Sauron and Istari

[Calacirya]

Originally Posted by Zigûr

The quotes we've examined here from the letters and so on, however, imply if not outright state that Sauron knew or at least accurately guessed that the Wizards had come from Aman, although he believed that they had been sent to exert Manwë's will over Middle-earth and not, as was actually the case, to assist Men and Elves in resisting him. He must surely have assumed they were Maiar; what else could they have conceivably been?

Excellent point. Through what I can tell, there aren't any specific writings acknowledging Sauron's knowing what the Istari are. Sauron knows who the Valar are, and wouldn't be threatened by even a high elf, so it absolutely only makes sense if he assumed (even if it's not stated) that the Istari must be Maiar.

Originally Posted by Zigûr

Were some Maiar scarcely more powerful than Elf-lords? Perhaps even, in some respects, weaker? This might explain why Sauron was not threatened by their presence if he understood their nature (if not their intentions or purpose).

I wish this had been something that Tolkien capitalized on more. I would have like to have seen a more flushed out hierarchy of the Maiar. I highly doubt that any Maia would be weaker than an elf. But, I must concede, that it does not explicitly state whether or not they could be so speculation holds no true merit.

Originally Posted by Zigûr

I don't believe Sauron would have hunted the Ring personally in any event. He did almost nothing personally in the Third Age.

And that was just hilarious, that got me laughing. Mostly because I agree. He had no reason to, either. He had the power and the resources to not have to hunt on his own. When the Nazgûl for all intents and purposes are nine versions of him that can be running around hunting, there's no reason for Sauron to be a moving target running across Middle Earth. Anywhere far from his stronghold would have quickly lost him access to his allies North and South of Mordor.

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by Calacirya

And that was just hilarious, that got me laughing. Mostly because I agree. He had no reason to, either. He had the power and the resources to not have to hunt on his own. When the Nazgûl for all intents and purposes are nine versions of him that can be running around hunting, there's no reason for Sauron to be a moving target running across Middle Earth. Anywhere far from his stronghold would have quickly lost him access to his allies North and South of Mordor.

I believe that there might be a combination of two main reasons for Sauron's operating through agents in the Third Age. The first was that, as you've stated, it was unnecessary most of the time, and that he needed to have central access to his entire empire - all roads ran to Mordor, as it were, from which he governed both his own realms and those of the lands of Men which he had enslaved.

Secondly, I would argue that Sauron never did anything in person in the Third Age out of fear for his personal safety. Every time Sauron confronted any of his enemies in a contest of arms or combat, he lost. Surely he would not risk his body, so long in the re-shaping after his death at the end of the Second Age, in personal confrontation with any of his enemies. If he did know that Gandalf was a Maia (and I would argue that he probably suspected something of the sort), he presumably considered the Nine, all together or at least several at once, to still be largely sufficient for handling the task. Perhaps the greatest mystery was who possessed Narya - I imagine he anticipated the Nine to have seized the Ring without ever having to approach Rivendell, at which point Elrond was able to put forth the power of an Elven-Ring with some assistance from Gandalf.

Incidentally, he seemingly interrogated Gollum in person, but questions of the whereabouts of the Ring would, I imagine, have been an entirely special case.

[Sarumian]

Originally Posted by Zigûr

I believe that there might be a combination of two main reasons for Sauron's operating through agents in the Third Age. The first was that, as you've stated, it was unnecessary most of the time

Once again, I agree with most of what you say. However, Sauron must have deeply regretted that he was not there that night at Weathertop when five of his most terrible servants missed their chance failing to defeat one strider and four hobbits...

[Sarumian]

Originally Posted by Calacirya

Sauron knows who the Valar are, and wouldn't be threatened by even a high elf, so it absolutely only makes sense if he assumed (even if it's not stated) that the Istari must be Maiar.

I think, Sauron would be threatened by anyone who was able to master The Ring, unless Sauron believed it was totally impossible. I don't think Gandalf and Galadriel were deceived by The Ring to the extant they were incapable of estimating their own potential.

[Calacirya]

Originally Posted by Sarumian

I think, Sauron would be threatened by anyone who was able to master The Ring, unless Sauron believed it was totally impossible. I don't think Gandalf and Galadriel were deceived by The Ring to the extant they were incapable of estimating their own potential.

Sauron wouldn't be threatened by the wearer of the ring at all. Look what it did to Gollum, Bilbo, and Frodo. He created the ring to be debilitating to the wearer, and knew that the ring would make them succumb to his darkness.

And yes, I believe you are right about Gandalf and Galadriel, as they were both put in the path of temptation and both rejected it.