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Gandalf The Grey/White

Estimated at 15,000 years old (following his quote "300 lives of men, I have walked this earth"), It says that Gandalf was the wisest of the Maiar. There were a lot of Maiar that were considered really great and powerful. What's the source for the "wisest" claim?

74.205.176.200 15:41, July 19, 2013 (UTC) I know I'm not a member or anything, but Gandalf's real name isn't Stormcrow, that's just a stupid name people call him when they don't want to see him.

Was Gandalf the White really invincible to mortal weapons? I dont remember anything about that and it does not really make much sence. Mankoi 15:04, 26 January 2006 (UTC) In "The Two Towers" at Fangorn Forest when he reappears to Aragorn, Legolas, & Gimli, he states after they make their greetings "that none of you has any weapon that may harm me". Its also important to note that while in the Movie, Aragorn had not received Anduril yet, in the Books it had already been Re-Forged and he ws carrying it when it erupted with flame at their encounter. Also, not previously mentioned, Gandalf the Grey states at the Doors Of Moria while pondering the "Word Of Opening"- "Mellon", "that he once knew all the spells of Elves, Orcs, & Men." This then presumes that there was other Spellcasters in Middle Earth before the Istari arrived and while they were there; and that Gandalf has far more spells than those listed, but as was part of Gandalf's character, he did not immediately resort to Magik to solve his or the parties problems.(216.228.185.108 00:06, July 1, 2012 (UTC)) Korum Emrys. 17:05, 30th June 2012 (UTC)

I doubt it. Ive removed it Gimli 23:35, 26 January 2006 (UTC)
  • Gandalf the White was invincible to mortal weapons as is stated in the refrence book: 'The Lord of the Rings, Weapons and Warfare' so I have added the statement again.--Darth Mantus 20:03, 27 January 2006 (UTC) See Above.
Actually, Gandalf was an Istar, which means he is one of the Ainur. As such, he is not able to "die", as long as the World lasts (like all Ainur and like the Quendi--except Luthien and Half-elves that chose mortality). Nonetheless, Istari were suffering the pains and emotions of the Children of Iluvatar (reference to Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien needed). Gandalf could be injured and could have his body "destroyed" (the same for the Quendi). The spirits of the Istari (as well as the Quendi) do not die. But while Quendi can only reappear and integrate a new body in Aman (Heaven) after their "death", Istari can reenter the world after being separated from their body for a while, like Gandalf being "slain" by the Balrog, and reappearing (and also like Sauron being submerged by the cataclism that changed Arda into a sphere at the end of Second Age). So I would not say he is invincible, but he is deathless indeed (doomed to be alive untill the End of the World). --Athyndmion 16:49, 19 June 2006 (UTC)
i agree. Otherwise, he would not have died and come back- I remember reading that maia and Istar could only be slain by a Vala, and a Vala could never be slain. --81.77.217.161 14:14, 4 November 2007 (UTC)
gandalf ,being an istar, has no permanent form but he is an istar so he can change form and while his form may be destroyed he may just make a new form, i think... 174.98.77.121 17:13, January 29, 2013 (UTC)

Length

Am I the only one that thinks this article is rather short? I figure anyone who has read the novels or seen the movies knows who Gandalf is, but over at Wookieepedia the article for main characters, such as Luke Skywalker, are quite long. Duke Starhopper 00:54, 28 February 2006 (UTC)

I agree, it seems that the only real contributions made to this wiki are the countless pictures from the films. I love the films, bu I feel that more articles would make this wiki much better and more informative. Quidon88 16:06, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
The difference, I feel, is that LOTR doesn't have/permit stories to be written and published by other authors currently. Star Wars does, which is what contributes so much of the extra material at Wookieepedia, not particularly active fans(Although I am responding to a comment 2 years old...), or a lack of information on our part. Keeping OWtRTA canon means that at this stage we have to exclude anything not written by the master and his family, for good and ill. For good fanfiction that deserves to be properly edited and published, read the main story cycle of The Mellon Chronicles.MyrddinDerwydd 06:37, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

quotes

There are a lot of great quotes we can use for Gandalf but wich ones should we use and were in the article, here are some I think are good. - User:Dwarves

  • So do I, and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.|
  • Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death and judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play yet, for good or ill before this is over. The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.
  • There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming.
  • The battle of Helm's Deep is over; the battle for Middle Earth is about to begin.
  • I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now - at the turn of the tide.
These are all excellent. Perhaps there should be a quotes section in the article itself as well as the quote at the top Gimli 13:04, 7 January 2007 (UTC)
i think it should be number 3 or 1. 174.98.77.121 17:15, January 29, 2013 (UTC)

Vanalised?

there are parts of this article that doesn't make sense, most notably, according to this, Gandalf says to the Fellowship just as he is dragged into the abyss by the Balrog "Fly, your fools"? Fly, surely it should say run?

No,he actually said "Fly." TheGreyPilgrim|Talk|Contribs|Edits 04:46, 15 February 2008 (UTC)

  • Yes,fly in the sense of fleeing.Sochwa 23:09, 12 December 2008 (UTC)

That is a good quote, please do not ruin one of my favorite character's quotes. He said, "Fly, fools, fly!" And then he disappeared into the abyss.{{SUBST:User:Pikdude/sig}} 19:36, December 20, 2009 (UTC)

  • he says "fly you fools"

he said fly possibly becasue he meant fly as is running with great speed or fly like flight as in escape but yes he said fly. Tolkien uses the word fly as in escape many times in the book. 174.98.77.121 17:09, January 29, 2013 (UTC)

Books vs Movies

In the article some parts are taken from the movies which contradicts the books. Pippen did not light the beacons for exemple. What is the policy about contradicions like this? Scafloc 17:04, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

I dont often edit here, I usually go to Tolkien Gateway, but I would say throw up a noncanon tag when anything from other media contradicts anything from the books.--Quidon88 20:06, 15 June 2008 (UTC)

Furthermore, the witch-king never challenged Gandalf and DID NOT break his staff. Actually, in the books, Gandalf challenged and threatened the witch-king at the Gates on Minas Tirith until Rohan intervened

And on the decision to enter Moria, the article says that Gandalf was hesitant... in the book it was Gandalf's preferred route

Abracadbra

Where does the notion of Gandalf being unable to open doors come from? Is there any citation for it or is this simple vandalism? Sochwa 23:07, 12 December 2008 (UTC)

At first, Gandalf is unable to open the doors to Moria, but then he figures it out. That may have originated from that.{{SUBST:User:Pikdude/sig}} 19:39, December 20, 2009 (UTC)

where are ypu getting this he only couldt open the mines of moria doors cause of the password 174.98.77.121 17:07, January 29, 2013 (UTC)

Reborn?

What is this nonsense under "Different Titles":

Fatidiot1234 19:24, December 29, 2009 (UTC)

Gandalf is killed by the Balrog and is reborn as Gandalf the White. Gandalf was never "The Brown" nor The Blue, he was the Grey, and more recently, the White, surpassing and unseating Saruman when he officially shatters his Staff.{{SUBST:User:Pikdude/sig}} 15:21, January 3, 2010 (UTC)

Thank you very much for dealing with this. Fatidiot1234 17:25, January 3, 2010 (UTC)

You're welcome, No one messes with my favorite character anyway.{{SUBST:User:Pikdude/sig}} 18:03, January 3, 2010 (UTC)

No these were different wizards-The Brown being Radagast, The Blue Wizards being Alatar & Pallando

The 5 Istari Wizards of Middle Earth

Saruman the White

Gandalf the Grey

Radagrast the Brown

Alatar the Blue

Pallando the Blue

Alatar the Blue & Pallando The Blue were said to have gone to the East shortly after their arrival in Middle Earth with Saruman; To help rally the Races Of the East & The South Against Sauron; and possibly taught Magik & other Skills to those in Rhun, the Far Harad and Beyond...There is No Reason to believe that either of them were Evil in any sense, but like Radagast they had different priorities when they arrived and found other purposes in which to put their respective talents. While Gandalf the Grey was considered the least of the Istari at their arrival according to Cirdan the Shipwright, he, Gandalf would one day be the greatest of them. " in Gandalf his great wisdom and humble nature. Welcoming him with reverence, Cirdan bestowed upon the wizard the Third Elven Ring, Narya, also known as the Ring of Fire. He told Gandalf:

"Great labours and perils lie before you, and lest your task prove too great and wearisome, take this Ring for your aid and comfort. It was entrusted to me only to keep secret, and here upon the West-shores it is idle; but I deem that in days ere long to come it should be in nobler hands than mine, that may wield it for the kindling of all hearts to courage."[1]Though Gandalf would keep the Ring secret until the end, Saruman somehow became aware of Cirdan's gift and it sparked a jealousy and resentment that the White Wizard would always harbor against him. Narya likely assisted Gandalf in his talent for creating the delightful marvel of his fireworks displays. The wizard's warm and eager spirit was also enhanced by the Ring of Fire and, as an enemy of Sauron, he contrasted "the fire that devours and wastes with the fire that kindles, and succours in wanhope and distress".

Both Alatar & Pallando were more powerful then Gandalf at their arrival, but of their powers we have little idea except for those talents which all of The Istari seem to have in common. Also, Gandalf was probably the only one with specific talents developed in the Element Fire so well developed; most likely due to his possession of Narya, the Ring Of Fire, the gift of Cirdan at the Arrival Of The Istari whe it was gifted. It is likely though that each did have an area of expertise though so while Radagast dealt in magic related to Nature and Animals, Gandalf to Fire and Protection/Defense, its just as likely that Pallando & Alatar had their own specialties as did Saruman. However, some of this changes in a text written in the last year or two of Tolkien's life (published in The Peoples of Middle-earth) of 1968. They are said to have arrived not in the Third Age, but in the Second, around the year 1600, the time of the Forging of the One Ring. Their mission was to travel to the east and weaken the forces of Sauron. And it is here said that the Wizards far from failed; rather, they, the Two Blue Wizards had a pivotal role in the victories of the West at the end of both the Second and the Third Ages. At the same time, Tolkien considered the possibility that Glorfindel arrived back in Middle-earth along with the Blue Wizards. On this later, more positive interpretation, the Blue Wizards may have been as successful as Gandalf, just located in a different theatre beyond the borders of the map in The Lord of the Rings. [6](216.228.185.108 00:28, July 1, 2012 (UTC)) (216.228.185.108 16:13, July 2, 2012 (UTC) Korum Emrys)216.228.185.108 16:41, July 2, 2012 (UTC)

Does gandalf have kids

when i was listening to the full trilogy audio book i thought i heard in gandalf's letter " lean tall dark my son calls him strider" so does that mean he has kids or or the voices so dam quiet i can barley hear them


it actually says "by some called strider"

Promo Image as infobox image

I'm not a regular contributer to the LotR Wikia, but on other Wikias I edit on, promo picks aren't generally used as images on pages, as they look unprofessional. For this reason I have changed the image back to the one it was before. --Ima Wiz Iway amway Imagineway Izardway. 18:04, July 17, 2010 (UTC)

Gandalf's age

Gandalf was thousands of years old.

"300 lives of men i've walked this earth and now i have no time" —The preceding unsigned comment was summoned by 66.203.162.9 (talkcontribs) 19:14, 9. Jun. 2011.

I don't know what he says exactly in the english movie, but the german translation means "300 generations". --Weas-El  19:36, June 9, 2011 (UTC)
Maybe "300 lives of men"? --Weas-El  19:38, June 9, 2011 (UTC)
Whatever he says, in the books it says he is thousands of years old, so that is what matters. LurkerLordB 21:39, June 10, 2011 (UTC)
I think it is important he says this earth. He obviously doesn't mean Arda but Middle-earth and that wouldn't include Valinor where he lived before he came as one of the Istari to Middle-earth. (--Jo_Took) Well said and Agreed!!! While in the stables in Rohan he says is " 300 Lifetimes of Men I Have walked this earth and Now, I have no Time!" He arrived in S.A. 1600- The Date Of The Forging Of The One Ring & The Rings Of Power, & was present until the beginning of the Fourth Age, so per both The Silmarillion and The Trilogy, Tolkien is specific in this. Over 2000 years he's in Middle Earth we know for sure, but less time there than Elrond or Galadriel were. (216.228.185.108 00:38, July 1, 2012 (UTC)) Korum Emrys 17:38 30 June 2012 Tolkien's Elves were Immortal, only dying in battle, or when the weariness of life over took them. They were immune to diseases of any kind and neither their limbs nor mental faculties never weakened once fully matured. From visual appearances they aged in appearance only 1 year for every 100 they lived after reaching maturity, usually at around 200 yrs old. (216.228.185.108 15:57, July 2, 2012 (UTC) Korum Emrys)
he is obviously is older in reality than he is in middle earth because he hails from the undyings lands and is pretty much the equevilent of a angel but he is thought to be about 2019 or so cause techichly he would be the same age as sarumon and in the top trumps game sarumon is 2019 just a hypothesis
174.98.77.121 18:36, January 25, 2013 (UTC)

Why was Bilbo chosen? I've read this page and I still don't understand why did he pick Bilbo out of anyone?

he probobly sesnes something in him and there is the potential burgeler in bilbo 174.98.77.121 16:29, January 25, 2013 (UTC)

Obviously, because he thought Bilbo had "the right stuff" for the job. - Gradivus, 17:46, January 25, 2013 (UTC)
He had met Bilbo when the hobbit was younger (see the first chapter of The Hobbit). Back then, Bilbo was unusually adventurous for a young hobbit. Gandalf seems quite disappointed that Bilbo grew out of that wonderlust, but I imagine since Gandalf has been around for so long he probably knows that burried feelings are still there. And nothing brings out your inner self like an adventure! - Chrono, September 1, 2014

Actor's that played him

In The Two Towers when he became Gandalf the White, he was Voiced by Christopher Lee, to throw people off that it was him should he be listed under actor as actor: Christopher Lee (Voice only)? 156.33.195.254 18:10, June 9, 2012 (UTC) 

More like both Lee and McKellen's both played at the same time, with Lee's vocals being louder until "the day before yesterday" as it fades out.86.130.153.196 19:13, July 4, 2013 (UTC)

staff

why is gandalfs staff different in the hobbit. cause in the lords of the rings it looks more like radagast but in the hobbit it looks more like a wooden flame. 174.98.77.121 16:28, January 25, 2013 (UTC)

First of all, in the movies Peter Jackson was able to change anything he wanted if he thought it would look better dramatically. As far as the books were concerned, first of all, remember that the events of The Hobbit occurred almost 70 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings, so it's quite possible Gandalf replaced the physical staff with another one in the intervening time. Remember that the power of the staff did not necessarily originate in the material itself; his staff was used as a focus for Gandalf's "magical" (i.e., otherwise unexplained) abilities. Second, remember that Gandalf's staff broke when he was fighting the Balrog in the mines of Moria, and he had to have another one made later (presumably in Lothlorien). - Gradivus, 17:45, January 25, 2013 (UTC)
just wondering because in the deleted scene in return of the king sarumon mentenoned something about the five rods of the wizards wich would incinuate they each only had one and it does seem that thier staff holds some magical powers like when radagast used the crystel in his staff to absorb the dark magic in the porcupine and how at first gandalf does not have one (a crystel) but later he did and there would seem no reason to change the staff in the 60 years unless it was broken like against the balrog. 174.98.77.121 18:32, January 25, 2013 (UTC)
and lastly should there not be mention of the change when it talks about his staff or just copletly ignore this fact and move on?174.98.77.121 17:19, January 29, 2013 (UTC)

the moth

I heard that the moth came as a messanger and gandalf gave the message and the moth took it to radagast and radagast sent the eagle to gandalf on isengard but thats not what it says here why? 174.98.77.121 15:13, January 30, 2013 (UTC)

Gandalf's eyes

I don't recall seeing anywhere that Gandalf's eyes are blue. They are in the movie, as Ian McKellan has blue eyes. "The Fellowship of the Ring" states "In his aged face under great snowy brows his dark eyes were set like coals that could leap suddenly into fire." Just a small inconsistency that I noticed in his description. The page is locked so I can't change it. If someone who has permission could change it, it'd be nice, just for the sake of accuracy. 71.234.186.245 19:20, April 21, 2013 (UTC)

Tengwar page header

Gandalf tengwar

How in Arda did this "tengwar" name get approved to be part of the page on Gandalf?! The font is horrible with some letters even being backward, and the name isn't even spelled correctly. It really hurts the credibility of this wiki to allow this picture on here. Anyone who knows even the slightest about Tengwar could see how inaccurate this picture is.

Cillendor (talk) 22:33, May 16, 2013 (UTC)

Edit: I changed the image file to a correct spelling in a font that doesn't have some of the letters backward.

Cillendor (talk) 22:42, May 16, 2013 (UTC)

Massive Cleanup

Following Gradivus' note about cleanup, may I suggest that we remove the headers "Weak" and "Strong" under the Magical Abilities section? Most of these abilities are based on the games and films. And may I also suggest that we strip off some parts of the Video game appearances? I mean, come on, that section covers half of his page which is not even canon. Gandalf's role in the games should be as brief as the one in Legolas's page. Darkchylde (talkcontribs) 05:20, December 26, 2013 (UTC)

What Darkchylde said. Frankly, I'd be happy to see the entire "Magical Abilities" section disappear in a puff of virtual smoke. I don't think it belongs here at all. - Gradivus, 15:22, December 26, 2013 (UTC)
Yes, the Magical Abilities section and Video game appearances. I don't understand why that section is more detailed than the canon.  Darkchylde (talkcontribs) 05:03, December 27, 2013 (UTC)

At least one, if not more, instances of 'then' should be changed to 'than'.

Gandalf = Wand-Elf?

The source for this isn't tagged, so I was curious where this definition comes from. It states that it is a Quenya name given by the Noldor, which makes me wonder why isn't it a Noldorin name? Gandel in Noldorin means harp, and gannada- means to play a harp, while alf means swan. From Noldorin Gandalf would roughly translate to either "swan playing a harp" -- yes, it's weird, there would be a funny story there -- or "harp swan." 

Meanwhile I cannot find either gand or alf in actual known Quenya using internet sources. Using those same sources, Wand-Elf in Quenya should be Olwenquendë literally, or Olwenelda colloquially ("Wand of the Stars," as most references to elves in Quenya references the Eldar, "of the stars," specifically).

However, it seems to me the name actually originates from Old English and Germanic sources. Gand could come from gander, a male goose, however also used in slang as a long look since 1886, and to wander foolishly prior, since the 1680's. Alf on the other hand may be derived from the word elf which is derived from Old Saxon alf meaning evil spirit, goblin, incubus. This would make his name more akin to "Wandering Trickster," which is really quite appropriate. This also makes me think that Gandalf was originally meant to be the name given to him by Men, likely chosen prior to the development of the Westron dialects -- or perhaps even the "English translation" of his Westron name.

So, etemologically, I cannot find any evidence to support Gandalf meaning Wand-Elf in Quenya, or really being a Quenyan name at all. Also, the elves seem to generally use his Sindarin name Mithrandir instead of Gandalf, which they would be less likely to do if it was truly a Quenyan name. So, could someone direct me to the source of the naming of Gandalf? Phoenixdaisy (talk) 22:02, May 21, 2015 (UTC)

I was on Gandalf's page on Tolkien Gateway today, and according to it Gandalf was the name given to him by the Men of Arnor. This makes more sense with the Old English/Germanic etemologic exploration I walked through above. I also discovered that Gandalf, along with many names used by Tolkien for dwarves, comes directly from the Dvergatal.
Phoenixdaisy (talk) 19:14, June 20, 2015 (UTC)
Except again, I've found another section with more information. At least now I know that Gandalf meaning "Wand-Elf" is 1) not Quenyan, but a name translation from an old northern Mannish language, meaning Gandalf is the English translation of his old Mannish name, and 2) this information came from the legendarium. I am going to remove the incorrect note that Gandalf is Quenya from the actual page now.
Phoenixdaisy (talk) 06:24, August 24, 2015 (UTC)
Now it says that the Noldor gave him the name Gandalf, but Gandalf is in fact Westron (Unfinished Tales 506) given to him by the Men of the West. Of course the actual name Gandalf is Norse meaning 'elf of the wand' but Tolkien explains this by saying that it is a representation in the text.
24.246.92.16 23:59, September 3, 2015 (UTC)Pellaaearien
Yeah, I saw the note that the Noldor gave him the name Gandalf, which was why I looked up Noldorian in my initial attempts to figure out how in the world Gandalf meant Wand-Elf. Thanks for the Norse translation, by the way, I hadn't bothered looking it up after discovering it had come from the Dvergatal.
Since Gandalf arrived in Middle Earth in TA 1000 and Westron is a Third Age language that started in the western coastlands, it would be believable that he was given a Westron name. However, another note I'm seeing is that Olórin got the name Gandalf at the same time Círdan gave him the ring Narya (LotR Appendix B, "The Third Age"), but as the Shipwright is Sinda, not Noldor, that doesn't explain that part, either.
Phoenixdaisy (talk) 00:30, September 4, 2015 (UTC)
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