Alatar

They travelled to the east of Arda, to countries in far eastern Middle-earth such as Rhûn and Khand, where they were sent to stir up rebellions against those serving Sauron. They never returned to the West after their journey east with Saruman and their deeds are not known. It is possible that they became the founders of secret and magical cults, but their ultimate fate remains unknown.

Biography

Alatar was originally a Maia of Oromë the Huntsman. Other servants of Oromë included Pallando, a friend of Alatar, whom he later chose to journey with him.

Second Age

At some point in the Second Age, around the forging of the Rings of Power, Alatar and Pallando were chosen to become the first of the Istari and were sent to the east of Middle-earth to stir up rebellion against Sauron and assist the few tribes of Men who had refused to worship Morgoth in the First Age.

Third Age

During the Third Age, the Valar selected Alatar to be one of the five Maiar to travel from the Undying Lands to Middle-earth and serve as wizards. Alatar, Curumo (Saruman the White), and Olórin (Gandalf) were assigned the objective of encouraging the peoples of Middle-earth to oppose Sauron. However, two more joined the original three, making them five. Aiwendil (Radagast) was chosen by Yavanna to travel with Curumo, and Alatar took Pallando as a companion. Upon arrival in Middle-earth, Alatar and Pallando were dressed in robes of sea-blue. Due to this, they were called the Blue Wizards (or Ithryn Luin in Sindarin). Along with Saruman, they traveled east in an attempt to help free the Haradrim and Easterlings from Sauron's service. Later, Saruman returned to the west alone. Alatar and Pallando were never seen again, and their fates remain untold.

Other than this, not much is positively known about Alatar, but it is thought that he most likely failed his mission in that he did not significantly prevent Sauron from rising again and threatening all the Free Peoples.

Character

When Alatar came to Middle-earth, he was clothed in flesh and had the appearance of a wizened old man, though he did not look as old as Gandalf. He and Pallando were dressed in robes of sea-blue, which is why they were named "the Blue Wizards". He had a white beard that was not as long as Gandalf's or Saruman's. He carried a staff, as did the other Wizards, which he could use to channel his magic.

Etymology

• Alatar (IPA: [ˈalatar]) is his first known name in Quenya. Its meaning was never explained by the author, however has been suggested that the stem could be alatā ("radiance") and the end -tar ("lord").
• Haimenar that means "Far-farer" in Quenya.
• Morinehtar (IPA: [moriˈneçtar]) that means "Darkness-slayer" in Quenya.

J.R.R. Tolkien specifically stated that neither Alatar nor Pallando had a name in the west of Middle-earth, unlike the other Wizards.

In other versions

Later in his life, Tolkien wrote a note suggesting that the names of the Blue Wizards were Morinehtar (meaning Q. "Darkness-slayer") for Alatar and Rómestámo (meaning Q. "East-helper") for Pallando. It is not clear whether these names were intended to replace the names Alatar and Pallando, or whether Morinehtar and Rómestámo were alternate names for the Blue Wizards, possibly those given to them by the peoples of Middle-earth.

In adaptations

The Hobbittrilogy

When talking to Bilbo, Gandalf mentions the two Blue Wizards in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. When Bilbo asks how many Wizards there are, Gandalf states that there is him, Saruman the White, the two Blue Wizards (whose names he cannot remember), and Radagast the Brown. Gandalf cannot remember their names because the filmmakers did not have the rights to them.

The Lord of the Ringsfilms

The Blue Wizards are never mentioned in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, only referenced indirectly by Saruman, who mentions "the rods of the five wizards" in the extended edition of the third film.

Translations

References