Character Bios
Morgoth
Meaning: dark enemy
Other Names: Melkor ('he who arises in might') , Morgoth Bauglir, Black Foe of the World
Location(s): Eä, Arda, Aman, Valinor
Race/Species: Ainur
Type/Kind: Vala
Title(s): Dark Lord
Dates: earliest beginnings - banished to the Void FA 583
Parents: Eru Ilúvatar (creator)
Siblings: Manwe (Melkor's brother in the mind of Ilúvatar)
Description:
'When... Earth was yet young and full of flame Melkor coveted it, and he said to the other Valar: "This shall be my own kingdom; and I name it unto myself."... Then Melkor saw... that the Valar walked on Earth as powers visible, clad in the raiment of the World, and were lovely and glorious to see... His envy grew then... and he also took visible form, but because of his mood and the malice that burned in him that form was dark and terrible. And he descended upon Arda in power and majesty greater than any other of the Valar, as a mountain that wades in the sea and has its head above the clouds and is clad in ice and crowned with smoke and fire; and the light of the eyes of Melkor was like a flame that withers with heat and pierces with a deadly cold."
The Silmarillion, Ainulindale
"...But Melkor was also there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark. And they told that Melkor had broken the stronghold of Formenos, and taken all the jewels of the Noldor that were hoarded in that place; and the Silarils were gone.
Then Fëanor rose, and lifting up his hand before Manwe he cursed Melkor, naming him Morgoth, the Black Foe of the World; and by that name only was he known to the Eldar ever after. "
The Silmarillion, QS Ch 9, Of the Flight of the Noldor
"... though his might was greatest of all things in this world, alone of the Valar he knew fear."... "Morgoth came, climbing slowly from his subterranean throne, and the rumour of his feet was like thunder underground. And he issued forth clad in black armour; and he stood before the King [Fingolfin] like a tower, iron-crowned, and his vast shield... cast a shadow over him like a stormcloud."
After Fingofin hewed his foot, Morgoth went ever lame, and in his face was the scar Thorondor made when he seized the King's dead body.
The Silmarillion, QS, Ch. 18 Of the ruin of Beleriand)
As 'Morgoth', when Melkor was confronted by the existence of other inhabitants of Arda, with other wills and intelligences, he was enraged by the mere fact of their existence, and his only notion of dealing with them was by physical force, or the fear of it. His sole ultimate object was their destruction."
By the time of the War of the Jewels, he was completely bound to his physical form.
Morgoth's Ring, HoMe 10, Myths transformed.
Contributors:
Levade, 01.12.03; Finch, 01.12.03