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Old 06-05-2002, 02:53 AM   #20
Sharkû
Hungry Ghoul
 
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Join Date: Jun 2000
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Sting

Quote:
"But the shapes wherein the Great Ones array themselves are not at all times like to the shapes of the kings and queens of the Children of Ilúvatar; for at times they may clothe themselves in their own thought, made visible in forms of majesty and dread." (Ainulindale)
Quote:
"The dealings of the Ainur have indeed been mostly with the Elves, for Ilúvatar made them more like in nature to the Ainur, though less in might and stature;" (Silm. 1)
Quote:
"But the Quendi shall be the fairest of all earthly creatures, and they shall have and shall conceive and bring forth more beauty than all my Children;" (ibid.)
Furthermore, we know of the ambivalent relation of Valar and Elves with Men.
Quote:
" His [Tulkas'] hair and beard are golden, and his flesh ruddy; his weapons are his hands." (Valaquenta)
So: a) The Ainur looked like Elves and Men
b) The Elves are more beautiful and like to the Ainur
c) The Ainur in turn lean more towards Elves
This leads to: => d) it can safely be assumed that the Ainur took rather the form of Elves (cf. also Olórin) than that of Men
e) Tulkas had a beard
Together with d), e) leads to f) (less likely, but an interesting speculation) Tulkas was a friend of Men, of the Valar the one most concerned about them and/or g) beards were thought to be beautiful and/or h) beards were common enough among Elves even in the vision of things to come the Valar only had in the Ainulindale.
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