Aulë

Aule (“Invention”) was a member of the eight most powerful Valar of Arda called the Aratar, and an Ainu. He’s Mahal (The Maker) in the dwarven language, Khuzdul. Aule controls the forging and craft of substances of Arda, although he didn’t bother himself with how much of craft children of Iluvatar learned. He shaped Arda and created both the Lamps of Valar and the bearing vessels for the Moon and Sun. He also made the dwarves and Melkor's chain, Angainor, that bound Melkor for three centuries in the Halls of Mandos. In Sindarin, he’s known as Oli or Navatar.

Aule was the smith of the Valar and the consort of Yavanna, the Queen of the Valar, and Giver of Fruit. He had the power and enormity of mind to match Melkor's in almost all aspects. He loved to create new things that would make people marvel at his glory. He created the dwarves, just as Melkor had his created beings too. The difference between Aule and Melkor, however, was that unlike Melkor, he sought the pleasure of Iluvatar.

He worked in full submission to fulfill the original aim for the Music of Ainur. Melkor instead hated that he had no control over all beings and things, and sought to destroy if he couldn’t rule and have his dominion on Arda. Aule was aware of Melkor’s evil, and they had discorded even before Arda's creation, but he was opposed to confronting him in a fight out of consideration of the aftermath of such an encounter on Arda. Aule taught the Eldar in craftsmanship as they gained entrance into Valinor. He was particularly close to the Elves of Noldor, and the high king Feanor of the Noldor clan was his best student.

Aule taught Feanor the skills he needed to make the Silmarils later in his life. Feanor’s Silmarils also was the greatest outcome of any craftsmanship on Arda. The elves from the Noldorin clan that left Valinor under Feanor's son (Finarfin), but returned, showed loyalty to Aule by naming themselves the Aurendur on their return. Aule possessed a great amount of power and knowledge, yet he remained loyal to the will of Iluvatar. The nature of his submissiveness reflected in his origination, the dwarves. Like Aule, the dwarves were more inclined towards Iluvatar than they were with evil.

Aule was desperate to spread his knowledge of the craft to the Children of Iluvatar but grew impatient in his wait for their awakening. He decided to originate from his race to commence his activities. Aule originated the dwarven race [1] and tried to make them like the children of Iluvatar he saw during the music of the Ainur, but he couldn’t as the discord in the music interrupted his vision and failed to see their form.

Aulë originated the dwarves to be strong and resilient. He made them disinclined to succumbing to the dominion of other beings as a defense from the influence of evil due to Aule's foresight of the Dark Lord's activities. He originated the dwarf kind to epitomize his high values and aspirations for Endor (Middle-earth). [2] The dwarves of Aule do not have a life of theirs, and could only act when Aule's thought influences them. Aule perfected the forms of his being, and he spoke to them in Khuzdul, a language taught to them by him. Iluvatar spoke to him as he began to marvel at his originations.

He asked him if he wanted to contend with him in his authority by making new beings. Aule denied and repented. He said that he felt Iluvatar kindled his desire to make new things. He only sought to aid his cause and spread Iluvatar’s influence by making beings that could learn, teach, and love. He realized his impatience would ruin him and gave up on his origination as submission to Eru Iluvatar. Aule thought that destroying the originations would please Iluvatar, so he raised his Great Hammer over the Seven Dwarven fathers. [3] The dwarves cowered in fear and knew their end had come. Iluvatar held his hand and told him that his intention was true and his offer was accepted.

He told Aule that he gave the dwarves lives of theirs. Iluvatar acknowledged the dwarven beings as his acquired children and went on to ordain the newly originated elves as the pioneer race from the children of Iluvatar. Iluvatar then caused Aule’s creations to go into a slumber until the elves awakened. Iluvatar told Aule that when the full activities of Arda beings commence, dwarves and Elves’ race would always have discord for the origination of dwarves was not included in the Music of Ainur. The dwarves had the belief that as they were mortals when they die, their dwarven spirits would rest in the hall of Aule, which he fashioned for them. They also believe that they’ll reform Arda after Endor’s Last Battle.

Aule had mighty servants. Sauron, also known as Mairon and later Aurendil, was the mightiest of Aule’s Maiar. Sauron used his ability and knowledge taken from Aule to serve as the deadliest servant of the Dark Lord Melkor in First Age. He took over power after the Battle of Last Alliance as the Dark Lord and reigned as the ultimate evil in the Second and Third Ages. Also, Saruman, also called Curumo, was the first of the five Istari sent to Arda to guide people of Endor (Middle-earth) from the corruption of Sauron. Curumo was overcome by his greed and allied with the Dark Lord for his motives. Saruman later betrayed Sauron who also intended to betray him. It is fascinating to see that the most powerful Maiar that was sent to Endor and overcome by greed were related to Aule. This is because Aule’s Maiar were those most learned about the craft which consequently gave them high will for power than most other orders. The Maiar associated with Aule seems to be the greatest of them due to their knowledge of craft and Arda. Tolkien’s work shows his opinion that industry corrupts the society and spirits from other orders with weaker will always be on the receiving end of power tussle.

Aule possessed the power that is most similar to those that Iluvatar exhibited. Aule fashioned the greatest things, originated a life for the dwarves even without access to Iluvatar's Flame Imperishable. He made the lamps of Valinor and the great chain that bound the original Dark Lord. Aule had an incredible amount of strength, which is normal for a Vala. Aule built Arda as Morgoth sought to destroy it. He continued to rebuild Arda after the war with Morgoth. Aule was best positioned to forge the weapons and shields of the Valar in the War of Wrath. In power, he is the most likely to single-handedly confront Morgoth and overcome him in battle. He established himself as an authority among the Aratar through his ability to forge things.

In Quenya, the meaning of Aule is invention.

In the dwarven language, Khuzdul, the meaning of Mahal is Maker.

In Sindarin, the meaning of Oli is Dream.

Other versions of the legendarium​

In earlier versions of the legendarium, Aulë and Yavanna were the parents of Oromë and Nessa, and the great smith Velindo was one of his servants.

The character of Aule seems to have been taken from Hephaistos, Greek mythology's blacksmith, and god of the Volcanoes.

1. ^The maker of Middle-earth.
2. ^The History of Middle-Earth.
3. ^The Seven Dwarven fathers.