"Nay", they said, "not if the Nameless One himself should come, not even he could enter here while we yet live." But some answered: "While we yet live? How long? He has a weapon that has brought low many strong places since the world began. Hunger. The roads are cut. Rohan will not come."   The Lord of The Rings, The Return of The King - The Siege Of Gondor   From other fantasy works (Askir, Discworld series has a version of him too), I know the Nameless One as the "evil" god that is the pattern of all thieves, assailants and up-to-no-goods, the antagonist of all other gods.   In some religious systems, his name was banished by a collaborative effort of all other gods (similar to how names of Roman Emperors were banished).        Who is the Nameless One and why is he called that way?
122017
In the preface to The Lord of the Rings:  A Reader's Companion, authors Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull mention a surprising fact:       Dr. Richard E. Blackwelder once counted in The Lord of the Rings 632 named individuals (of which 314 are in the Appendices), a number which soars to 1,648 when one adds titles, nicknames, and descriptive epithets (Sauron alone has 103).   - The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. xii   I can think of several names and epithets related to Sauron:  The Dark Lord, the Enemy, the Lord of Mordor, the Eye, the Nameless, the Great Foe, and of course, he is in fact the title character of the series - the Lord of the Rings.  In other works, he is called Mairon, Annatar, the Necromancer, the Fair, etc.    Robert Foster's Tolkien's World From A to Z:  The Complete Guide to Middle-earth lists 32 titles, names, and epithets, only about a quarter of the number mentioned by Hammond, Scull, and Blackwelder.   The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, Robert Foster, p. 438  But still, if you had asked me how many titles, names, epithets, etc, are attributed to Sauron, I probably would have said something in the neighborhood of 20.  I was shocked to read that the number is so much higher:  103!    Has anyone compiled a list of all these names, titles, epithets, and so on?
64237
Why didn't Gandalf use his eagles to fly over Mount Doom and drop the ring? I know he feared what he would do if the ring overpowered him, so why not just give Frodo an eagle? And, if there would be too much risk in flying the ring to Mordor, couldn't the eagles fly them part of the way?  Why risk it with such a long walk; far less risky to fly over most of the journey.
21260
Was there something more mystical about Mount Doom that meant another volcano wouldn't work and no matter how much energy was put into it, it would not be destroyed?  A comment mentioned that not even Ancalagon the Black, the greatest dragon, could not have done it; but how about a Balrog? What about another Maia or a Vala? Could a sufficiently advanced technology destroy it? Given that middle earth was becoming more industrialized wasn't it only a matter of time until a furnace or other artificial heat source that was hot enough was created?  If some catastrophe destroyed Middle Earth entirely would the ring be unmade, or would Eru have to do it himself?
84361
Why is it that more rings of this nature/power could not be made again? Are there no elven smith's left with the capability? How were the rings of power "enchanted" with their magical properties to begin with if Sauron did not directly forge them?   You would think that more would be made to aid in the battles against Sauron and his armies if someone had the capabilities to do so.
98287
We all know that  who puts on the One ring became invisible and that .  But the other rings:   The Nine The Seven The Three   What are the powers, if there are any, of each ring? Is there a respective user who, like Sauron, has a different or extra power for one specific ring?
28144
In the Silmarillion, an elf named Glorfindel is killed in a duel with a Balrog at the battle for Gondolin.  (He kills the Balrog as well.)  Then in The Fellowship of the Ring, an elf named Glorfindel meets Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin and Aragorn and helps them get a wounded Frodo to Rivendell. This would be the only time that Tolkien uses the same name for two different elves.  Is there any connection between these two elves?
15834
The temptation of the One Ring, we quickly learn, is always tied up with power: each character's fantasies of possessing it seem to be about what they would do with great power. Even Sam, as I recall, imagines the power to create great huge sweeping gardens. Boromir wants the power to save Gondor, etc.  But does the One Ring actually convey power to anyone but Sauron? It actually seems to diminish its bearers: Bilbo feels "thin" and "stretched", Sméagol becomes the wretched Gollum, Frodo is never quite the same even after it is destroyed. None of them seem more "powerful," even in the abstract way that magic-users in Tolkien operate. No mention is made, that I can recall, of a Ringbearer having greater stature or authority, or of people naturally following them or obeying their commands, while they possess the Ring.  The accepted answer to  implies that a being as powerful as Gandalf could dominate the Ring and break Sauron's hold over it, but even then Tolkien says that "It would have been the master in the end", and his descriptions of a Ringbearing Gandalf sound pretty much like Gandalf is using his own powers, not terribly augmented by the Ring:     [Gandalf] would have remained 'righteous', but self-righteous. He would have continued to rule and order things for 'good', and the benefit of his subjects according to his wisdom (which was and would have remained great).   Now that sounds out of character for a being as humble as Gandalf, but it doesn't actually sound like something he would have been unable to do before. It's a twisted motive, but not really an enhanced power.  Pretty much everyone in Middle-earth agrees that the One Ring will corrupt you, but they all seem to agree that it DOES convey great power even so. Why? Do we ever see any actual, "positive" effects from possessing the One Ring?
91299
As was , it is known that Istari were meant to inspire and guide the mortals of Middle Earth in the fight against Sauron.  Does the fight against Balrog in Moria violate that "rule"/"guideline"?  If so, why did Eru restore Gandalf back to life after?  If not, is there a canon confirmation that it was NOT against the rules (aside from circumstantial evidence I noted, namely that Gandalf was restored, promoted and given seemingly greater powers; instead of being punished/demoted)?  I'm guessing it was within the rules since Balrog was a servant of Melkor, not Sauron; and Istari's limitations were on fighting Sauron directly, but at the moment it's a guess not backed up by canon sources.
90740
Every wizard in The Lord of the Rings obviously had a purpose to be sent to Middle-earth, with Gandalf's being to help out in the defeat of Sauron and Morgoth's forces, etc. However, because Saruman was not returned to life after his death by Grima, he must have fulfilled his purpose.  I've read that Gandalf came back as the White in order to fulfill the purpose Saruman had failed in. So, obviously, Saruman had a purpose and failed it, but why? What was his purpose? And why was he not sent back to complete it, but instead Gandalf was sent in his place?
72343
Even Aragorn and the Hobbits are surprised at Weathertop that the Nazgûl did not try a second attack to take the ring. The following possible reasons are offered or implied:   The Nazgûl were satisfied with stabbing Frodo with the Morgul-knife.    But why fall back on a second-best solution when they could have taken the ring directly?   The Nazgûl were terrified of Aragorn and his flaming torch.   But even assuming that in Tolkien's world a hero like Aragorn can direct his force-of-will with almost super-power-like effect on evil spirits, they are five against one, since the Hobbits are unable to fight. The Nazgûl could attack Aragorn from a distance with arrows or spears, or encircle him. At least they could have stayed close and waited till the effect of his will-power-attack vanished, or started a siege.   The Nazgûl were terrified of the name Elbereth.    But if that would work, they would be easy to defeat and pose no danger anymore.  Connected problems are other cases where the Nazgûl apparently act under sub-optimal strategy, like not having one of them waiting directly at the Brandywine ferry (he could even wait openly and tell suspicious Hobbits he is waiting for Mr. Baggins), not better observing Crickhollow (they must have reached it long before Frodo, to find it they could just ask where it is or where Mr. Baggins lives), and hesitating several days till attacking Crickhollow.  I'll try to give an answer myself, but I welcome better suggestions.
76691
Assuming one of Sauron's servants managed to recover the Ring, what exactly would Sauron do with it? He had no physical body to manipulate it and no finger to put it on. I guess he would have constructed a physical body for himself, but how? How would he get in "possession" of his Ring again? Just by a small enough distance between the Ring and the "Eye of Sauron"?  What would be the scenario of the event when one of Sauron's servants returns with the Ring?
48215
This is my understanding:   Before Ilúvatar created , he created the Ainur, who were with him in his . At Eä’s creation, some of the Ainur chose to enter the world and be bound to it. Of the Ainur who entered Eä, the fifteen most powerful were called the Valar (or ). The others were called Maiar. The Valar and Maiar cannot leave Eä until the end of the world. I don’t know whether they gave up any other powers.   From the Ainulindalë, about the Valar being more powerful than the Maiar:     And the Valar drew unto them many companions, some less, some well nigh as great as themselves.   Later in the Ainulindalë, emphasis mine:     Thus it came to pass that of the Ainur some abode still with Ilúvatar beyond the confines of the World; but others, and among them many of the greatest and most fair, took the leave of Ilúvatar and descended into it. But this condition Ilúvatar made, or it is the necessity of their love, that their power should thenceforward be contained and bounded in the World, to be within it for ever, until it is complete, so that they are its life and it is theirs. And therefore they are named the Valar, the Powers of the World.   The passage above only mentions the Valar, but I am under the impression that it applies to the Maiar too.  Do we know anything about the Ainur who chose not to enter Eä at its creation?   Do they have a name, other than “the Ainur who remained in the Timeless Halls”? Are they able to enter and leave Eä now that it’s created? Could any of these Ainur be more powerful than the Valar? Were the Valar the most powerful of all Ainur, or only of those who chose to be bound to Eä? The passage about says that many of the greatest Ainur entered Eä, but it seems like a few of the absolute greatest could have stayed behind.
111179
The Wikipedia article on  says:     After the destruction of the One Ring, the power of the Three Rings of the Elves would also end and the Age of Men would begin. Elves that remained in Middle-earth were doomed to a slow decline until, in the words of Galadriel, they faded and became a "rustic folk of dell and cave," and were greatly diminished from their ancient power and nobility. While the power of the remaining Noldor would be immediately lessened, the "fading" of all Elvenkind was a phenomenon that would play out over hundreds and even thousands of years; until, in fact, our own times, when occasional glimpses of rustic Elves would fuel our folktales and fantasies.   I just can't seem to grasp why they were diminished, though. I have only seen the films and it seems like the elves are leaving Middle-earth because of their diminishing. I am hoping that if I understand what that means I can understand why they left.   (src: )
79582
There was  about evil numbers.  Some quick searching yielded .   I understand the definition of "evil" number, but not why the term was chosen.   Why are some numbers called evil in recreational mathematics?
57842
I watched Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope for the first time in a while a few days ago (the first step in taking my Daughter through the Machete Order). One thing that stood out was the pre-duel smack talk between Vader and Obi-Wan:     Vader: When I left you, I was but the learner; now, I am the master.   Obi-Wan: Only a master of evil, Darth.   From memory, this is the only example I can think of where 'Darth' is used as if is was Vader's first name, as opposed to the title that we (eventually) learn that it is, once we meet other Darths.   I wonder when Lucas decided that Darth would be a title for dark side Jedi (not called 'Sith' until the prequel trilogy)? In Empire and Jedi, Darth Sidious is referred to only as 'The Emperor', but 'Darth Vader' ceases to be called Darth if only one word is used; e.g. Yoda's "Vader, you must face Vader".  Is this just an example of Lucas making stuff up as he went along, rather than having it all planned out from the start (not actually all that unreasonable)? Or is there some reason that Obi-Wan used 'Darth' instead of 'Vader'? On previous viewings (i.e. before the prequels existed) I'd interpreted this as Obi-Wan being informal with his old student by using his first name, rather than his last. However, the reverse interpretation could be true once you know that Darth is a title, i.e. that Obi-Wan is using his title rather than his name in order to be as cold and impersonal as possible (i.e. replace 'Darth' with 'Sir' and put Bastard swords in their hands instead of light sabers).
102063
I'm curious as to why Sauron is the only being/person shown wearing the One Ring who does not become invisible?   Isildur, Gollum, Bilbo, Frodo, and Samwise all become invisible while wearing the One Ring.  Why didn't Sauron become invisible while wearing the one ring?  I became interested after reading Pearsonartphoto's question asking what effect wearing the One Ring would have had on .
29220
I don't know the exact significance of the word "Darth" in the Sith world, but I think it was a word of honor for powerful Sith. That's why Anakin was given this word in his new name.  All powerful Sith in canon had this word in their names: Darth Plagueis, Darth Bane, Darth Sidious, Darth Vader, Darth Maul, etc. As such name similarity can't be names given by their parents, I can assume they were given such words in names as a honor.   Now, look at Count Dooku... he was a powerful Sith too. So, why wasn't he given this title?    Darth word to address Dooku hasn't been used in the movies, as far as I know. If you are claiming that Darth and Lord words are same, give citations because my vocabulary rejects it.