Of The Ainur and the creation of Ea (the World)

The Ainur were the first sentient beings to be given life by Iluvatar. They were the "offspring of his thought" and were his first creation. The first thing he taught to them was music, and they learned from him by singing as he directed. At first the learning was slow, and the Ainur learned little of each other, but over time, they began to learn to sing together.

After some time, Iluvatar called all the Ainur together in assembly, and proposed the singing of a Great Music. Iluvatar invited the Ainur to sing 'each with his own thoughts and devices,' but to also follow the main harmonies he laid forth.

Initially, as they sang, the Ainur heeded the desires and direction of Iluvatar, but the Ainu named Melkor, to whom Iluvatar had granted the greatest gifts of power and knowledge, "began to interweave matters of his own imagining that were not in accord with the theme of Iluvatar." This act resulted in the rise of dischord within the Great Music, and many of the Ainur were overawed and became dismayed by the confusion that resulted from Melkors singing, and some even changed their song and sang with him.

Iluvatar rose from his seat three times to address the increasing discord, twice introducing themes that attempted to reestablish harmony, and then finally the third time, which ended the music altogether.

At the conclusion of the song, he revealed its meaning to the Ainur by gifting them with a vision of its unfolding, which was the creation of the world. In this vision he revealed the coming of the elves, the firstborn, and of man, the followers, and they saw the beauty and splendor of Ea (the world that is).

Many of those Ainur who had sung with great effort and gave voice to the strongest themes committed themselves to the act of making the vision of Ea a reality, and Melkor was among them. Iluvatar bound the Ainur who took up this task to the world, such that their fate, and the fate of the creation is intertwined, "so that they are its life, and it is theirs." These Ainur were henceforth know as the Valar, the Powers of the World.

Many Ainur did not not seek the task of the creation of Ea, and chose to remain instead with Iluvatar. They are removed from interaction with the development of Ea, but remain with him.

Quick Facts

• The word 'Ainur' is Quenya word for "Holy Ones"
• The Ainur have no physical form.
• The Aunur are beings who were given birth from the thought of Iluvatar.
• Music was the first thing that Iluvatar taught to the Ainur.
• Middle Earth, call Ea by Iluvatar, was first revealed as Great Music, sung by the Ainur.
• Ainu is the singular form of the word.

Entered by Elessar 11-22-08