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Dates
Immortal. In Middle-earth c. III 1000 to 29 September III 3021
Race
Ainur
Division
Maiar of Manwë and Varda
Order
Istari (Wizards)
Other Names
Gandalf, Incánus, Mithrandir, Tharkûn
Titles
The Grey, Grey Pilgrim, Grey Wanderer, Stormcrow, The White
Meaning
Derived from the Quenya word olori, meaning 'dreams'1
Pronunciation
o'lowrin

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 16 January 1999
  • Updates planned: 4

Olórin

Gandalf as he was in his youth

Encyclopedia of Arda Timeline
Years of the TreesFirst AgeSecond AgeThird AgeFourth Age and Beyond

A Maia of the people of Manwë and Varda, Olórin was said to be one of the wisest of his order. He came to Middle-earth in the Third Age in the guise better known as Gandalf.


Notes

1

'Dreams' is really an inadequate translation of olori, but there is nothing in English that comes close to this concept. To the Elves, memory and imagination presented a mental image that had the clarity of reality - it is to these clear perceptions that the word olori actually refers.

See also...

Alatar, Aman, Maiar, Nienna, White Ship

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Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1999, 2001. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.