Sauron is the embodiment of absolute evil in JRR Tolkien’s literary saga. And he will be an essential part of the series power rings, which can now be seen on Prime Video. This 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, transformed into a menacing threat to Middle-earth, will have a central place in the story.

It is undoubtedly a decision of considerable weight. The Second Age chronicles the battle against Morgoth’s lieutenant and all that happened once he used the One Ring. In reality, the first episode of power rings showed a clear image of Sauron. Moreover, with an appearance very similar to that which he had in the film trilogy of Peter Jackson. Which could mean that the argument will give him very similar powers and combat ability to his movie version.

But, in the plot of the series, his identity is a mystery. This could suggest that its influence is, for the moment, indirect and rather linked to manipulation. If so, the series carefully explores the character’s early stories. Also, the way Tolkien designed it. An ever-threatening shadow and a master of deception.

Sauron’s Riddle

In its first three episodes, the series power rings made it clear that the story conflict will center on the rise and fall of Númenor. At least, that it will be the most important event of a first season intended to contextualize the major events.

Which means that It is not by chance the brief image of Sauron in the first episode which announces its 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 of 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 the 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 of the writer’s mythology.

With a more than obvious resemblance to the mythology linked to Lucifer in the Catholic religion, the Valar ended up rebelling and becoming treacherous. Under the name of Morgoth, he faced the rest of creation. As 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 mighty spirits whose mission was to help the Valar give form and substance to Arda. At first, he was a being of immense purity, who was interested in the art of forging. However, corrupted by Morgoth, ended up subverting his nature. But, unlike the Valar whom he obeys, Mairon does 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 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” – to Sauron, “the abominable”.

A story in the shadows

Having become the recognized vassal of Morgoth, Suron fought alongside him during his confrontation with the elves in the First Age. He became ruler of the fortress of Angband, to which he took refuge when the Valar first defeated Morgoth. As his master faced the full might of his peers, Sauron grew stronger and more dangerous..

Might as well conquer the island Tol Sirion, which belonged to the elven race. By provocation, he will later call her “the one with the werewolves”. His presence has become in itself the announcement of the tragedy and the 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 wholeness in which he also learned the arts of transformation and total mental manipulation.

Morgoth, increasingly beleaguered by the power of the elves, became the natural enemy of the race. But Sauron was even more twisted by nature than the Valar he served. His purpose was to destroy the good in the hearts of men. It is at this point that his story intersects with that of Beren and Lúthien. Something that ties its fate to several of the most important stories in the Tolkian saga. At the same time, it intersects with the possible plot of the series power rings.

Sauron captured Beren and the elf Finrod, Galadriel’s older brother. Finally, after a long hunt, the corrupted Maia would kill the elf. Which, in Prime Video’s story, triggers the vengeance of the Lady of Valinor and her involvement in future conflicts in Middle-earth.

Sauron and power rings

After Morgoth’s defeat, Sauron hid for 500 years, then settled in Mordor. In the region, built the tower of Barad-dûr, symbol of evil. With the knowledge accumulated over his long life, he created armies of orcs and trolls. Then he hatched a plan to manipulate the mainland men.

At the time it will probably reflect the plot of the series power rings, took on the appearance of a creature of extraordinary beauty, Annatar. His appearance allowed him to trick 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 treacherous gift were corrupted and transformed into Nazgûl.

The war of all wars will probably show power rings

It was then that Sauron attacked Middle-earth in a brutal conquest. Something he was about to achieve without the intervention of the Isle of Númenor. In the end, the corrupt 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 people to build a temple at Númenor in honor of Morgoth. Eventually 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 would have the ambition to attack Valinor. In the midst of the cataclysm, Sauron’s human figure was destroyed and he lost his shapeshifting ability. To recover from his wounds, 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 bond between the two peoples was called the Last Alliance and it was a total coalition that he intended to permanently rid the world of Sauron.

It was a long and violent conflict, which Sauron himself commanded. He continued to kill Elendil and Gil-galad, so for a moment he seemed to triumph. But in the midst of the greatest battle, Isildur, the son of the human leader, cut off the creature’s finger and ripped the One Ring from it. The One Wound Corrupted Maia Couldn’t Bear: The magical artifact allowed him to maintain his physical form.

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Sauron, once again, returned to Mordor. Isildur could have destroyed it had he thrown the One Ring into the flames 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, resulted in the destruction of a powerful magical object. A fact that made Sauron completely cease to exist.