What Happens When a Maia Dies? | Tolkien's Balrogs & Sauron Explained
What happens when a Maia dies? In Tolkien's legendarium the answer is stranger than death — a Maia's body is woven raiment, worn like clothing, and Tolkien coined a separate word, ëala, so their spirits would never be confused with the fëar of Elves. This deep dive traces what destruction costs one of the Ainur.Morgoth poured himself into Arda until raiment became flesh: lamed, burned, afraid of dying. Sauron was unbodied three times and rebuilt slower each time — nearly three thousand years after Dagorlad, but only a hundred and ten after Númenor. Gandalf and Saruman were given real human…
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