúvatar, made the Ainur of his thought; and they made a great Music before him. In this Music the World was begun; for Ilúvatar made visible the song of the Ainur, and they beheld it as a light in the darkness. And many among them became enamoured of its beauty, and of its history which they saw beginning and unfolding as in a vision. Therefore Ilúvatar gave to their vision Being, and set it amid the Void, and the Secret Fire was sent to burn at the heart of the World; and it was called Eä.

Then those of the Ainur who desired it arose and entered into the World at the beginning of Time; and it was their task to achieve it, and by their labours to fulfil the vision which they had seen. Long they laboured in the regions of Eä, which are vast beyond the thought of Elves and Men, until in the time appointed was made Arda, the Kingdom of Earth. Then they put on the raiment of Earth and descended into it, and dwelt therein."

Quotation from the "Valaquenta" written by J.R.R.Tolkien.

Of the many spirits that descended into the world at its beginning, those of lesser stature than the Valar, though they were still very powerfull, were known as Maiar. Each Maiar stood in services of a Valar was attached to the people of one Valar. For example, Curumo (who in Middle-Earth was called Saruman) belonged to the people of Aule and Olórin (known as Gandalf) belonged to the people of Manwe and Varda.

Many of the Maiar were servants of Melkor. The most famous one was Sauron.

"Wih the Valar came other spirits whose being also began before the World, of the same order as the Valar but of less degree. These are the Maiar, the people of the Valar, and their servants and helpers."

Quotation from the "Valaquenta" written by J.R.R.Tolkien.