Sauron is the embodiment of absolute evil in JRR Tolkien’s literary saga. And he will be an essential part of the series The Rings of Power, which can now be seen on Prime Video. That seems to suggest Galadriel’s bloody quest to find him or the various mentions of the war against Morgoth.
However, the most obvious indication is that the argument already shows the scenario of a possible total confrontation against the sinister figure. Which indicates that the Maia, turned into a lurking threat to Middle-earth, will have a central place in the story.
It is, without a doubt, a decision with considerable weight. The Second Age narrates the battle against Morgoth’s lieutenant and everything that happened once he made use of the One Ring. In fact, the first episode of The Rings of Power showed a clear image of Sauron. In addition, with an appearance very similar to the one it had in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy. Which could mean that the argument will give him powers and ability to fight very similar to that of his film version.
But, in the plot of the series, his identity is a mystery. Which could suggest that his influence is, for now, indirect and more related to manipulation. If so, the series neatly explores the first stories of the character. Also, the way Tolkien conceived it. A shadow in perpetual menace and a master of deception.
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Sauron’s Riddle
In its first three episodes, the series The Rings of Power made it clear that the conflict of the story will center on the rise and fall of Númenor. At least, that this will be the most important event in a first season intended to contextualize major events.
Which means that It is not by chance the brief image of Sauron in the first episode who announced his presence. The villain had a specific and fundamental role in the tragedy as the instigator of what happened and, of course, its consequences.
However, to understand how Sauron will act against the most powerful men in Middle-earth, it is necessary to explore the origin of the creature. How he survived the events of the First Age and how he gained power for a new attack in the Second and Third. Where does it come from? What is your true nature?
Sauron and his origins
The figure of Sauron is completely linked to that of Morgoth, the first Dark Lord of Tolkien’s saga. Originally named Melkor, the latter was a Valar created by Eru Ilúvatar, the supreme deity in the writer’s mythology.
With more than an obvious resemblance to the mythology related to Lucifer in the Catholic religion, the Valar ended up rebelling and becoming perfidious. Under the name of Morgoth, he faced the rest of creation. In punishment, he was condemned to a timeless void from which there was no return. But he had already had a fundamental pernicious influence on another creature.
Mairon was a Maia, one of the powerful spirits whose mission it was to help the Valar give form and substance to Arda. In the beginning, he was a being of enormous purity, who took an interest in the art of forging. However, corrupted by Morgoth, ended up subverting his nature. But, unlike the Valar whom he obeyed, Mairon did not wish to conquer territories, but dominate the minds and spirits of sentient creatures.
One of Mairon’s most dangerous qualities was his duplicity. During the time that he served Morgoth, he feigned allegiance to the rest of the Valar. However, once the rebel gained a foothold in Middle-earth, the Maia discovered his intentions. It was then that he changed his old name — which in Elvish translates as “the admirable one” — to Sauron, “the abominable one.”
A story in the shadows
Become the recognized vassal of Morgoth, Suron fought at his side during his confrontation with the elves in the First Age. He became ruler of the Fortress of Angband, in which he took refuge when the Valar first defeated Morgoth. As his master faced all the power of his peers, Sauron grew stronger and more dangerous..
As much as to conquer the island Tol Sirion, which belonged to the elven race. As a provocation, he later called her “the one with the werewolves”. His presence became in itself announcement of tragedy and horrors. He even had the ability to create his own servants, such as Thuringwethil, who had the abilities of a vampire. For Sauron it was a stage of fullness in which he also learned the arts of transformation and total mental manipulation.
Morgoth, increasingly besieged by the power of the elves, became the natural enemy of the race. But Sauron was even more twisted in nature than the Valar he served. His goal was to destroy the good in the hearts of men. It is at this stage that his story intersects with that of Beren and Lúthien. Something that links his destiny with several of the most important narratives of the Tolkian saga. At the same time, it intersects with the possible plot of the series The Rings of Power.
Sauron captured Beren and the elf Finrod, older brother of Galadriel. Finally, after a long chase, the corrupted Maia would kill the elf. Which in the Prime Video story, triggers the Lady of Valinor’s revenge and her involvement in future conflicts in Middle-earth.
Sauron and The Rings of Power
After Morgoth was defeated, Sauron went into hiding for 500 years, later settling in Mordor. In the region, built the tower of Barad-dûr, symbol of evil. With the knowledge accumulated in his long life, he created armies of orcs and trolls. Then he hatched a plan to manipulate the men of the mainland.
At the time that will probably reflect the plot of the series The Rings of Power, took on the appearance of a creature of extraordinary beauty, Annatar. Her appearance allowed her to fool several elves, including the master forger Celebrimbor. The latter would be convinced by Sauron to forge the Rings of Power, a supposed gift for elves, men and dwarves.
At the same time, Sauron secretly created the One Ring, with which he could control the rest through dark magic. But as soon as she tried to use it, the elves discovered her influence and rejected her. At the other extreme, the dwarves also resisted Sauron’s machinations. However, the nine human kings who accepted the perfidious gift were corrupted and turned into Nazgûl.
The war of all wars will probably show The Rings of Power
It was then that Sauron attacked Middle-earth in a brutal conquest. Something that he was about to achieve were it not for the intervention of the Isle of Númenor. In the end, the corrupted Maia was imprisoned and confined by the men of the west. A circumstance that the creature would take advantage of for its own benefit.
Once in the prosperous kingdom, he manipulated the ambition of King Ar-Pharazôn and the fear of death of those who populated the Island. His influence was such that he convinced the population to build a temple in Númenor in honor of Morgoth. Finally, he persuaded the monarch to take his considerable army to confront the Valar and take Valinor.
It was about a catastrophic event that forever changed Middle-earth. Eru Ilúvatar destroyed Númenor and turned the surface of Arda into a sphere so that no one harbored the ambition to attack Valinor. In the midst of the cataclysm, Sauron’s human figure was destroyed and he lost his ability to change forms. To recover from his injuries, he returned to Mordor. When he succeeded, he attacked Middle-earth with all his dark power.
Sauron and the end of an Age
The elves and the survivors of the tragedy of Númenor united to fight against evil incarnate. Elendil, one of the men who remained loyal to the Valar during the sinking of the island, joined the elven king Gil-Galad. The link between the two peoples was called the Last Alliance and it was a total coalition that he intended to rid the world of Sauron for good.
It was a long and violent conflict, which Sauron himself commanded. He went on to kill Elendil and Gil-Galad, so for a moment he seemed to triumph. But in the midst of the larger battle, Isildur, the son of the human leader, cut off the creature’s finger and snatched the One Ring from it. The only wound the corrupted Maia couldn’t bear: The magical artifact allowed him to maintain his physical form.
Sauron, again, returned to Mordor. Isildur could have destroyed him, had he thrown the One Ring into the fires of Mount Doom. But he didn’t, so the creature was able to save life until the Third Age. Finally, a new battle, which involved in one way or another all the races of Middle-earth, allowed the destruction of a powerful magical object. A fact that caused Sauron to cease to exist completely.