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A notable facet of J.R.R. Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Ringsis that its major opponent , Sauron , does n’t flat come out all that often . strip of his principal source of major power , the One Ring , the baddie has to recur to make his bearing felt up as a shady malevolent violence emanating from his dark kingdom , Mordor . Other than that , it ’s mostly left to his monstrous army of orcs , trolls , and other creatures – not to mention his friend , the turncoat wizard Saruman – to terrorize the habitant of midway - earth on his behalf .
That ’s not to say Sauron does n’t get the fortune to stretch his legs elsewhere in Tolkien ’s writings . For starters , he ’s briefly mentioned as having captured Gandalf the Grey inThe Hobbit , under the pretense of “ The Necromancer ” – something Peter Jackson ’s big screen adaptation expands upon well . Then there ’s his prominent role inThe Silmarillion , which not only establishes Sauron as a Maia spirit ( essentially an angel ) who broke badly , but also narrate his nefarious deed dating back to the dawn of time itself . Along the way , Tolkien not only flesh out Sauron ’s character more – basically , he was corrupt by his obsession with ordination – but provides extra detail regarding his forcible attribute . We do n’t learn a lot more than what was covered inThe Lord of the Rings , but it ’s enough to give us a universal sense of the various bod he adopt and the great power at his disposal .
Updated on September 15th , 2022 by Stuart Kilmartin : The ultimate antagonist of the Lord of the Rings franchise , Sauron has already made his presence felt in Amazon Prime ’s new seriesThe Rings of Power . Although the baddie has only appeared once so far , in a flashback to the First Age , his presence in Middle - Earth is largely steering the action mechanism thus far . It ’s inevitable that the baddie will appear at some point during the show ’s first season , but due to Sauron ’s report as a shape - shifter , fans may not immediately recognize him .
Sauron Was Originally A Shape-shifter
A major panorama of Sauron ’s physiology that ’s often overlooked is that he was once an complete contour - shifter . Long before he was the primary antagonist in Tolkien ’s mythology – back when he was only a servant of original big bad , Morgoth – shape - shifting was really a fundamental weapon in Sauron ’s armory .
This creative inclination – coupled with his innate supernatural force – would explain how he was able to not only take on a variety of humanoid forms , but also impersonate the various beasts of Middle - land
Sauron’s Eyes Were Always Powerful
The Eye of Sauron , a cat - same pupil wreathed in flame , is one of the most iconic prototype in both Tolkien ’s novel and their cinematic opposite number . Adorning the armour of Sauron ’s orc swarm – not to mention serve as a reserve for his factual name , which he forbade others to consummate aloud – the Eye appears conspicuously during the Third Age , whenThe Lord of the Ringstakes stead . Both Sauron ’s eyes were note as being frighten off , even fearsome , well before this time .
Even when the Dark Lord was pretending to be on the side of the angels , the chroma of his regard was signally furious .
Sauron Lost The Ability To Assume His Fair Form
Sauron is described at various times in Tolkien ’s Hagiographa as being less than pleasant to look at . Peter Jackson ’s film adaptations alike present him as a minacious black knight . Even though he ’s an impenitent villain , fans may might still be wonder : if Sauron is so powerful , why does n’t he stay in humanoid form ? The answer , he can not .
When the island realm of Númenor sank to the bottom of the ocean during the Second Age , Sauron drop dead down with it . Although he survived , it be him the ability to assume his angelic camouflage ( sometimes recognise as “ Annatar ” ) robbing the Dark Lord of his most in force weapon against Men and Elves .
Sauron Became Uglier When He Joined Forces With Morgoth
As we ’ve cover already , Sauron is essentially an angelic presence – he ’s one of the second - level monastic order of supernal organism know as the Maiar . As such , when he first inscribe the strong-arm world , his nonremittal appearance was appropriately attractive , although it did n’t stay that way for tenacious .
Once Sauron became the right - hand man of Morgoth – one of the higher - ranking Valar , and pretty much the Devil of Tolkien ’s mythology – he began to give off a subtly more creepy vibration . He could still excrete himself off as a philanthropic figure , but more perceptive person could nevertheless observe via his overall aura that there was something evil about him .
Sauron Wasn’t Just A Flaming Eyeball
It ’s fair to say that Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringstrilogy has had a monumental wallop on more everyday fans ’ comprehension of the center - Earth canyon . This has given rise to some popular misconceptions about Tolkien ’s mythology – for illustration : the notion that Sauron could only demonstrate himself as a outstanding , freehanded , flaming eyeball . The books are n’t 100 % clear on whether the Eye is mean to be take as Sauron ’s literal kind , as a metaphor , or both .
They do , however , make it readable he was capable of appearing as a shadowy , humanoid figure , too . Indeed , Tolkien scholars were believably somewhat mollify when this embodiment of the Dark Lord is concisely glimpsed during Jackson ’s follow - upHobbittrilogy .
Sauron’s Physical Form Was First Destroyed Before The End Of The Second Age
A large deal is made about Sauron lose his physical phase after being defeated in battle at the ending of the Second Age – but this is n’t even the first time that this ever occurred . Originally happened many years earlier , when the kingdom of Númenor was destroyed , and the Dark Lord ’s body with it . The difference here was that Sauron was n’t separated from the One Ring at the time .
That made rend together a new body markedly loose than the 2d clock time around . This new body was less pleasing on the eye , but still served him well .
Sauron’s Shadowy Form Was Still Missing A Finger
As fans of the books will already know , when Gollum is tormented in Mordor – a prospect only glimpsed inThe Fellowship of the Ringmovie – Sauron is in person present . Rather than reveal himself as the large fiery eyeball that dominates the big screen version of the story , harmonise to Gollum , the apparition he encountered was a more subtle , shadowy creature .
Interestingly , Gollum withdraw seeing Sauron ’s mordant hand , and notes that it ’s still missing the digit split off by Prince Isildur after the Dark Lord was beat . This service as an understated illustration that Sauron has not yet recover his full might .
Sauron Could Burn His Victims With His Touch
From the fiery Great Eye to the volcanic bang of Mount Doom , much of the mental imagery associated with Sauron is flack - connect . Well , it turn out it run low even further than that : Sauron ’s soundbox is itself a source of immense heat ! This is first mention in line made by Isildur and have inThe company of the Ring , which recite his first - hand experience of Sauron ’s touch , which “ burn like fire . ”
In a deleted scene inThe Fellowship of the Ring , Sauron was to be assure setting immortal elven king Gil - Galad afire with his reach , but the moment was cut due to time constraints . Gil - Galad finally made his cannonical hot - action entry inThe Rings of Power .
Sauron’s Most Monstrous Form Came After The Fall Of Númenor
We ’ve mentioned that Sauron was once a formidable configuration - shifter , and that he was only restricted to stereotyped “ evil dark lord ” pretext after his strong-arm form was first destroy . Although this was a hugely helpful development from the perspective of the forces of skilful – they would no longer devolve for Sauron ’s “ divine bearer of gift ” range – it also made their enemy a lot more scary .
This was especially the case after the Dark Lord first reassemble his strong-arm variety , having just escaped the doom of Númenor . Around this meter , Sauron ’s show was supposedly downright grotesque , maliciousness and hate personified .
Sauron Wasn’t Gigantic
When you mean of Sauron – a quasi - demonic presence of immense physical and eldritch office – it ’s not intemperate to picture a towering figure of Godzilla - like proportions . Yet that ’s explicitly not what Tolkien had in brain when he created the character . On the wayward , time and again , he describe Sauron ’s humanoid torso as being grown than that of any man , but not by much .
It seems that Sauron ’s size is one of the things that Peter Jackson ’s big screen adaptation ofThe Lord of the Ringstotally nailed . He might have been ever so somewhat smaller than Jackson depicted him inThe Fellowship of the Ring , but not by much .
Sauron Once Became The Greatest Werewolf Of All Time
Back in his cast - change over prime , Sauron was able to metamorphose into some jolly wild creatures . Perhaps the most outstanding of these ( and sure the most hyperbolic ) was his lycanthrope var. , which was reputedly the greatest ever seen in Middle - Earth ’s history . Aside from the obvious benefits of becoming a banging man - eat canine , Sauron ’s rationale for choosing this contour was rather crafty .
His opponent at the time was a fellow over - sized cad , Huan , who prognostication decreed would fall in battle to the greatest werewolf ever – so the Dark Lord figured his triumph was assured . The trouble was that the prophecy actually referred to an even mighty , as yet unborn werewolf , causing Sauron ’s cunning plan to backfire .
Sauron Had Really Gifted Hands
It ’s leisurely to overlook Sauron ’s originative maven – after all , he spends much ofLord of the Ringstrying to obliterate the Free Peoples of Middle - Earth , and everything they ’ve built .
Even his crown accomplishment , the One Ring , is a fairly simple bit of business , equate to the Rings of Power mold by the hob . Nevertheless , it ca n’t be overstated how indue a journeyman Sauron was .
Sauron Was A Supernaturally Good Singer
When you think “ malefic dark lord ” , the first thing that come to mind is n’t needfully “ brilliant vocalist ” – yet that ’s precisely what Sauron was . Bear in mind that the Middle - Earth institution myth inThe Silmarillioninvolves a choir of quasi - angels literally sing the populace into being .
As one of these quasi - angel , Sauron take up part in this sorcerous medicine - making , prove that his tattle ability are genuinely supernatural . This is n’t the only instance of Sauron tattle inThe Silmarillion . euphony and magic tend to go paw - in - hand in Middle - Earth , and Sauron ’s spell casting during a face-off with elf competition Finrod Felagund also realize him singing .
Sauron Could Cast Illusions
Movie fans tend to dwell on Sauron ’s raw , vile top executive , as seen in the opening night battle inThe Fellowship of the Ring , or his beatdown of Gandalf inThe Desolation of Smaug . Those who favor Tolkien ’s novel to Peter Jackson ’s films might wish to focus on the Dark Lord ’s shape - shifting gifts , alternatively . Something both groups rarely remark on is Sauron ’s illusion - regorge powers .
yield , it ’s one of his least frequently used gift – or at the very least , the one which Tolkien tends to only suggest at , rather than describe in any great detail . Even so , it ’s made clear that Sauron can indeed raise up highly convincing , misguide visions , capable of trap weak or unsuspected victims .
The One Ring Enhanced Sauron’s Physical Powers
Sauron ’s plan for the Rings of Power was solid : check that that influential figures among human , elves , and dwarves possess these magical ring , then corrupt them via an even more muscular , ruling closed chain . The only way he could actually craft something more powerful than the other tintinnabulation was by pour some of his own essence into it .
fundamentally , he ’s the designer of his own Achilles Heel – something that came back to burn him when Isildur hacked off his ring fingerbreadth duringthe iconic battle glimpse in the chess opening ofThe Fellowship of the Ring .
Sauron Once Carried The One Ring Without Physical Form
Long before the Internet , fan had been repoint out plot of land holes in democratic fictitious chronicle , and the Middle - Earth canon is no exception . For example , one astute lector once ask Tolkien how Sauron was capable to hold back the One Ring after his physical body was destroy along with the rest of Númenor .
What ’s impressive here is that – rather than take the easy path out and respond that the Dark Lord left the Ring behind when he was escort to Númenor – the keep author instead stuck to his guns . accord to Tolkien , Sauron definitely had the Ring in his possession on this juncture , however his incorporeal tone managed to squirrel it away through sheer force of will . Whether thiscanonical upshot will be altered inThe Rings of Poweris yet to be revealed .
Sauron Can Be Physically Overpowered By Certain Men And Elves
If your only knowledge of Sauron is come solely from Peter Jackson ’s bounteous screen adaptations , you could be forgive for cogitate the Dark Lord is pretty much unbeatable in one - on - one combat . Take the opening battle inThe Fellowship of the Ring . There , Sauron is capable to effortless sweep oar aside all comers , until the One Ring is sliced from his hand .
That ’s not exactly a true histrionics of Sauron ’s baron level in Tolkien ’s novels . There , Sauron is undeniably powerful , but men and ELF of fittingly legendary prowess – like Elendil and Gil - Gilad – could go toe - to - toe with him .
The Eye of Sauron’s Pupil Is Actually A Silhouette
This entry about the Eye of Sauron only applies to Peter Jackson ’s cinematic imagination of Middle - Earth . In the second installment of Jackson’sHobbittrilogy , The Desolation of Smaug , the Necromancer finally unmasks himself as Sauron . He first appear as a fiery personification of his armored form .
In a canny touching , this initial manifestation presently morphs into a glob of attack with Sauron ’s humanoid silhouette locate square in the midriff – forge the Great Eye ! Not only is this a penetrating bit of production design , it also puts a Modern spin on how audiences view the Eye when re - watchingThe Lord of the Ringsmovies .
Sauron Made His Own Armor
Here ’s another unveiling from theLord of the Ringsmovies rather than the books , this fourth dimension related to the armor Sauron wears during the prologue ofThe Fellowship of the Ring . As note by the blueprint squad at Weta Workshop in the special features that accompany the Extended Edition , this protective covering was think to showcase Sauron ’s keen craftsmanship .
With its spiky pauldrons , horse skull - like helm and back breaker - etched finish – mean to intimate the force of the incredible heat father by the Dark Lord ’s body – the mantrap of Sauron ’s armor is n’t immediately apparent .
Sauron’s Other Major Forms Include A Huge Serpent And A Vampire Bat
During his fourth dimension , Sauron has also changed into other creatures , such as an tremendous ophidian and a jumbo vampire squash racket , as well as a lycanthrope . Despite this ability , Sauron never transformed into a tartar .
Perhaps there were limit to even his remarkable shape - dislodge abilities . It ’s entirely possible that there could have been forcible limits that foreclose him expanding beyond a certain size .
NEXT:20 Wicked Things Sauron Did Between The Hobbit And The Lord Of The Rings
