[Afrodal Fenyar]

And of 2nd and 3rd Ages I post another reply.

At the 2nd Age many great persons still lived.

Ar-Pharazon of Nümenor was a great king, but actually had no power himself.
Galadriel was the second powerful of the noldor.
Gil-Galad was surely a mighty king, and had some might himself, too.
Elrond was very wise and powerful too, surely, but I think not greater than Gil-Galad or Galadriel.
Celebrimbor was a great crafter.
Círdan was very wise, but not very powerful, I think.
Elendil was a great Man, and had probably great power of will, for it is said that he could turn the palantír even to the tower of Avallone in Eressea.
Sauron, with the ring, was very powerful, though not in the art of war, it seems, for he lost to Elendil and Gil-Galad. And I believe the mightiest of the Second Age was Sauron, but of the good, I think Elendil. The Men of Nümenor were great.

And the Third Age. Galadriel and Elrond still dwelt in Middle-Earth, and the istari came. Sauron was only a shadow, and even when he rose again, he was not as powerful as he was with the ring.
Aragorn had great will of power too, like Elendil, but surely not so great. He was still able to resist Sauron, who corrupted even Saruman, much more older, wiser and greater than Aragorn.

Galadriel, perhaps. She was maybe even greater than Sauron, or at least equal to him, I think.
Sauron or Galadriel was the mightiest. Or so I believe.

Gandalf himself said that the Black was greater than him, so it cannot be him.

Of the good, Galadriel, probably.

[ October 19, 2002: Message edited by: Afrodal Fenyar ]