Posted: October 02, 1998 at 08:33:21: by Padster
: My own view of what the Maiar are is that they are members of the Ainur who entered the created world as helpers and servants of those greater Ainur who became Valar. That is that they entered a hierarchy of angelic beings within Arda. I think that any of the Ainur who didn't enter this hierarchy (or eventually Melkor's rival hierarchy) remained just Ainur. Thus being a Maia isn't a predetermined state but one which is assumed; just as a man is a man but he can enter an army and become a soldier.: By this reasoning Bombadil is an Ainu but not a Maia. As I beleive that Tolkien's metaphysics are essentially based on the concept of "Free Will" I imagine that the Ainur were given a choice whether or not they wished to enter Arda, or if entering whether or not they joined the Valaric hierarchy. I would propose that Bombadil was an Ainu who entered Arda but did not join the hierarchy of the Valar. This would leave open how strong Bombadil was. From Gandalf's remarks on the subject he was ,in some respects at least, the equal of such figures as Sauron or Eonwe. : Martin. I LIKE IT! Probably the best description of what they are (or rather could be) - to date! This allows for the potential for Tom to have been on Sauron and Eonwe's level of power and remain independant of the lot of them! Even the Valar! Tom being Valar potential is less likely, for I do not believe that Eru would have liked (may not have done anything about it, but he would not have liked) an Independant Valar-like power. Cheers
Padster
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