Maiar in physical form
 

Hey everybody. This is my first time here and I was wondering if anyone could explain something to me. I know that by taking physical form the Istari were reduced in power. However, why was Sauron more powerful in physical form, for example in the battle with the Last Alliance or as Wolf-Sauron, than in his original spirit form as the Eye of Sauron? Since they are both Maiar, why were the Istari less powerful as physical beings and more powerful as spirits, and Sauron was less powerful as a spirit and more powerful as a physical being? Were the Istari simply holding back as commanded by the Valar? Was it simply in the fact that they chose the forms of old men instead of serpents or wolves like Sauron? If anyone could help me figure this out, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks a bunch.

Interesting point, while the Valar commanded the istari not to challange Sauron directly, it doesn't mean that they were any less powerful in any form. I think Sauron was less powerful in spirit form, because he mingled his blood with the ring, so to speak. He could only regain full strength if he got the ring back. I think the Istari are the same height in power in any form, the Valar only told them not to challange Sauron directly, but let the people of middle earth defeat him themselves. I also think they chose old men, is because the elders symbolize wiseness.

hope this helps!

So, that Valar did not allow the Istari to reveal themselves in all their majesty.

As for Sauron being weaker while in spirit form, he had put much of his power into the One Ring, so his spirit was much less powerful as before. Also, he was killed at the end of the Second Age, which means that it was much harder for him to rebuilt his body than when he had relinquished his body out of himself.
Furthermore, incarnated Maiar (Valar also btw) tend to get to love their bodies so much (when they wear it long that they are much more connected to it and even depending on it and can't do without it (see also Morgoth). So, the first thing Sauron would do when loosing his body is to try and rebuilt his body, which takes a lot of (spiritual) energy. During the Third Age it took even longer, because he had lost his Ring.

also, Sauron's real or "spiritial" form was not the great eye, the Aniur's(Valar and Miar) real forms were not visible, except for maybe a white/light light blue or red almost translucent flame.

I agree that Sauron's blodd mingled with the ring and he needed it to regain the strength he once had.

Well could the flaming eye be a mix of his spiritual form and his translucent flame form? (just giving it a name, so sue me) Since he was building up his body again. But why would he stay as the great eye? He didn't need the ring to get his body back. I mean we aren't talking something lame as Voldemort here. So why didn't he take physical form yet? If he had the strength to rebuild Barad-Dur and an army great enough to conquer Middle-Earth, why not make a body?

~Potatothan

hey breakfast......in my forum Evil Things i talk about Maiar in physical form (eg. the ones who joined Morgoth)

I don't think that Sauron could regain his lost physical forms. I seem to remember a passage that says at the fall of Numenor, he lost his shape and could no longer appear fair to the eyes of men. That seems to suggest that he could not make that form again. I know that this is found in the Silmarillion, but I don't remember the exact text, and I don't have a copy handy. If someone could find that passage, that would be great. :D

As to being less powerful, I think that it is somewhat coincedental. In one instance, he needed to take the form of a wolf, because that was the only creature that would defeat Huor(I think that's his name). Other times, I think he thought that fear was more important than being powerful, after all, he could easily defeat many people with only a fraction of his power. But I also agree that the ring took some of his spiritual power.

Since we are on the topic of the Maiar I would like to ask a question about Melian. Why was she so different from the wizards?

She took on her physical body voluntarily just as any other Ainur could...not being evil or sent on a specific mission with restrictions on use of power, she was free to do whatever she desired.

Sauron's form
 

Indeed he couldn't appear "fair" but could appear then. Just not in a nice gentle form. But since he already took the form of an evil eye, no need to appear suddenly fair now would there?

~Potatothan

Yeah that's what I meant, not only did he lose that particular form, but it seems that he lost any that could be considered fair. (Although I do think that a flaming eye is pretty cool) But I don't know that that would have decreased his power.