Eagles: Great Heros Of Middle Earth

[Lord of Angmar]

Hail to the Lords of Angmar, for
we are the true power!

Hear, hear! So true, Marroc! [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Eagles definately have a special meaning in Tolkien's world, more so than any other 'real' animal. Many times in the Silmarillion they show up at need, to whisk away an injured Man or Elf or too keep watch over a guarded realm. As Amarie says, they are also saviors in the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings, in the Battle of Five Armies, the escape of Gandalf, the reincarnation of Gandalf, and at the Field of Cormallen. Many of Tolkien's main characters owe their lives to an eagle coming by at the right moment. There are too many to name!

Whether this was symbology for hope or that eagles represented a consistent (and 'holy', because of their link to Manwe) guardianship over the doings of Middle Earth, eagles certainly do play an important part. I daresay things would be very different if it wasn't for the eagles stepping in now and then!