All 18 Confirmed Maiar In Lord Of The Rings Explained

Summary Maiar, angel-like beings created by Eru Ilúvatar, assisted in the creation of the universe and were each assigned to a powerful Vala.

Some Maiar, like Gandalf, cared for the world while others, like Sauron, were susceptible to darkness.

The Maiar, including Alatar, Aiwendil, and Arien, played crucial roles in the history of Middle-earth, with varying fates and allegiances.

The Lord of the Rings movies introduced three Maiar, but there were many more created and described by author J.R.R. Tolkien. Really, Peter Jackson's movies never even explained who or what the Maiar were, and even Tolkien's original books said very little about these beings; it wasn't until the appendices of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King that the author began to explain where the likes of Gandalf, Saruman, and even Sauron came from. Then, the posthumously published The Silmarillion shed more light on the Maiar, introducing 18 of them by name.

The Maiar are shapeshifting, angel-like beings born before time and created by Eru Ilúvatar, the top god of The Lord of the Rings. They belonged to the collective race called the Ainur, who sang a song made by Ilúvatar and, in doing so, assisted in the creation of the universe. The Maiar were each assigned to a Vala (plural: Valar), demigod Ainur of significant power. Together, the Maiar and Valar cared for the world Ilúvatar created, each using their strengths and skills. Of course, some of these beings were susceptible to darkness, which meant the Maiar varied between good and evil.

Related Every Upcoming Lord Of The Rings Movie & TV Show The Lord of the Rings franchise has seen a resurgence in film and TV of late; here is every project coming out of Middle-earth in the near future.

18 Alatar

Aliases: Alatar the Blue, Morinehtar, Haimenar

Alatar was the Maia of Oromë, the huntsman Vala, and his pal, the Maia Pallando. During the Second Age, when Sauron created his One Ring and began to develop influence over Middle-earth, the Valar decided to send Maiar as emissaries, hoping they would inspire rebellion among the Men who hadn't yet lent their allegiance to evil. Alatar was the first to volunteer, and he opted to bring his friend, Pallado, with him. Together, these two became known as the Blue Wizards and were the first Istar in Middle-earth. Alatar's fate after the Second Age is unknown.

17 Aiwendil

Aliases: Radagast, Bird Friend

Close

Aiwendil, better known as Radagast, was the Maia to Yavanna and, therefore, held a deep love for animals and plants. He was chosen to be one of the Istari, or wizards sent to Middle-earth to guide the Elves and Men in the fight against Sauron, alongside Saruman and Gandalf, but was never considered their equal. Aiwendil lost sight of his goal during his centuries in Middle-earth, busying himself by protecting the forest rather than bothering with Elves and Men. It is believed that Aiwendil was unable to return to Valinor after Sauron's downfall as a result.

16 Arien

Aliases: Spirit of Fire, Urien, Urwendi

Close

Arien was the Maia of the Vala Vána and was known for her bright eyes, which were too intense to look upon. She is best known for carrying the vessel of the Sun through the heavens, shedding light on Arda. However, during the Years of the Trees, Arien lived in Valinor with the others. When Morgoth and Ungoliant destroyed the Two Trees of Valinor, which had provided the world's light, Arien volunteered to carry the fruit of the tree Laurelin into the sky, where she remained throughout the events of Lord of the Rings and beyond.

15 Boldog

Aliases: None

Close

Little is known about Boldog, and it's unclear which of the Valar this Maia originally served. All that is ever made clear is that Baldog was among Morgoth's followers in the First Age and took the form of a primitive Orc during these dark days of war. He was considered lesser than the Balrogs and led armies of true Orcs against the Elves and Men. Over the years, other Orcs took on the name Boldog, but it's never clear what came of the original corrupted Maia after Morgoth's downfall.

14 Curumo

Aliases: Saruman the White, Saruman of Many Colors

Close

Curumo, better known in Lord of the Rings as Saruman, was originally the Maia of Aulë the Smith and was considered a powerful and skilled craftsman. When the Maia decided to send the Istari to Middle-earth, Curumo was eager to volunteer and prove his strength. Due to his reluctance, he was asked to bring other Maiar with him, and over time, he developed a profound jealousy of Olórin (Gandalf). Saruman served as the founder and head of the White Council but turned on his fellows when he thought, for a time, that Sauron's One Ring was within his reach.

After turning on Gandalf, Saruman pronounced himself "Saruman of Many Colors," revealing that he no longer possessed the purity of the "White Wizard."

13 Eönwë

Aliases: Fionwë, Úrion

Art by Firatsolhan

Eönwë was the Maia of the Valar king, Manwë, serving as his herald. He was considered the greatest warrior of the Maiar and was highly skilled with weapons (though he didn't possess much power). In the first age, Eönwë led the Host of the Valar into battle during the War of Wrath, which saw the downfall of Morgoth and his servant, Sauron. Eönwë was known for his wisdom and mercy, and after the Dark Lord's fall, he spared the sons of Fëanor, who stole the remaining Silmarils and fled.

12 Durin's Bane

Aliases: The Balrog Of Moria

Close

Durin's Bane was the Balrog of Moria, who dueled with Gandalf before pulling him down to the depths. Prior to being a terrifying fiery beast, the Balrog had been a Maia, though it's unknown which of the Valar he served. Durin's Bane would have been seduced by Morgoth's power during the War of the Great Jewels, corrupted by the Dark Lord, and turned into a monster of tremendous power to fight in battles. After Morgoth's defeat in the War of Wrath, Durin's Bane fled to the Misty Mountains, where he was eventually disturbed by Durin's folk of Khazad-dûm.

Durin's death at the hand of the Balrog earned the beast the name "Durin's Bane."

11 Gothmog

Aliases: Lord of Balrogs, High Captain of Angband

Gothmog was another Maiar who was corrupted by Morgoth, thus becoming a Balrog. However, this particular beast was far more potent than Durin's Bane. He was considered the Lord of Balrogs and high captain among the Dark Lord's forces. Gothmog killed Fëanor, king of the Ñoldor and maker of the Silmarils. He was also the one who led the siege against Gondolin, causing devastating destruction. However, after smashing his way into the Hidden City, Gothmog was confronted by Ecthelion, who forced the Balrog back into a fountain, where he is drowned.

Related Everything The Rings Of Power Leaves Out About The War Of Wrath The Rings of Power's opening history lesson offers a brief overview of Morgoth and the War of Wrath, but skips many important details along the way.

10 Lungorthin

Aliases: The Second Lord of Balrogs, Thane of Morgoth

The second strongest Balrog after Gothmog was Lungorthin, Lord alongside his fellow fallen Maia (though he was considered lesser). These two Balrogs often worked together in battle, and Lungorthin shared in the victory over King Fëanor and other notable Elves. He was known for his whistling whips, which he used to trap his enemies while Gothmog dealt the final blow. It's never revealed precisely what happened to Lungorthin, though it is theorized that this was the Balrog that Glorfindel famously killed during the Fall of Gondolin.

It's never revealed precisely what happened to Lungorthin, though it is theorized that this was the Balrog that Glorfindel famously killed during the Fall of Gondolin.

9 Ilmarë

Aliases: Starlight

Ilmarë was the handmaiden to the Queen of the Valar, Varda, and was therefore considered the guardian of the stars (Ilmarë's name means "starlight" in the Elvish language of Quenya). Ilmarë was also considered one of the chiefs of the Maiar and served King Manwë and his wife. Little else is known about this Maia since she wasn't very hands-on with the subjects of Middle-earth. Still, she was revered by the Elves thanks to her job of lighting the heavens at night.

8 Mairon

Aliases: Sauron, Annatar, Gorthaur, the Necromancer

Close

Mairon was a Maia of the Vala Aulë and learned the Smith's craft to the greatest mastery. In the beginning, this Maia was good and highly just, despising imperfection and disorder. Ultimately, this made Marion highly susceptible to Morgoth's manipulation. He joined the Dark Lord, first as a spy, then as his lieutenant, and soon became known as Sauron. After his master's defeat, Sauron begged his fellow Maiar for forgiveness, but he fled when they said he must face the Valar's justice. Later, Sauron rose as the new Dark Lord, creating his Rings of Power and One Ring to solidify his influence in Middle-earth.

7 Melian

Aliases: Melyanna, Tóril, Gwendeling

Close

Melian was a Maia of Yavanna and was known as the most beautiful of her kin. She shared a connection with birds, and her voice was known to mix with theirs to create music that even Valar stopped to hear. After the Elves awoke for the first time in Middle-earth, Melian was sent as chief of the Guardians to protect them. Then, she fell in love with the elf King Elu Thingol, and the two were married and had a daughter, Lúthien Tinúviel. As a half-Maia, Lúthien was beyond beautiful, and she later married a Man, Beren. Their line ultimately leads to Elrond, Arwen, and Aragorn.

Arwen is said to greatly resemble Melian's daughter, Lúthien, who also married a Man and chose to live and die as a mortal.

6 Olórin

Aliases: Gandalf the Grey (White), Mithrandir, Incánus, The Grey Pilgrim

Close

Though commonly known by a different name, Olórin is the most well-known of the Maiar. He was the Maia of King Manwë but also served under Varda Irmo and Nienna, allowing him to learn many skills and gain various types of wisdom. It was for this reason that Manwë volunteered Olórin to join the Istari. His wizard form was called Gandalf, and he was the only one of his fellows not to forsake his mission of guiding the Children of Iluvatar against Sauron. After Lord of the Rings, Gandalf returned to Valinor, where he likely became Olórin again.

Gandalf became the bearer of one of the Three Elven Rings, Narya, which gave him control over fire and the ability to inspire those around him.

5 Ossë

Aliases: Ošošai, Oššai Gaerys

Ossë​​​​​​​ was the Maia of Valar Ulmo, who held dominion over the sea. While Ulmo saw to the depths of the oceans, Ossë's zone was along the coast, where he controlled the tides and waves. This made Ossë a popular Maia among the shipfaring folk, including the Teleri and Sindar Elves of Middle-earth. However, Morgoth was able to use Ossë's violent and unpredictable nature against him, and he was eventually convinced to join the Dark Lord's side, causing the waters to become stormy and dangerous. Ossë eventually repented and was forgiven, though he never lost his flair for danger.

Morgoth was able to use Ossë's violent and unpredictable nature against him, and he was eventually convinced to join the Dark Lord's side.

4 Pallando

Aliases: Pallando the Blue, Rómestámo

Pallando was another Maia of Oromë the Huntsman and dear friend to Alatar, who volunteered to head to Middle-earth to help the Children of Iluvatar. Pallando was ultimately brought along as well, and he and Alatar became known as the Blue Wizards. The pair went East of Middle-earth, hoping to inspire rebellion among the Menthere against Sauron. Unfortuantely, Pallando and Alatar were never heard from again, though Tolkien guessed that the Blue Wizards' presence in the East made a significant difference in the war against Sauron.

3 Salmar

Aliases: Noldorin, Lirillo, Golthadriel

Salmar was another Maia in Ulmo's service. Little is known about this spirit, who is also sometimes called Noldorin or Lirillo, among other titles. It is noted that he was the creator of the Ulumúri, conches who perfectly played the melody of the Sea. He made this as a gift for his Lord Ulmo, who delighted in its beautiful sound.

2 Tilion

Aliases: None

Tilion was initially the Maia of Oromë, but when Morgoth and Ungoliant destroyed the Two Trees of Valinor, he managed to save the final flower of Telperion, which was placed within a vessel by Aulë. Tilion volunteered to take the vessel into the sky so its light could shine at night, and the Maia officially became the moon. It was a full week before Arien took up the post of being the sun. Still, Tilion's recklessness sometimes leads him astray, which is why the moon is occasionally visible in the daytime.

Related All 15 Valar & What They're The Gods Of In Lord Of The Rings The Valar are central to The Lord of the Rings' mythology. Here's all 15 of the godlike beings and which aspects of creation they rul

1 Uinen

Aliases: Ónen, Solórë

Close

Uien was the wife of Ossë, Maia to Ulmo, and Lady of the Sea. Her home was the saltwater rivers, and her hair was frequently compared to the weeds that grew there. When Uinen's husband rebelled against the Valar and joined Margoth, the job to get him back under control fell to her. She was eventually successful in taming Ossë, who was granted a pardon from the Valar. However, he continued to have a fierce temper, and Uinen kept Ossës' bouts of violence under control, allowing the seas of The Lord of the Rings to be a little safer.