Ainur

Ainur, also called the Holy Ones, were the beings encompassing the Valar and Maiar and the most powerful of the three gods. They were the first mighty beings of Eru Iluvatar, and the forefathers of all the others even before the beginning of the world. Eru, known as Arda’s Illuvatar, initially came up with Ainur and the sacred beings who were in his mind, their offspring.

Their name is born from Ainur, the original spirit of Ainulindale, Music of Ainurs that had existed before Iluvatar, and created the world. Many Ainur descended from Arda to guide and order its growth and were imbued with fifteen more powerful than the rest by their father, Iluvatar. These fourteen great Ainur became known as the Valar - Powers of Arda, and they were the most powerful of the Ainurs. But Melkor, the fifteenth, turned away from that path, then became the first and last dark Lord of his bloodline.

The Ainur was "a descendent of the thought of Ilúvatar," and only the part of Ilúvatar's mind from which he or she was born was given understanding. The only exception was Melkor, who later became the lord of the Valar, the brother in the spirit of Manwë, who was given some of the parts that the other ones had come from, but he did not honestly know Eru's enthusiasm for all his gifts. The Ainur's most powerful were Melkor and Manwë. The Ainur were 'enchanted by the unperishable flames,' which could be taken as meaning that their Creator gave them free will. Ilúvatar taught the arts of Music to make Music in Ainur: the great song the created Ilúvatar's dream, and eventually the real world. They were all in harmony with Eru and one another at the beginning of the Music. Melkor then turned to his pride, searched for power for himself, and tried without success to disagree with the great Music. Later he misleads many Maiar.

Through Ainur Music, Ilúvatar created a vision of the world, showed it to Ainur, and explained much of its nature and destiny. As a result, Ainur has a great deal of world-knowledge, but are not all-knowing. Illúvatar granted the real world with the declaration of "Eä," which brought about the creation of these visions. Melkor lives in the Middle East, the eastern part of a vast sea, as a key villain of the First Century, while the other Ainur lives in the west of Valinor.

He corrupted some Maiar, many of whom took the form of Balrogs, massive beasts of fiery ardor. Sauron, the principal villain of the Second and Third Ages, was one of Melkor's most famous servants. Melkor controls many dark animals, such as Orcs, who are presumably descendants of tortured Elves, wolves, and bats, and later Sauron. Melkor and many other powerful Ainur decided to go down into it and make it ready for the arrival of Ilúvatar's Children. [1]

The Ainur became known as Valar and Maiar after it descended into the earth. The Ainur, who came into the world and decided to stay since its inception, remains bound. While the others have inevitably thrown Melkor into the Void, he is predicted to be back in the last battle, Dagorath, before the end. Ainur's ultimate future remains a mystery, but it is said that they will make a second, even greater Music with the Ilúvatar children after the great war at the end of the world.

There was one of the Maiar orders named Melian, among the numerous Ainur, who had long since entered the world. She married, the Ainur alone, one of the Ilúvatar children King Elu Thingol [2] of Doriath and the Melian shield, which has for centuries protected Doriath. [3] Ainur's nature penetrated the bloodlines of the Elves and Men, spread through generations, and was still present during the ring. Elrond was a great-grandson of Melian, and Aragorn too, but for centuries more than Elrond.

Ainur is a Valarin-sourced word from Quenya, which stands for "Saints." It seems to come from the aina word, meaning 'holy.' There is less clarity on the root of the second component, but "Ainur" can be linked to "Eru." "Er" means one, according to various sources.' This may not be accurate, as this has not been clarified further. The singular form of Ainur is therefore likely to be Ainu, which means 'Holy of Holies '.

1. ^Ilúvatar's Children.
2. ^Elu Thingol- Greatest of the lords of the Sindar.
3. ^Thingol’s hidden kingdom.