Monday - Wednesday

In the beginning, Iluvatar (aka Eru) created the Universe and Arda (Earth). THe Valar, who are the powers of Arda came to Arda as guardians, to govern it for Iluvatar. There were originally 15: Manwe, Varda, Aule, Yavanna, Namo, Vaire, Irmo, Este, Nienna, Ulmo, Orome, Vana, Tulkas, Nessa, and Melkor. Howewver, Melkor, who is considered to be the mightiest of the Valar, is no longer counted among the them, due to reasons we will not discuss in this class. With the Valar came the Maiar, who are the helpers of the Valar. One of the Maiar is called Sauron, and he was originally created by Aule. Sauron is also known as Gorthaur, and he served Melkor.

Because Sauron craved power, he created rings of power and distributed them to the different races of Middle Earth. To the Elves he gave 3 rings of power, to the Dwarves he gave 7, and to the Men he gave 9. Afterwards, he created one ring that would rule all of the others, and in this way he seized power. On the ring it is inscribed:

Ash nazg durbatuluk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatuluk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul, which is translated as

One ring to rule them all, One ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

This ring was created in Morder, in Mount Doom, where the hottest flame lies. Because of this, the ring can only be destroyed whence it cam from. No other flame is hot enough to melt it. The only thing that happens when the ring is touched by fire is that the words that were originally inscribed on it will be seen again. It is thought that Sauron created the ring, inscribed the passage, and then coated it with a different metal that had a lower melting point, so that it gleamed red when fire touched it, even though the original metal didn't change at all. Although the one ring brings power when Sauron wears it, it serves no other master. When anyone else puts the ring on, the only thing it will do is make the wearer become invisible.

Applications and Influences: The one ring lead to the discovery of using two different materials in the same piece of jewelry. This technique is used often in modern Middle Earth to create wedding rings, earrings, rings, etc. The one ring also lead to the discovery of using steel instead of copper and lead, as it has a higher melting point and requires a higher temperature for it to be destroyed.

Invisibility is now a popular topic, and unfortunately, the way Sauron made people invisible is not widely known. However, it did lead to the invention of the invisibility cloak, which is used so lovingly by Harry Potter. Mad-eye Moody owns the record high: 2.

Friday

Iluvatar created his first children, the Elves, who lived originally in Valinor. However, they were banished, and lived in Middle Earth.  Elves are immortal. Iluvatar then rested before creating his second children, the Men, but Aule got impatient and created the Dwarves from stone. Afterwards, Iluvatar created the Men, and instead of making them immortal, he gave them what he called his "gift": Mortality.

Prominent Elves: Galadriel, Elrond, Arwen, Feanor

Prominent Men: Aragorn, Theoden

Coming soon...