The Animal Ainur
There are multiple mighty beasts that show up in Tolkien’s writings, and their exact role in the hierarchy of Arda changed over time. They are usually much larger than normal members of their species, and some of them are able to speak. At one stage in Tolkien’s works, these characters were seen as Maiar who had taken an animal instead of humanoid or elvish appearance. An example of this is a quote regarding the eagles from an early version of The Silmarilion that states: “Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world.”
Similarly, a quote relating to the hound Huan says:
“As the Valar would robe themselves like the Children, many of the Maiar robed themselves like other lesser living things, as trees, flowers, beasts.”
The problem with the concept was that Thorondor of the eagles and the steed Nahar had descendants, and Tolkien had already decided that the Ainur (with the exception of Melian) wouldn’t have children. So it was decided that while these special creatures were empowered by the Valar with special gifts, they were still creatures, and didn’t have souls/spirits like the Ainur and the Children of Illuvatar.
Characters in this post are:
Huan, the Hound of the Valar
Thorondor (also called Sorontar), the King of the Eagles
Nahar, the Steed of Oromë
Uin, the Oldest of Whales
Gorgumoth, the Hound of Mandos
