Sauron's age

[The Evenstar]

Hey!

I decided to start a discussion on the length of time Sauron had been existing for. Since the beginning of time? Was he, perhaps, created at some stage? Who knows? Let's try and find out together.

[Phrim]

Sauron was, as many people will tell you, one of the Maiar. Here is what Tolkien writes of the origins of the Maiar in the Valaquenta:

With the Valar came other spirits whose being also began before the World, of the same order as the Valar but of less degree. These are the Maiar, the people of the Valar, and their servants and helpers. Their number is not known to the Elves, and few have names in any of the tongues of the Children of Ilúvatar; for though it is otherwise in Aman, in Middle-earth the Maiar have seldom appeared in form visible to Elves and Men.

As such, Sauron would be older than the earth, just like the other Valar and Maiar.

[Dondagnirion]

I have to agree with Phrim here. He is older than the earth, as old as Manwe or as Tulkas or as Yavanna. He is really old is the bottom line.

Dondagnirion