How is the Necromancer Sauron?

[Lila Bramble]

I always thought the Necromancer was merely a dark wizard of Mirkwood. Apparently he is Sauron. If Sauron was dead, or spirited, or the Eye, how was he a material being, living and breathing in a human form?

[Elrian]

In the early part of the third Age Sauron dwelt in Dol Gulder in Mirkwood, None knew who he was and thus he was known as the Necromancer, one who can bring back the dead.
Sauron was not killed during the Last Alliance, but when he lost his Ring, his power was seriously weakened so he hid himself until he had enough power to reclaim Mordor which was being guarded. while he stayed in Mirkwood he kept busy by weakening the Dunedain Kingdoms and try to find his Ring.

[Mara Aoife]

Hey, I had a question. It mentions somewhere in The Hobbit (I think) that Gandalf was a prisoner of the Necromancer. Can anyone give me a time for that?

[Elrian]

TA 2850, but Gandalf was not a prisoner, he had snuck into Dol Gulder to find out who the Necromancer really was.

[Mara Aoife]

Okay, thank you!