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Ainur
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Ainur
Name
Ainur
Dominions
All of Arda, then later Valinor and Aman
Languages
Westron, Sindarin, Quenya, Valarin
Height
Varies
Skin Color
Varies
Hair Color
Varies
Lifespan
Immortal
Distinctions
Large, holy, strong, powerful, cunning
Members
Manw, Ulmo, Aul, Orom, Nmo, Irmo, Tulkas, Varda, Yavanna, Nienna, Est, Vair,
Vna, Nessa, Melkor, Maiar

The Ainur, also known as the Holy Ones, are beings encompassing both the Valar and
the Maiar. They were the first and mightiest beings created by Eru Ilvatar in the
depths of time before the beginning of the World.
"There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilvatar; and he made first the
Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought..."
First words of the Ainulindal
They were primordial spirits who existed with Ilvatar, and with him created the
world through the Ainulindal, the Music of the Ainur. After the creation of Arda,
many of the Ainur descended into it to guide and order its growth; of these there
were fifteen more powerful than the rest. Fourteen of these great Ainur became
known as the Valar, or Powers of Arda. The fifteenth, Melkor, turned aside from
that path and became the first Dark Lord. The many lesser Ainur that accompanied
the Valar into Arda are known as Maiar.[1]
Contents[show]
HistoryEdit
OriginEdit
The Ainur were the 'offspring of Ilvatar's thought' and each was given
understanding only of that part of the mind of Ilvatar from which he or she came.
The exception to this was Melkor, a brother in spirit to Manw, who later became
The Lord of the Valar and he was given some of the parts from which the others had
come, but for all his gifts he did not know the full mind of Eru. Melkor and Manw
were the most powerful of the Ainur.
The Ainur were 'kindled with the Flame Imperishable', which can be taken to mean
that they were granted free will by their Creator. Ilvatar instructed them in the
arts of music, until he brought them together to make the Music of the Ainur: the
great song that created the Vision of Ilvatar and ultimately the real world. In
the beginning of the Music, the Ainur were all in harmony with Eru and one another,
but Melkor turned instead to his own pride, seeking power for himself and bringing
discord to the Great Music. He later led many of the Maiar astray as well.[1][2]

The Ainur and the WorldEdit

Through the Music of the Ainur, Ilvatar created a Vision of the World; he showed
it to the Ainur, and explained much of its nature and destiny to them - the Ainur
therefore have much knowledge of the World, but are not themselves omniscient.
Ilvatar then granted the World true being by declaring "E", causing these visions
to come into being. Melkor and many of the other mighty Ainur desired to descend
into it and form it in readiness for the coming of the Children of Ilvatar (that
is, Elves and Men). Upon descending into the World, the Ainur became known as the
Valar and the Maiar.
Those Ainur who entered the World and chose to live in it at its beginning remain
bound to it until its end. Though Melkor was eventually thrown into the Void by the
others, he is prophesied to return before the end in the Dagor Dagorath, the final
battle. Little is known of the ultimate future of the Ainur, even by themselves,
but it is said that after the great battle at the end of the World, they will make
a Second, even greater Music with the Children of Ilvatar.

The Line of MelianEdit

Among the many Ainur who entered the World long ago, there was one of the order of
the Maiar named Melian. Alone of all the Ainur, she wedded one of the Children of
Ilvatar, King Elu Thingol of Doriath, and wove the Girdle of Melian that protected
Doriath for many centuries. Through her, an essence of the Ainur entered the
bloodlines of the Elves and Men, passed down through generation after generation,
and was still present at the time of the War of the Ring. Elrond was Melian's
great-great-grandson, and Aragorn, too, was her descendant, though through many
more generations than Elrond.[3]
EtymologyEdit
Ainur is a Quenyan word originating from Valarin and means "Holy ones". It appears
to come from the word aina, meaning 'holy'. Although the origin of the second
element ur is less clear, it is possible there is a link between the word 'Ainur'
and the word 'Eru' as the first element 'er' means 'one', though this may not be
true as there is no further elaboration on this.
The singular form of Ainur is Ainu, simply meaning "Holy one".[4]

NotesEdit
The Ainur could be equated with the role of Angels and could well have been based
off of Angels from the Christian religion.
Trivia Edit
Ainu, the singular form of Ainur, is also the name of an indigenous people in
Japan. See: Ainu.
Races of the Creatures of Arda
Free Folks:
Ainur | Dwarves | Ents | Hobbits | Men | Elves | Great Eagles
Servants of the Shadow:
Dragons | Orcs | Wargs | Werewolves | Spiders | Trolls
Ainur of Arda
Valar
Kings
Manw (Slimo) Ulmo (Ulubz) Aul (Nvatar) Orom (Aldaron) Nmo (Mandos)
Irmo (Lrien) Tulkas (Astaldo)
Queens
Varda (Elentri) Yavanna (Kementri) Nienna Est Vair Vna Nessa
Enemies
Melkor (Morgoth)
Maiar
Valinor
Enw Ilmar Oss Uinen Salmar Melian Arien Tilion Curumo (Saruman)
Olrin (Gandalf) Aiwendil (Radagast) Alatar (Morinehtar) Pallando
(Rmestmo)
Enemies
Sauron (Mairon) Gothmog Durin's Bane Ungoliant Shelob Curumo (Saruman)
ReferencesEdit
? 1.0 1.1 The Silmarillion: Ainulindal
? The Silmarillion: Valaquenta
? The Silmarillion: Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Thingol and Melian"
? The Silmarillion, Index of Names
Categories:
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