Talk:Sauron: Difference between revisions

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:Variations can be included, of course, with their respective references. Feel free to include any other name missing. About "One Enemy", Frodo is adressing Faramir when he says: "Think what you will, I am a friend of all enemies of the One Enemy", so he obviously refers to the current enemy they are fighting with. --[[User:LorenzoCB|LorenzoCB]] 19:39, 2 June 2021 (UTC)
:Variations can be included, of course, with their respective references. Feel free to include any other name missing. About "One Enemy", Frodo is adressing Faramir when he says: "Think what you will, I am a friend of all enemies of the One Enemy", so he obviously refers to the current enemy they are fighting with. --[[User:LorenzoCB|LorenzoCB]] 19:39, 2 June 2021 (UTC)
== Who's directly responsible for the original corruption of Men ==
In the ''Peoples of Middle-earth'' (from what I've seen on wikis and reddit articles at least; I don't own the full HoMe series yet) it seems that Morgoth was the one who came among Men as a fair-seeming prophet/god and tainted their hearts with his teachings and deceits, turning some away from Eru's grace and to his own worship. However, in ''The Nature of Middle-earth'' (which I own) it says that "The arising and fall of Men took place during the Captivity of Melkor, and was achieved not by Melkor in person but by Sauron." Is the latter source more canonical than the first? Should Sauron be credited as notable for the Corruption of Men, or is it still Morgoth even if entirely indirectly according to this? --[[User:LordoftheEarth|LordoftheEarth]] 19:13, 15 November 2021 (UTC)

Revision as of 19:13, 15 November 2021

I've linked Utter West to West, or should there be a seperate article for Utter West? --Earendilyon 05:32, 9 March 2006 (EST)

Utter West I believe is just another name for Aman. If it is used by J.R.R. Tolkien then we can link it directly to Utter West[former link], if not then we probably should have two Wests, one for West of Middle-earth and one for West of Arda or something, what do you think? --Hyarion 11:45, 9 March 2006 (EST)
Agreed on the Utter West referring to Aman, but so does The West, generally speaking. --Earendilyon 16:35, 9 March 2006 (EST)

I disagree with the first part of the following paragraph in the entry and I think it should be deleted. What do the rest of you think? --Ebakunin 15:53, 4 May 2006 (EDT)

By doing so, Sauron actually became more powerful than his master Morgoth at the end of the First Age, whose fëa ("soul" or "spirit"), while stronger, was dispersed into the matter of Arda. When Sauron put on the One Ring and tried to dominate the Elves, they resisted, and Sauron came upon them in the War of the Elves and Sauron and, if not for the intervention of Númenor, might have defeated them.

I agree with you Ebakunin, more powerful than Morgoth is a stretch as Sauron is simply a Maia while Morgoth is Vala. I'll look into it just to double check Tolkien never stated such a thing, but I think it would be safe to remove it. --Hyarion 18:18, 4 May 2006 (EDT)
Actually, I do recall having read something to that extend. Will have to look further into it, though. It's probably somewhere in the depths of HoMe. --Earendilyon 03:54, 5 May 2006 (EDT)

In the entry there's a comment on his title, the Nameless Enemy:

He is also called the Nameless Enemy, which is hardly accurate (but perhaps an effort to lessen his psychological impact), whereas Morgoth is the Dark Enemy.

Is Sauron only referred to as the Nameless Enemy during the Third Age, in the time before he had declared himself openly? The White Council knew there was a villian in Dol Guldur, but until 2850 they didn't know it was Sauron. If this was the time when the Nameless Enemy was used, it would make perfect sense. Any know more about use of the title? Thanks. --Ebakunin 16:28, 6 May 2006 (EDT)


Should we create a new article for Thû? I would like to have placed a note near the title concerning it, but there are so many names for Sauron as Tolkien's legendarium evolved... --Narfil Palùrfalas 20:44, 4 June 2006 (EDT)

Sounds good to me. --Hyarion 20:47, 4 June 2006 (EDT)

Balrog :-s

I remember reading somewhere a while ago that Sauron was a Balrog (or something associated with them) I kinda doubt this to be true but i would like to know if anybody else knows anything about this. Thanks. Jasca Ducato 15:12, 3 September 2006 (EDT)

Hm, maybe you read that they were both Maia (as was Gandalf) but Sauron was definitely not a Balrog nor even remotely close to being considered one. --Hyarion 15:23, 3 September 2006 (EDT)
  • Actually, i think it was that the Balrog was a Maiar. Jasca Ducato 15:57, 3 September 2006 (EDT)
Balrogs were lesser Maiar (by the way, Maia is the singular). Sauron was also a Maia, though of a more powerful order. --Narfil Palùrfalas 18:17, 3 September 2006 (EDT)

timo vihola picture for sauron

someone please upload that timo vihola picture for sauron into the images of sauron category?.

Great suggestion, you can now find the image in Category:Images of Sauron and
Category:Images by Timo Vihola[former link] --Hyarion 03:34, 26 November 2006 (EST)

Name edit

Hi! I just wanted to say that I added a bit of extra information regarding Saurons original name. Ârzan (Ârzan 03:53, 15 April 2008 (EDT))

Yeah, noticed it. I actually wanted to include that for some time, but forgot. Well, that's the purpose of a Wiki! Keep up the good work. -- Ederchil 04:55, 15 April 2008 (EDT)

Quenya/Sindarin ambiguity

Cf. Talk:Tauron#Which language? --Morgan 13:59, 27 February 2011 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Removed information?

Morgan, why have you cleared the Appearances and Abilities section? --Reallyfat Trollion 09:02, 14 February 2013 (UTC)Reply[reply]

The recent addition included a mix of Tolkien's writings and PJ's films. Furthermore, no sources were included.--Morgan 09:57, 14 February 2013 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Oh. Maybe you should tell the fellow who wrote it though.Unsigned comment by Reallyfat (talk • contribs).
It was an anonymous edit.--Morgan 10:35, 14 February 2013 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Can I try restoring the info, with sources and all, and removing the non-canonical stuff?
Sure, go ahead.--Morgan 10:55, 14 February 2013 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Ederchil, that edit had some useful information. Is it OK if I add sources to it and restore it? The guy did have a lot of good information.

Pictures

I was bold and changed the article's profile picture. I am aware that a notification must be given when changing the main picture in important articles. I thought Tolkien's unfinished sketch did not do justice to this topic, and I think it was "tolerated" because it was Tolkien's. So I moved it down. Sage 05:16, 25 March 2014 (UTC)Reply[reply]

I prefer Tolkien's sketch. ;) I don't mind you changing the featured image - the only thing I'd say is pick one we have permission to use.-- KingAragorn  talk  contribs  edits  email  13:55, 25 March 2014 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Nazgul

The human lords did not just suddenly turn, they slowly degraded over time. This was due to the slow degrading power of the rings that they were given. Also, the human rings were the weakest of all the rings made, which is kind of funny that they had the weakest rings yet were seduced by the power first

Sauron main image change

I thought the image made by Elena Kukanova was better than the one by Alais. We are never told how Sauron's face was like in any of his assumed guises. Having him almost masked leaves mystery of how did he look behind the veil. The golden colour of the mask shows greed, thirst for power and arrogance - befitting of how he views himself a "God-King". --LordoftheEarth 12:55, 31 May 2020 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Although I respect your interpretations, I disagree. It forces the reader to focus on a masked form, whereas a mask was never a definite characteristic of Sauron in canon. I preferred the other image of ms. Kukanova and did another rearrangement of the images. Also I saw that you replaced the "seduction" pic with an armored pic, for unclear reasons; the seduction is a historical event that fits the text where it is placed, whereas the armored pic is not artistically or contextually significant. Sage 19:07, 31 May 2020 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Agreed with Sage. Gaetano 10:03, 1 June 2020 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I understand what you're saying but there are two things I want to point out: in J.R.R. Tolkien's unfinished sketch he seemed fairly masked. I know it's unfinished ... but it is art by the author himself, his vision; secondly, Sauron's features in any of his fair forms are not described. Doesn't an image showing his 'face' (be it him as Mairon or Annatar...) force the reader to focus on that visage? There is no mention of reddish, golden, brownish hair in any of Tolkien's works. The only details of his forms are that he has daunting eyes, he has nine fingers (Third Age), he was terrible to look at and greater in stature than a man, but not gigantic (Second Age). If you see the face of Lucifer or another demon ... do you fear him/it as much? Don't you fear more that which you haven't seen, only heard of or know of? Something enigmatic is far more frightening. Giving Sauron a face humanizes him and he is far from being a Man or Elf. He only takes fair forms because they suit him at the moment. But that is not his body. But, nevermind, do as as you think is best. --LordoftheEarth 10:23, 1 June 2020 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I still feel that the current image looks like an impish teenager (sorta priest-like) rather than what Sauron would look like. Tolkien's unfinished sketch (even though it's unfinished), the unmasked image by Ms. Kukanova or Ted Nasmith's "The Shadow of Sauron" would look better, more accurate in my opinion (especially the first and third options). What do you think?--LordoftheEarth 12:08, 2 June 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Both Tolkien and Nasmith's pictures depict the great shadow that rose with Sauron's fall (no way that could have a mask, tbh). Maybe I'm wrong, but was that shadow actually Sauron? Anycase, that is a very ethereal depiction to be considered for the main image. I think a good humanoid picture is the best choice, be it the current one or that one of Kukanova's. You are really concerned with this article aren't you? xd --LorenzoCB 19:39, 2 June 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
The current image has neither the daunting gaze Sauron is said to have, neither a sense of agelesness. And the style looks off compared to other main images here. Some good points for the ethereal form are that it leaves Sauron's exact appearance vague, much like how Tolkien left his description in any physical form and it also doesn't force the reader to focus on any concrete visage (it's also menacing which would ne in accordance with him being "terrible to look upon"). On the other hand, Kukanova's image I think gets the "boundless pride" of the character and that headdress he has looks kingly which also might go well with his god-king ambition. So does anyone else have any opinion whether to choose from Nasmith's ethereal "Shadow of Sauron" or Kukanova's humanoid "Mairon", or maybe neither? Since the content of the article is in good shape, a potential final touch concerning the main image I think isn't a bad addition at all (I mean if it looks a bit better, why not xd).--LordoftheEarth 08:06, 3 June 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
In my opinion the current image (Annatar by Alaïs) is better than the image of Mairon by Kukanova and better than the image of The Shadow of Sauron by Ted Nasmith. The current image succeeds in portraying a being that is both "fair" to Look upon (Tolkien said that he had a fair form as Annatar), but also has an "evil" expression in his face. In addition Land people probably only know the images of Sauron in his not "fair" looking, but terrible looking form from the Peter Jackson Films, so it is probably interesting to see a fair looking form with a hint of evil for a change. --Akhorahil 08:43, 3 June 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Interesting take, although I am not fan of the image itself the point with a fairer look combined with evil is a good one (even though the fair part is in Kukanova's image as well where it ia combined rather with hubris). It would have been nice if there was an option to have 2 main images (between which the reader could switch like in some wikis) one fair and one terrible (it would have worked well on the Morgoth article as well), but I don't think we have that option here, do we? So far the common ground is something humanoid (whether Alais's or Kukanova's) and not ethereal. I think 1-2 more opinions would sum the topic up. --LordoftheEarth 09:11, 3 June 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I also prefer the humanoid take for the main image, although Sauron is certainly a difficult character to pin down a single image to represent. Personally I prefer the current image. I feel that it conveys the darker side of Sauron more clearly (and, a bit trivial, but the color scheme seems to fit the infobox better). I am not strongly opposed to the image by Kukanova, but it appears to lean more heavily on the single aspect of the fair form, and touches less on the darker, more terrible side of the character. I would vote to keep the main image as is, although I do appreciate Kukanova's image. --Grace18 16:48, 3 June 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
My vote is to keep the current image where it is. I may not know art, but I know what I like. --Mord 03:18, 4 June 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Very well then. Given the majority of votes we are keeping the current image as the main one. (Too bad there can't be multiple main images between which the reader could switch in the infobox: 1 Mairon, 2 Annatar, 3 Terrible form; it would have looked great). Guess that's settled then. Thank you all for your opinions (and the interesting interpretations of images)!--LordoftheEarth 08:33, 4 June 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Sauron in the Evil category

Sauron was renowned as the Dark Lord of the Second and Third Ages of Middle-earth, as he strove to conquer Arda. Before that, he originally was the most gifted of the Vala Aule's people and then the first lieutenant of the rebellious Morgoth. There are some who argue that he belongs to the Servants of Melkor category because during the First Age he had served under Morgoth. True, he did. He was by far the mightiest of Aule's Maia students and the greatest of Morgoth's servants, certainly. But he abandoned both of those allegiances. When the War of Wrath ended, Sauron came to Eonwe and seemed to repent (how genuine this plea was we may never know). He forsook Morgoth and asked forgiveness for his deeds, but refused to humble himself before the Valar and returned to gnaw his old plots. Saying that just because in the beginning he had been the First Dark Lord's servant means he is always a servant makes no sense. Why? Because there are two others who were affiliated with Morgoth as well and ultimately left him: Osse and Ungoliant.

Morgoth ensnared Osse for a brief time, promising him much that rightfully belonged to Ulmo. He was seduced by his willpower and he raged in storms on the Sea until his spouse Uinen turned him back to Ulmo. There is still some violence and darkness in Osse's nature, but despite this he is no longer affiliated with Morgoth. Now Ungoliant had served Morgoth as well up until the Age of Trees. She disowned him and dwelled in Avathar. Morgoth sought her aid once more to destroy the Two Trees and the alliance between them was renewed ..... for a time. The Dark Lord had promised to reward her by feeding her many of the gems he had stolen from the Noldor, but when he denied her the Silmarils she betrayed him and attempted to devour him. She was driven back by Balrogs and she settled in Ered Gorgoroth.

Both Osse and Ungoliant had for a time served Morgoth. Osse, much like Sauron, was attracted to the apparent power of Morgoth. Osse and Sauron forsook him (the former resumed his place as Ulmo's vassal, while the latter rose as a Dark Lord on his own), while Ungoliant outright betrayed him. All three of them served Morgoth at a given time. Yet neither Osse nor Ungoliant are put into the category for Servants of Melkor. Why should Sauron be? Not only did he abandon him in the end, but as a Dark Lord he did not pick up from where Morgoth left, rather he pursued his own agenda.

I'll give some canonical quotes:

"Sauron had never reached this stage of nihilistic madness. He did not object to the existence of the world, so long as he could do what he liked with it. He still had the relics of positive purposes, that descended from the good of the nature in which he began: it had been his virtue (and therefore also the cause of his fall, and of his relapse) that he loved order and co-ordination, and disliked all confusion and wasteful friction. It was the apparent will and power of Melkor to effect his designs quickly and masterfully that had first attracted Sauron to him.) Sauron had, in fact, been very like Saruman, and so still understood him quickly and could guess what he would be likely to think and do, even without the aid of the palantíri or of spies

"Sauron was not a ‘sincere’ atheist, but he preached atheism, because it weakened resistance to himself (and he had ceased to fear God’s action in Arda). As was seen in the case of Ar-Pharazon. ...he spoke of Melkor in Melkor’s own terms: as a god, or even as God. This may have been the residue of a state which was in a sense a shadow of good: the ability once in Sauron at least to admire or admit the superiority of a being other than himself. Melkor, and still more Sauron himself afterwards, both profited by this darkened shadow of good and services of ‘worshippers’. But it may be doubted whether even such a shadow of good was still sincerely operative in Sauron by that time. His cunning motive is probably best expressed thus. To wean one of the God-fearing from their allegiance it is best to propound another unseen object of allegiance and another hope of benefits; propound to him a Lord who will sanction what he desires and not forbid it. Sauron, apparently a defeated rival for world-power, now a mere hostage, can hardly propound himself; but as the former servant and disciple of Melkor, the worship of Melkor will raise him from hostage to high priest. But though Sauron’s whole true motive was the destruction of the Númenóreans, this was a particular matter of revenge upon Ar-Pharazon, for humiliation."

Sauron was not a beginner of discord; and he probably knew more of the ‘Music’ than did Melkor, whose mind had always been filled with his own plans and devices, and gave little attention to other things. The time of Melkor’s greatest power, therefore, was in the physical beginnings of the World; a vast demiurgic lust for power and the achievement of his own will and designs, on a great scale. And later after things had become more stable, Melkor was more interested in and capable of dealing with a volcanic eruption, for example, than with (say) a tree."

"Morgoth had no ‘plan’: unless destruction and reduction to nil of a world in which he had only a share can be called a ‘plan’. But this is, of course, a simplification of the situation. Sauron had not served Morgoth, even in his last stages..."

"First, Sauron followed Morgoth because he adored the latter's strength ... Second, after the Valar defeated Morgoth, Sauron betrayed his alliance..."

"In my story Sauron represents as near an approach to the wholly evil will as is possible. He had gone the way of all tyrants: beginning well, at least on the level that while desiring to order all things according to his own wisdom he still at first considered the (economic) well-being of other inhabitants of the Earth. But he went further than human tyrants in pride and the lust for domination, being in origin an immortal (angelic) spirit.* In The Lord of the Rings the conflict is not basically about 'freedom', though that is naturally involved. It is about God, and His sole right to divine honour. The Eldar and the Númenóreans believed in The One, the true God, and held worship of any other person an abomination. Sauron desired to be a God-King, and was held to be this by his servants; if he had been victorious he would have demanded divine honour from all rational creatures and absolute temporal power over the whole world.

(Tolkien himself says Sauron represents the "wholly evil will". Also, in the paragraph telling that Sauron was not a "sincere atheits" he reffers to him as the end as the "former servant" of Morgoth. To evade the wrath of the victorious Host of Valinor he forsook his ties to him to save his own skin. Tolkien also says he had been very "much like Saruman". Saruman was a double-faced vassal, he mostly committed to serving Sauron, but he also conducted a search for the One Ring to gain it for himself. If the author says that Sauron is evil, then he should be in the evil category (on the page of the category itself it says that "this includes Dark Lords"; Sauron is a Dark Lord). I want someone else's opinion. Someone other than Sage, if possible (if it where him I doubt he would even read this and stop to think that someone else may be right). If you think that for some odd reason these paragraphs I've listed above mean absolutely nothing and he belongs to the Servants of Melkor category, then Osse and Ungoliant should also be put there. By Sage's logic about Sauron Osse should also be put there. Both were his servants for a time. Both were seduced. As Sage said "He was ensnared by Melkor, he was one of the Maiar of Melkor" --LordoftheEarth 13:32, 8 June 2020 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Sauron must go in both 'Servant of Melkor' and 'Evil' categories. He was a servant, but he became a Dark Lord. And no, LordoftheEarth, the fact that Sauron left Morgoth's service is not a good reason to remove the category: it's like removing Eärendil from 'Half-elf' because he later chosed to become an Elf. Stop this nonsense edit war, there are better things to do. --LorenzoCB 13:51, 8 June 2020 (UTC)Reply[reply]
By your logic Osse should go into the Servants of Melkor category as well. "the fact that Sauron left Morgoth's service is not a good reason to remove the category". "Stop this nonsense edit war, there are better things to do" --- If Sage would have left it as it is, I would. But since he he doesn't I felt appropiate to add it on the article's talk page. Sauron can't be in both Servants of Melkor and Evil. Tolkien said "Sauron represents as near an approach to the wholly evil will" and I'm going to stick to what the author said. If no one else has something to add, I suggest we leave the article as it is. There is no other information that can be added here and there are lots of other articles that could use mine and Sage's contribution. --LordoftheEarth 14:37, 8 June 2020 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I agree with LorenzoCB that Sauron should be in both categories, which makes perfect sense. The categories exist for the convenience of the wiki, and this feels most convenient to me. Do others agree? --Mith (Talk/Contribs/Edits) 16:00, 8 June 2020 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Full agreement with LorenzoCB and Mith. -- Holdwine Meriadoc (Talk/Contribs/Edits) 01:42, 9 June 2020 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Other names for Sauron

There are some slight variations on "the Shadow" such as the Shadow in the Forest or the Shadow in the East. I believe that Overlord (found in the chapter The Black Gate is Closed of The Two Towers) could also be added. In addition, I am not certain whether the One Enemy(found in the chapter Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit of The Two Towers; near the end of the chapter if I remember correctly) refers to Morgoth or Sauron. I don't think that a hobbit like Frodo Baggins (who makes the statement) would necessarily remember Morgoth, the First Enemy. Sauron is the Enemy of the Free Peoples in the Second and Third Ages, however, and has been an adversary of good ever since he descended into evil (in the beginning as Morgoth's lieutenant and then as his heir). What do you think?--LordoftheEarth 14:47, 9 January 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Variations can be included, of course, with their respective references. Feel free to include any other name missing. About "One Enemy", Frodo is adressing Faramir when he says: "Think what you will, I am a friend of all enemies of the One Enemy", so he obviously refers to the current enemy they are fighting with. --LorenzoCB 19:39, 2 June 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]

Who's directly responsible for the original corruption of Men

In the Peoples of Middle-earth (from what I've seen on wikis and reddit articles at least; I don't own the full HoMe series yet) it seems that Morgoth was the one who came among Men as a fair-seeming prophet/god and tainted their hearts with his teachings and deceits, turning some away from Eru's grace and to his own worship. However, in The Nature of Middle-earth (which I own) it says that "The arising and fall of Men took place during the Captivity of Melkor, and was achieved not by Melkor in person but by Sauron." Is the latter source more canonical than the first? Should Sauron be credited as notable for the Corruption of Men, or is it still Morgoth even if entirely indirectly according to this? --LordoftheEarth 19:13, 15 November 2021 (UTC)Reply[reply]