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Tolkien Artwork

Album (820) Thread 'Tolkien Artwork'
d4rk3lf said:
This is how I imagine Melkor
Click to expand...

Indeed.
"His envy grew then the greater within him; and he also took visible form, but because of his mood and the malice that burned in him that form was dark and terrible. And he descended upon Arda in power and majesty greater than any other of the Valar, as a mountain that wades in the sea and has its head above the clouds and is clad in ice and crowned with smoke and fire; and the light of the eyes of Melkor was like a flame that withers with heat and pierces with a deadly cold." -- Tolkien, J.R.R.. The Silmarillion (pp. 11-12). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
 
Eljorahir said:
Is that meant to be the silmarils burning his right hand?
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I don't believe so.
When carrying Silmarils, he was weaker then Ungolianth, and have already lost a lot's of his power.

I think it's much earlier, before the elves awake, and upon his arrival at Middle Earth.
Remember, he was basically carved the geography of M.E. by ruining what Valars did... he could probably move, melt or crush mountains, or build mountain if it will distract creation of other valars.
 
From the published Silmarillion, part two "Valaquenta", section "Of the Valar":

"Greatest in strength and deeds of prowess is Tulkas, who is surnamed Astaldo, the Valiant. He came last to Arda, to aid the Valar in the first battles with Melkor."

Leaving aside JRRT's early and late writings, in which he went seriously over the deep end in his description of Melko(r), again the published "Valaquenta":

"Great might was given to [Melkor] by Ilúvatar, and he was coëval with Manwë. In the powers and knowledge of all the other Valar he had part, ...".

Part. One-on-one with any of the Valar in their specialty he would have come out second best.
And Tulkas's specialty, is my impression, is beating the 💩 out of Melkor. I can just imagine Tulkas getting seriously "not amused" at Melkor's insertion of his "themes" into the Music of the Ainur, sitting there fuming and thinking "I'll get you for this!". And Melkor, true to any supremely arrogant (would-be) tyrant, wasn't paying attention ... 😈
 
Agree fully, and Tulkas is the least interesting valar to me.
But then again, we should never forget, that professor's work is so big, that he just didn't had enough time to iron out every character and event.
 
d4rk3lf said:
Tulkas is the least interesting valar to me.
Click to expand...
Regarding Tulkas, "Least interesting" is probably fair, but I'll add "refreshingly simple".

Manwe: First of all Kings, lord of the realm of Arda, winds, clouds, eagles, carries the burdens of Lordship, etc.
Varda: Lady of The Stars, more beautiful than the most beautiful beautifulness that ever was or shall be, also named Elbereth and they call upon her name at times of need, etc.
Ulmo: Oceans, rivers, storms, fish, fish, fish, meddling in the affairs of Middle-earth, busy, busy, busy, etc.
Tulkas: Enjoys a good tussle now and then:

"...Tulkas laughs ever, in sport or in war, and even in the face of Melkor he laughed in battles before the Elves were born."
--Valaquenta
 
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