A Dictionary of Tolkien by David Day

Author:David Day
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thunder Bay Press

Istari

After a thousand years had passed in the Third Age of the Sun, an Elven ship came out of the Western Sea and sailed to the Grey Havens. Upon that ship were five aged Men with long white beards and great cloaks. They were cloaks of various colours, and each Man wore a tall pointed hat, high black traveller’s boots, and carried a long staff. These were the Istari, whom Men called Wizards; their hats and staffs were their signs of office. They were an order and a brotherhood sent to Middle-earth from the Undying Lands, for it was perceived that a great evil was growing in Mortal Lands.

Though the Istari came secretly and in humble form, in the beginning, before their arrival in Middle-earth, they were mighty spirits. They were Maiar, spirits older than the World itself, and of that first race that came from the mind of Ilúvatar in the Timeless Halls. Yet in the diminished World of Middle-earth in the Third Age they were forbidden to come forth in power as Maiar. They were limited to the form of Men and the power found within the mortal World.

Although five Istari are said to have come to Middle-earth, two play no part in the histories of the Westlands that have come to Men, for the others were said to have gone to the far east of Middle-earth. These two were the Ithryn Luin, “The Blue Wizards”, and though it is known that they were called Alatar and Pallando in the Undying Lands and were chosen by the Vala Oromë the Horseman, nothing else is known of their lives and deeds.

Most famous and praised of the Istari is Gandalf the Grey, who by the Elves was called Mithrandir, by the Dwarves, Tharkûn, and Incánus by the Haradrim. As a Maia, in the Undying Lands he was named Olórin and was accounted wisest of his people. At that time he resided in the gardens of Lórien, the Master of Visions and Dreams, and also went often to the house of Nienna, the Weeper. Tutored by the Vala Lórien in the Gardens, Olórin’s wisdom for many Ages grew greater still. Also, counselled by Nienna in her house, which looks out on the Walls of the Night, to his wisdom was added pity and endurance beyond hope.

Of all the Istari Gandalf is counted the greatest, for by his wisdom the free peoples of Middle-earth were guided to victory over the Dark Lord Sauron, who wished to enslave them. In this Gandalf was aided by Narya, the Elven-ring of Fire, that Círdan, lord of the Grey Havens, gave him, for Narya had power to make Men brave and resolute. By Gandalf’s instigation, Smaug the Dragon was slain and the battles of Five Armies, the Hornburg and Pelennor Fields were won. By Gandalf’s hand alone the Balrog of Moria was destroyed. Yet his greatest deed of all was his discovery of the One Ring and his guiding of the Ringbearer to the place of its destruction.

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