The Dreamer, The Visionary
Later names: Gandalf, Mithrandir, Incánus, Tharkûn, Láthspell
Later Surnames: The Grey, Greyhame, Stormcrow, The White, The White Rider
Olórin was originally a Maia who was associated primarily with Manwë and Varda, although he frequently visited Nienna and also spent time with Irmo/Lorien. His name comes from a Quenya root meaning “dream or vision” and he was strongly associated with light and fire. He would either disguise himself as an elf or go amongst them unseen to provide them with wisdom, hope, and guidance.
When the Valar decided to send a group of Maiar disguised as old wizards to help the peoples of Middle-earth resist Sauron, Olórin was one of those chosen by the council. He was reluctant to go at first, believing himself unprepared and unworthy for the difficult task mainly because he feared Sauron. But Manwë commanded him to go as the third Istari, and Varda remarked that he was not the third, indicating that she and her husband (accurately) saw him as being superior to the others who had been chosen. This statement was noted by Curunir/Curumo (Saruman) and thus his resent towards Gandalf began before they had even arrived in Middle-earth.
When he arrived in Middle-earth Olórin took the form of a wandering old man who wore the color grey. According to some versions of its story, Yavanna gave the Elessar (elfstone) to Olórin to bring to Middle-earth as a sign that the Valar had not forgotten its people. He gave this to Galadriel and prophesied that she would eventually pass it on to someone else. This became true when Galadriel gave it to Aragorn during the Fellowship’s stay in Lothlorien as a sort of early wedding present, since he would eventually marry her granddaughter Arwen. He wore it from then on, and when he became king he took the name Elessar.
Olórin traveled amongst the many peoples of Middle-earth, providing guidance in their resistance to Sauron. One of his most common names was Gandalf, which translates to something like “wand elf” due to his use of a staff and the misconception amongst many men that he was an elf. This was one of his most common names, and was used by both men and hobbits. Among the elves he was known as Mithrandir, which means Grey Pilgrim or Grey Wanderer. Another name given to him by men, Incánus, had different meanings that Tolkien couldn’t decide on and could mean either North-Spy (as a name given to him by the Haradrim) or Mind-Ruler. Among the dwarves he was Tharkûn, meaning either Grey-man or Staff-man. The people of Rohan called him Greyhame, which means Greycloak, as well as The White Rider when he rode his horse Shadowfax. He was also given names such as Stormcrow and Láthspell (ill-news) in reference to the fact that he often appeared at tense times bringing troubling news. Hence, his visits were often seen as a bad omen, even though he himself was there to provide assistance. In Tolkien’s earlier works, his name was Bladorthin, while Gandalf was the name of the character who eventually was named Thorin Oakenshield. Bladorthin instead became the name of an obscure king of a great region that traded with Erebor; his race and the location of his kingdom aren’t given by Tolkien and have sparked much speculation and debate among scholars.
In addition to the Elessar, Gandalf also possessed the sword Glamdring, which allegedly once belonged to king Turgon of Gondolin. He also wielded Narya, The Ring of Fire, one of the three elven rings of power which was given to him when he arrived in Middle-earth by Cirdan the Shipwright, who recognized his divine nature despite his elderly appearance. His possession of it became known to Saruman and was another source of his resentment towards Gandalf.
Olórin/Gandalf played a major role in the War of the Ring, and his most notable actions included guiding the Fellowship, freeing King Theoden from Saruman’s influence, rescuing Faramir from Osgiliath and later from his own father, leading the defense of Minas Tirith, and rescuing Frodo and Sam from Mount Doom. After the War of the Ring was over, he crowned Aragorn king of the reunited realms of Gondor and Arnor. He later spent an extended time visiting with Tom Bombadil before he eventually returned to Valinor along with Elrond, Galadriel, Bilbo, and Frodo.
He could be stern and temperamental at times, but he also had a jovial side which he may have picked up from the large amount of time he spent among hobbits. He enjoyed smoking pipeweed and blowing smoke rings, and he was associated with celebrations due to his impressive fireworks. Gandalf was also well attuned to nature and was said to have an even better relationship with birds then his friend Radagast the Brown.
