Summary
Tolkien’s vast universe ofThe Lord of the Ringsstretches well beyond Peter Jackson’s vision of Middle-earth. That includes several characters that are so epic in scope that no screen is big enough to hold them, and the sad truth is that many of the most fascinating characters in the history of the IP have yet to appear on film.
A few of the Maiar, the higher order of beings that carried out the will of the Valar in Middle-earth, have appeared in both feature films and high-profile shows likeRings of Power. On the other hand, there are other powerful Maiar that were essential to the history of Middle-earth throughout the First Age and Second Age, and they’re essential to the story even though movie fans have never heard of them.
Updated on October 3rd, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose:The lore of Middle-earth goes back thousands of years, long before the events of the War of the Ring, and includes a pivotal tale called The Silmarillion, an epic legend locked firmly behind the Tolkien family’s copyright. The immortal characters in the classic movie series had already seen eons of the history in Arda before Frodo took the One Ring to Mordor, and those who have the patience to read the books can experience some of their magic. Much of that history led to the events of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but most of the Maiar are still missing from live-action and animated versions of Tolkien’s work.
14Aiwendil
Known For Guidance And Wisdom, Not Power
Aiwendilwas closest to Yavanaa, the Vala that loved all the trees, plants, and green things of the earth, which explains why he became close to the woodland realm and its residents when he became the wizard Radagast in Middle-earth. It is not that he is weak but more that he lost his purpose, and despite this, he still manages to aid his fellow Maia Olórin andhis quest to find and destroy the One Ring.
When the first elves appeared, Yavanna sent Aiwendil to guard them against the already malevolent Melkor, and he was known among them by the name Hrávandil. Curomo, a Maia that served Aule, disliked Aiwendil and only took him to Middle-earth as one of the Ishtari when Yavanna requested it.
13Durin’s Bane
Destroyed Moria And Waited For The Fellowship
The beast that lies in wait beneath Moria is only one of many Balrogs that roamed Middle-earth doing the bidding of Morgoth in the First Age. Some of them were named and had positions of high rank in the armies of the realm of Dor Daedeloth, the land that would be called Mordor in the future.
When Morgoth fell, and his fortresses and cities were destroyed, the Balrogs either fell with him or went into hiding. The Balrog that eventually became known asDurin’s Banechose the deep, cold innards of the Misty Mountains as his hiding place, rising later to destroy Khazad-dum and giving the formerly proud Dwarven kingdom to goblins and orcs.
It wasn’t until the Fellowship of the Ring, led by Gandalf the Grey, ventured into the ruined city that the creature’s presence there was confirmed. Gandalf managed to defeat the creature, becoming one of the very few heroes to ever slay a Balrog.
12Tilion
A Master Archer But A Careless Guide
There were two trees in Valinor, and when they were destroyed by the spider monster Ungoliant, two Maia were tasked with taking their remains into the sky, where they would become the sun and the moon. A servant of the Vala Oromë the Huntsman, legend has it that in ancient times he would visit the gardens of Lothlorien before he became the guardian of the last surviving light of Telperion, the Silver Tree.
Tilionis a powerful guardian, using his silver bow to fight off any enemies that would seek and destroy the last light of Telperion. However, he’s not the most dedicated or serious guide. Sometimes, the careless path he takes leads the moon into the sky during the daytime or blocks out the light of the sun, carried by the burning hot Arien.
11Olórin
Humble And Self-Conscious, Found Power In Mercy
It was intended to be ironic that one of the most understated of the Maiar would be the key to saving Middle-earth. A servant of the King of the Valar, Manwë,Olórinspent his early years in Lorien and learned the ways of Middle-earth from the other Valar that lived there. He was one of the Maiar who was sent to guard the primeval elves against Melkor.
Aside from Manwë, the other Vala that influenced Olórin was Nienna, the lonely keeper of grief and compassion. It might have been this crucial understanding of humanity and mercy that gave Olórin the edge over the most powerful Maia in Middle-earth.
10Uinen
The Principal Diety Of Numenor
The Lady of the Waters and the patron of all mariners,Uinenwas one of the most important Maiar in terms of authority and was worshipped in Númenór. Ossë, her spouse, controlled the sea, but he was a harsh master, and her benevolence protected travelers and sailors from his wrath. As long asthe people of the island kingdomwere loyal to the Valar, Uinen was their most important deity.
She eventually proved to be even more powerful than her husband Ossë, who defied his original Vala Ulmo and was on the side of Melkor for a time. Uinen was able to return her husband to the good graces of the Valar, and only because of her influence were they able to forgive him. This courtesy was denied to other servants of Melkor, such as Curomo and Mairon, who did not have such powerful advocates.
9Ossë
Defied Ulmo And Served Melkor
A Maia of the sea would be wild and unpredictable.Ossëis one of the few beings in the history of Middle-earth who was redeemed after following Melkor for a time, but the grace of his wife, Uinen, saved him. He would go on to befriend and mentor the Lindar elves, raise Nuemenor out of the ocean, and influence Cirdan the Shipwright to stay in Middle-earth.
These were impressive displays of power, especially given the importance of the ocean as the great divide in the world of Middle-earth, along with being a vessel of the Valar’s immense power. Ossë raised Numenor from the sea, but he was also the one who sank and destroyed it, and when a ship attempts to sail to Valinor against the Doom of the Noldor, Ossë’s his hand that sinks it.
8Curumo
Curumowas a leader among the Maiar from the very beginning, interested in the crafts and machines of Middle-earth like the Vala that was his master, Aulë. This was a Vala of great skill and initiative, and personally instructed Feanor, the elf who eventually created the Silmarils.
Always the leader of the Ishtari, Curomo volunteered to lead the Wizards into Middle-earth while Olórin, who didn’t have as much confidence in his power, had to be ordered to go. Gandalf once commented that Curomo had grown too prideful as the wizard Saruman, and this weakness led to his downfall.
7Ilmarë
The Higest Order Of Maiar
The hierarchy of Valinor isn’t strictly enforced, but as a collective, the residents acknowledge the authority of the king and queen of the Valar, and second only to them are their most loyal Maiar.Ilmarëis the handmaiden of Queen Varda and is also considered the leader of the Maiar, and her counterpart is Eönwë, who carries the banner of King Manwë.
Ilmarë is designated as the Guardian of the stars, and her name comes from the Quenya word “ilma” which means starlight. In earlier versions of Tolkien’s stories, she’s the daughter of the king and queen and therefore a princess, but this idea evolved into the Maia instead.
6Eönwë
One Of The Most Powerful Beings In Tolkien’s Creation
In terms of arms,Eönwëwas one of the most powerful beings to ever exist in Arda, and his place was next to his master, the leader of the Valar, Manwë. He tends to stay close to Valinor should he be needed, but was present at some of the most important events in history.
Eönwë was the Maia that greeted Elrond’s father, Eärendil when he appeared on the shores of Valinor carrying a Silmaril. He was the one who led the forces of the Valar against Morgoth in a warthat the Noldor also fought, a war which not only resulted in Morgoth’s final defeat but the recovery and loss of the other two Silmarils.
Despite his vast power, he was willing to show Sauron mercy after his master had been defeated and bring him to the Valinor to be judged. Rather than face the Valar, however, Sauron ran and hid, quietly building up his forces until the Numenoreans would confront him centuries later.
5Mairon
The Greatest Threats Come From Within
Not all the Maiar used their powers for good. Sauron, the big bad ofThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy, was also of this order of powerful beings, and he served the Vala Melkor under the nameMaironand was later named Morgoth. Like his master, Sauron was more of a mage and manipulator than a fighter, and it was under these pretenses that he made the rings and gave them to the races of Dwarves and Men.
He planned to dominate Middle-earth through guile as opposed to military force and when it came to deception, he was one of the most powerful Maiar inLotR. Sauron recruited other Maiar to help him, such as the two Balrogs Durin’s Bane and Gothmog. One survived and slept under Moria, to be awakened by the passing of the Fellowship, while the other was killed at theFall of Gondolin.
