Sauron the Necromancer | Tolkien Explained

For a period of over 1500 years, Sauron is known as the mysterious "Necromancer" of Dol Guldur. Why does he get this name? What definition of Necromancer is Tolkien using? And does Sauron have power over the dead?
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Sauron - Shadow of War
Sauron in Numenor - Soni Alcorn-Hender
Sauron forging the ring - Marko Manev
sauron, priest of numenor - skullb*st*rd
Nazgul Bowing Before Sauron - Kip Rasmussen
sauron - WETA
sauron - kuliszu
Sauron Brought Werewolves - Peet
werewolf sauron - dracarysdrekkar
The Necromancer of Dol Guldur - Kinko White
sauron before ar-pharazon - Anke Eissman
Fall of Numenor - Alan Lee
traveler to Dol Guldur - Felix Englund
Mirkwood - J.R.R._Tolkien
Sauron - anotherstranger_me
Sauron - Kinko White
DOL-GULDUR - John Howe
Gil-galad, Sauron, Elendil - Tom Romain
spirit of sauron - skullb*st*rd
Dol Guldur - Aronja Art
The White Council - White Council game
The Nine nazgul - Kinko White
dol guldur - Weta
Thror's Map - Alan Lee
thror crown - Weta
thrain - Weta
Thrain Discovers the Lonely Mountain - Ted Nasmith
Thorin Oakenshield - Anke Eissmann
Dol Guldur - Weta
thrain, son of thror - Turner Mohan
Gandalf the Grey - Elrodimus Flash
Gandalf - Elrodimus Flash
The Hobbit - Catherine Karina Chmiel
Gondolin - Alan Lee
necromancer in dol guldur - anotherstranger_me
Professor Tolkien - Kinko White
Dol Guldur - Felix Englund
Mirkwood - Elrodimus Flash
Entering Mirkwood - Ted Nasmith
Huan Subdues Sauron - Ted Nasmith
Fangorn Forest - Ted Nasmith
dol guldur - Matej Cadil
Fantasy forest - Felix Englund
The Spiders of Mirkwood - Ted Nasmith
Witch King of Angmar at Lake Evendim - Kip Rasmussen
the realm of sauron is ended - Matej Cadil
sauron_the_deceiver - skullb*st*rd
The Necromancer - skullb*st*rd
Gandalf, A Light in the Dark - Matthew Stewart
Gandalf - Anke Eissmann
Sauron - Janka Latečková
Sauron - Jerry Vanderstelt
Mouth of Sauron - John Howe
Nazgul - Felix Englund
Pelargir - Lída Holubová
Aragorn and King of the Dead - Jerry Vanderstelt
The King of the Oathbreakers - Ted Nasmith
Nazgul - anotherstranger_me
carcharoth - Alvaro Fernandez Gonzalez
barrow-wight - CK Goksoy
Barrow-Wight - Olanda Fong-Surdenas
Within the Barrow - Olanda Fong-Surdenas
The Barrow-Wight - John Howe
Witch King of Angmar - Peet
sauron army - weta
Fantasy Mountain - Felix Englund
death of feanor - Jenny Dolfen
The Halls of Mandos - Ralph Damiani
Elves - steamey
green elves - Turner Mohan
cuvienen elves - Turner Mohan
Mandos - Anna Kulisz
Oathbreakers - Lída Holubová
After the battle - Marya Filatova
barrow-wight - CK Goksoy
Barrow-Wight - Olanda Fong-Surdenas
ringwraith - Jerry Vanderstelt
Mandos - Ralph Damiani
funeral of haldad, haldar and the men of brethil - steamey
barrow-wight - CK Goksoy
Barrow-Wights - John Howe
barrow-wight - CK Goksoy
The Army of the Dead - John Howe
Morgoth and Sauron - Ralph Damiani
sauron and huan - anotherstranger_me
Sauron in Second Age - Elrodimus Flash
Finrod and Sauron - anotherstranger_me
sauron and the one ring, evil in arda - Sara Morello
#sauron #necromancer #lordoftherings

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks so much for watching & please hit that SUBSCRIBE button! We're inching ever closer to that 1M sub mark - which will call for a livestream of special magnificence (and some nice giveaways!)

[@danishooter7497]

Can you tell me what is that flute song at 3:30? 😮

[@mokeish]

Do Elrond's sons

[@TheBrothersArda]

Done good sir.

[@jamespaternoster7354]

The art work in your videos is off such a great style and mood absolutely brilliant content. So much joy from this channel.

[@govolsfightvolsfight2908]

Please check out my comment on the one ring made on a lathe that actually glows via led!

[@lupinotuumlunam]

It was a misunderstanding. Sauron was giving people hickies in Mirkwood, so he was actually a neck romancer. Very informative episode.

[@josephscott1292]

I mean…at one point during the first age, he *did* take the form of a Vampire.

[@Arley42]

You scumbag...! Now everytime he says it, I hear it your way! 🙉

[@Eventideschildiswickedandwild]

GONE💀

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

A true romantic. He always tried to put a ring on it.

[@jeremymatthies726]

​@@SnakeAndTurtleQigong🤣

[@spitfire4sergi]

Easy to forget it’s THOUSANDS of years between some of these events.. would be like finding out today that the creepy dude in the forest is actually some long forgotten Egyptian pharaoh / Gandalf is the only Egyptologist who could piece it together😳

[@thesinfultictac5704]

The "evil wizard in the woods is actually a Pharaoh" sounds like a story from a pulp magazine like Weird Tales.

[@KayJay940]

​@@thesinfultictac5704na. That was the plot of Moon Knight.

[@thesinfultictac5704]

@@repentandbelieveinJesusChrist8 of all places to find a Bible bot, would not be on a LoTR video or so I thought

[@tc_hansen]

​@@repentandbelieveinJesusChrist8not repenting to someone who doesn't exist. Go preach elsewhere, shadow wizard.

[@padlockeussy]

This is an actually a really good point and way of putting it.

[@mattturner6017]

"Necromancer" 1. Practices divination by summoning spirits of the dead? Confirmed. 2. Practices the darkest of magics with the evilest of intentions? Confirmed. 3. Summons and/or creates minions who should by rights be dead, but who are infused with unnatural life? Confirmed. Yeah, Sauron can fulfill any and all definitions of Necromancer. The alias is well-chosen, in my opinion.

[@JohnPeacekeeper]

"The power of Oaths" There's a reason, I hear, that Elrond explicitly mentioned that the Fellowship of the Ring should NOT be oathed to Frodo, but instead accompany on their own free will. The man knew exactly how terrible an Oath can be because of Feanor.

[@NerdoftheRings]

This is such a great point! Makes me love Elrond even more!

[@andrewthomas891]

​@@NerdoftheRings agreed!

[@RyanPerrella]

The oaths some people have taken are the chains which shackle us all. Thank you for a great post. LotR is Metaphor&History

[@jojotheswede8444]

Yeah, Fëanor is kind of a dick.

[@charles3840]

Not to mention that the One Ring was a tool of binding, of establishing power over others. It was already dangerous for anyone to be in close proximity to the Ring. I imagine swearing oaths to its bearer would be like inviting a fox into a hen house.

[@AfterSunsets]

I am very sick today, your lord of the Rings lore videos are like chicken soup and ginger ale

[@NerdoftheRings]

I hope you get to feeling better!

[@abaddonmorningstar8871]

Sugar and grain only make you more ill. How immature. What are you? 6?

[@davidgrange8182]

What I learned is that Sauron is very patient and can wait for things for a very long time.

[@pagansmc13]

Sauron is an immortal being Of course he can wait a long time

[@annatar6453]

A hundred years feels like a day for an immortal

[@rogueascendant6611]

The Dark Lord from Tolkien description are always this patient entities. It bores into Tolkien mind that the Dark Lord Morgoth and Sauron are his perception from big time industry businessmen. Most people do not know that there's a lot of things from Tolkien world that are related to our world. The author's love of green hills from Sarehole, central Birmingham that made him inspired to create The Shire. Sauron long arduous task in sustaining his weapons of war is a reminiscence of Tolkien harrowing days as a soldier in trenches from WW1. And Saruman wreak havoc over the Old Forest and The Shire is a testament of Tolkien views over industrialization taking much over England as he saw.

[@ZiggyMandarr]

I've always wondered what the "make a new body" process is like. Not just in Tolkien, it's pretty common for otherworldly bad guys in lots of fiction. Like, is it this slow, more ethereal and spiritual process, or do they have to literally will and cultivate a new body over decades. Just a fleshy mound for a few decades that finally starts to take form...?

[@aldiascholarofthefirstsin1051]

@@ZiggyMandarr Either they grow their body from zero, beginning as a baby and waiting until it matures or they slowly form the body out of ethereal magic.

[@omenapaa]

When clicking on this video I knew exactly that I basically know all there is to know about Sauron. But just the sheer quality of these videos are so good that I enjoy watching them even though I wouldn't learn anything new.

[@AnthonyBroodryk]

One of the Best Characters Tolkien Created!!

[@rayden120]

Don't forget about the dead marshes where it seems souls are lingering there

[@miaththered]

The Necromancer was originally a mortal sorcerer of unexplained origin as I recall from old editions of The Hobbit.

[@Askyl]

Yes! Someone who tried to dabble in the magic of the unseen world. I love how Tolkien managed to create all these small stories and interesting ideas and tie it all together.

[@Hannibill]

define mortal

[@miaththered]

He was originally just a man who could do magic and was evil and otherwise unexplained. @@Hannibill

[@w1ndgeneral226]

​@@miaththered Unexplained at all.

[@LSSD1292]

​@@Hannibillsomeone who can die of old age

[@monoga26]

I imagine he would carry a harmless good looking form to convince Elves, Men, and Dwarves that he was a good guy; not just being cliché, having a handsome face with a sly, evil smirk to say “yeah, I look evil but you’re gonna listen to me anyway”

[@valentinkambushev4968]

Correction: "Yeah, I look evil, but you're gonna listen to me because I am hot as Hell!"

[@MechaLeo]

Meanwhile at half the sons of Faenor:

[@tishamae8398]

Well the writers of the show on prime, made him gorgeous! Maybe you have something there

[@Alexs.2599]

Well when Sauron took the fair form of Annatar in the Second Age to deceive the Elven smiths of Eregion into creating the Rings of Power that was the case yes.

[@Gilliganfrog]

Sauron's fairest form, "Annatar, Lord of Gifts", was indeed supposed to be a physically beautiful, Elvish/Human-looking male being but, due to his far larger size (probably roughly the size of a troll), and also by his explicit references to the Blessed Realm and his clearly having been there, Sauron was presenting himself by implication as a "good" Maiar who had simply never been encountered by the Elves before. However, to the wisest & most perceptive Elves such as Elrond, 1.) Annatar was clearly not all that he seemed and 2.) Annatar looked fair, but felt disturbingly somehow wrong.

[@gavinwright7076]

I'm surprised it wasn't mentioned that the ring itself can expand someones lifespan by hundreds of years like it did Gollum. And that had saurons own power put into it even if it wasnt intentional. Though i wonder if that only happens because of how mortals are affected by a Maia's power or because it was saurons specific dark magic that causes it. Because if its the latter, extending lifespan is some form of necromancy even if it isnt as grand or flashy as summoning the dead

[@indoorplant2392]

Never thought about that ngl, I mean Gollum is basically a “zombie” to the ring, but way more than just figurative lmao

[@bobjohnson1633]

Sauron not only crafted the rings with great magics, but he infused the one with much of his own spirit and power. It has its own power as well as enhancing the user with the power of sauron himself.

[@Uncle_Fred]

Sauron's original pitch to the elves of Eregion was that his gifts could aid in the elvish desire to 'preserve' things. He fashioned the great Rings of Power partly to ensnare the elves through this desire. Mortals were never ment to wield any of these rings. In the hands of a mortal, it 'stretches' out the life of its user. This is a supremely unnatural occurance as it is against the plan of Eru as expressed in the music of the Ainar. Given enough time, all mortals that wield the rings will be drawn out of the mortal plane and into the shadow realm as wraiths.

[@aldiascholarofthefirstsin1051]

@@Uncle_Fred In a way that makes they undead, which I guess is why Sauron is called the Necromancer.

[@carson11100]

There is so much to discuss about Sauron and for good reason….. he is one of the greatest villains ever conceived!

[@r.j.6093]

Thats also where amazon lost me. How could Sauron be so boring 😢😅

[@shotgunsandstakes]

@@r.j.6093 yeah poor man aragorn aka halbrand was not it 😪

[@michaelconnell1010]

I wonder how Sauron reacted when he found out his ring was so close to him and being actively used during the events of The Hobbit and he never noticed XD

[@Paulafan5]

I'm sure he had Orcs skimming the river for centuries to try to find the Ring but had assumed it got washed out into the sea. The Ring didn't "awaken" until LOTR. Maybe when Gollum was captured, that was the first time Sauron knew the Ring wasn't lost in the sea.

[@HomoSerenus3]

@@Paulafan5 Btw, why did it take so long for the Ring to awaken?

[@jensendkmg7209]

@@HomoSerenus3 not an expert but I think it didn't "feel" Sauron either. He had to grow to a certain level of power for it to sense him. Which took time.

[@HomoSerenus3]

@@jensendkmg7209 I see, thanks!

[@masync183]

@@jensendkmg7209 that and the power the ring has is relative to the person wielding it, gollum probably made the ring weaker just by virtue of being the one to use it during that time.

[@claytonhosty9876]

Sauron was a master of transformation. Taking many different forms throughout his existence. Though no doubt deceiving & malevolent. He could also walk completely invisible within this world, the one ring was imbued with that inherent power of his. Anyone who put it on would enter the world of spirits, invisible to mortal eyes, yet corrupted.

[@petereldergill2942]

I've mentioned it before that I think your character voices are fantastic. Hearing your Gandalf in this video made me realize that not only are they fantastic, but they are *consistent* as well. Very tough to do! Thanks for being awesome 😎

[@matthewlopez1913]

This was really informative and the artwork really brought the text to life! I enjoyed it so much. Thank you

[@joshualonghi8313]

I love how u just jump right into ur title topic! Makes me happy to see every new episode u come out with and i listen whether i already know what you are going to go over or not! Thanks man or women who are behind this channel! All the background ppl as well! A good channel becomes great when you have a team and the insight and creative thinking you exhibit! TY

[@wolfspoise4276]

Your knowledge of Tolkien's universe is just mindblowing! Great video! Awesome artwork! Love shorter videos too 👍

[@derais6162]

the fact he controls the wraiths + orks which are both essentially dead men and dead elves twisted by darkness you could say he was a necromancer to a degree.

[@Gilliganfrog]

Orcs are indeed the result of Melkor (Morgoth) having captured, tortured, twisted, and transformed Elves until he had bred into existence the lines of Orcs... but Orcs are NOT dead. They are living creatures-and need food & water & shelter etc to exist.

[@VarjoPira]

Water, shelter and meat back on the menu* @@Gilliganfrog

[@for_frodo91]

Always a good watch. You are slowly convincing me to read more from Tolkien

[@andrewjames7438]

You need an acknowledgment. I’ll give it.

[@for_frodo91]

@@andrewjames7438 Think I'm just lazy. Thank you though.

[@AcheroniD]

I love how well-timed and written the closed captioning is; many thanks!

[@stephendavis6606]

I kinds wish the Necromancer was a seperate character from Sauron albeit connected to him or getting power from him.

[@mxu_medinx9709]

I love all of your videos! you offer carefully-crafted explanations that get straight to the point while giving us further insight into the story. I'd love to see a video dedicated to other Maiar such as Melian, Arien, Ossë, etc.

[@NuisanceMan]

If it was spelled "neckromancer," he could have been a vampire.

[@barongaslight4615]

Also, "The Necromancer" is just an incredibly cool name for a villain.

[@WasabiSniffer]

it's interesting to think sauron as the necromancer could just hang out in mirkwood for so long. like, nobody thought to deal with the necromancer in all that time

[@Cerylion]

They did try a few times, and even managed to make him flee. But Sauron is one of strongest beings of Middle Earth so those who tried (before Gandalf and co.) would be dead at best.

[@jonathanyaloussa]

In addition, Saruman actively interfered with any plan to investigate Mirkwood.

[@maverickhudgins2221]

Necromancers aren't as easy to deal with as you might think

[@nikhtzatzi]

he was propably vanishing at this point

[@adorp]

Who could co something about the necromancer? Only Gandalf, Elrond, and Galadriel had the power as well as the will (not sure when Glorfindel returned), and the later two were busy protecting their own realms.

[@leminjapan]

Early congrats on 1M subscribers. I found your channel about a year ago in the lead-up to TRoP and have genuinely enjoyed every video since. Thank you for your hard work!

[@hanzchp_]

As always, splendid NOTR💯

[@freddysmith7065]

Very good episode!! Helped to clear up some long held questions!

[@xavierschneider5851]

Tolkien could have easily written The Hobbit without crafting such a detailed world behind the scenes, but then he would not have had the material to write The Lord of the Rings! Goes to show how true passion is rewarded.

[@dimitristripakis7364]

All good stories (should) begin by first building the world. Then many stories come out easier.

[@ethan1142028]

He had already written most of the Silmarillion before either though

[@cujoedaman]

And then Amazon pissed it all away in the name of equality.

[@MerkhVision]

It was actually the reverse. He created the world first (and the Silmarillion) and wrote the Hobbit later on, which was initially unrelated but later adapted into the world he had already created. But the Silmarillion was only published much later after the Hobbit and then the Lord of the Rings became popular.

[@treyowen9213]

​@@MerkhVisionso basically he kept it on the back burner just for good measures.

[@deejayxcrypt]

Necromancer is just a healer who doesn’t give up.

[@anthonyintexas]

This is the first time I've watched, & I have to say: "Good Job!" It's concise , well spoken, & nice photo content. Looking forward to more.

[@crastinativeapollo1231]

W POST always hyped for a new vid on Sauron

[@venkelos6996]

My issue with this, then, isn't the question of "did Sauron hold any power, or sway, over the dead", so much as we're led to believe that, at least for a time, the Wise weren't aware that "the Necromancer" WAS Sauron. If they had known the weakened Dark Lord was there, they might've taken greater risks to disembody him, again, and lengthen the time before he could truly rise to prominence. Since they believed that this being was more judt some mortal sorcerer, or at worst a Nazgul, it's weird to me that theyvaccepted this man, whomever he was could do such potent dark magic. So, a silly question; how was Dol Guldur created? We get that Orcs snuck in, and eventually built the place, but how dod SO MANY enter the forest, without the Elves of Thranduil retaliating? There must have been a window of time before the site was readyvto host the Necromancer, when he wasnt there, and it seems weird that such massive, loud construction could occur without the Elves hraring of it, or refusing too intervene. If there wasnt a convenient network of tunnels, the Orcs would have had to stride across open land, and bring food, or strip the forest, which should have alerted the Elves to them, who wouldn't want such as permanent neighbors. It makes me wish we had seen some other people who could use lesser magic, or maybe Alchemy, or Artifice, that served Sauron, and could give the Orcs the edge to fight the Elves on their own turf, and while trying to build the intimidating fortress. Oh well.

[@meganofsherwood3665]

My question is how Sauron managed to be across the street from Galadriel for 1500 years and SHE didn't notice either, appatently

[@thomasbravado]

Dol Guldur was built by elves who later abandoned it when Sauron's evil presence took over that part of Mirkwood. Galadriel obviously knew there was something evil in Mirkwood but she and the other elves stayed in Lorien because it was protected from orcs and other evil by her ring. One reason why the wise waited to kick Sauron out of Dol Guldur until the dwarves and Bilbo were doing their thing at the Lonely Mountain was so that Smaug and Sauron wouldn't be able to help each other.

[@rcnyoplait]

This was so good. Keep digging bro :)

[@Lord_Legolas_Greenleaf]

Thank you @NerdoftheRings! I for one - have read Tolkien books back in the late 70's early 80's. Here and in other videos you note: "The History of Middle Earth: Volume 10" - and other works, but I was wondering if you could list all the books that are considered 'canon' please? Cause I only know of The Hobbit, LotR, The Silmarilion, Book of Lost Tales in reference to the universe that is Middle Earth.

[@iamethatsall]

Thank you!! Great video❤

[@SudaNIm103]

An etymological linguistic analysis of “Necromancer” would simply have it mean something like: “A practitioner of deadly, harmful, corrupting magical powers.” Necromancer = “One who practices Necromancy” Necromancy = “Necro+Mancy” Necro = “Dead(ly)/Harmful/Corrupt Mancy = “Magical control of or related to a specific element, substance, or theme.”

[@twell1984]

The suffix "-mancy" does mean what you describe today, but historically it specifically refered to magic as divination or soothsaying. A necromancer would have been someone who communes with the dead (think Ouija board or seances), though Tolkien's necromancer as a bodyless Sauron or Nazgul is more like a dead entity communicating with the world of the living.

[@fishyperil2153]

the art in the video is amazing. kudos to whoever did it

[@user-sd7ri9fy4i]

Nice work dude thanks

[@kegelbruder7117]

I really love you videos, thank you for all the time and effort you invested in them! Fun sidenote: during almost every single video of yours I come to think: omg there is so much amazing background lore the rings of power could immediately adapt to improve. And each time I know full well it's folly to expect such things happening ;)

[@kegelbruder7117]

For example the entire part of souls being trapped due to them refusing the call as they are somehow "tainted" or maybe carry some kind of guilt could in my opinion be easily adapted into the motivational arch of Sauron. Perhaps in Saurons view they are just as much part of the world as the living? And he can offer them a role in it - unlike it is the case within the existing order? I think it's much more fun to fiddle with existing ideas in the lotr universe than making up Mithril stories that could just as well be part of tof any exchangeable universe.

[@Thebigbandit]

I hope the new movies are about the Angmar wars

[@treyowen9213]

Am I just lucky? Here I am at the return of one of my special mini conventions “Librari-Con”, and I’m dressed up as the lord Sauron as a Sith Lord. Then lo and behold this pops up. I love watching my man Sauron go to work!

[@2brosShorts]

These videos ALWAYS give me chills (depending on the topic). Especially the What if Galadriel took the ring video. I would love to see more What ifs.

[@Hello_182]

I would love to hear more about the power of oaths

[@douggaudiosi14]

​@Nerdoftherings.on.telegra is it a present

[@Ziangal]

Sauron is a necromancer by definition, not alternate, he used the one ring to escape death and remained alive and separated from a physical form. Even that manipulation would fall under the realm of necromancy cause it was preventing his death, giving him a form of unlife/undeath, so I say yes, he was a necromancer through and through in all the ways we know today.

[@owenjames8575]

That's not necromancy, and even if it was he wouldn't be a necromancer by the technical definition anyways, because he doesn't divine

[@david9243]

Except he was immortal himself. He’s separating his power from himself and the Ring thus making it bound to an artefact and not his body.

[@Gilliganfrog]

Sauron didn't make The One Ring "to escape death", because although his physical form can be killed (as happened at least twice in the history of Middle Earth), his powerful supernatural spirit could NOT be killed. He made The Ring to transform & amplify his intrinsic power-and in fact, creating The Ring made him MORE vulnerable, in one sense: he embedded SO MUCH of his power into The Ring that, if it WAS destroyed, then he would be destroyed.

[@MATCHLESS93]

​@@owenjames8575in a way he's like a lich, which would definitely fall under necromancy. The ring is his phylactery.

[@august6281]

for me, a necromancer is the one from Diablo 2. damn, i love that character.

[@awesomehpt8938]

The necromancer is Sauron?!! Don’t make me laugh, he’s probably just a lonely old dude doing a bit of weird magic.

[@nomoss9600]

All his friends died so he brought them back. He’s a hero.

[@whosgregory8301]

😂😂😂

[@jamestaylor3805]

I found Saruman's puppet.

[@DoctorMustafaSaad]

Saruman? İs that you?!

[@ImminentAl]

Yeah, somebody’s been talking to the woodsmen again

[@kalmarfanatic04]

This was spine chilling..... I LOVE IT!

[@VarjoPira]

One of the coolest topics within the Third Age -lore! As a small kid, I remember thinking how cool it is that there's actually another 'dark lord' -type of threat within the verse, and within such cool location on the map, to boot. Only to understand later on that they were one and the same all along! Love the visuals, they go so well with the narration. This channel is an A+ experience.

[@vivekgangwar9051]

Man your voice is perfectly made for middle Earth lore👍

[@Epic_BostonMobTales]

Awesome man best channel out for tolkien fans past present and future!!!

[@colinleat8309]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... you're character voice work is great Matt! It would be awesome if you got to do one for War of the Rohirim! Another masterful video. Thanks again 👍 🖖😁🤘🇨🇦

[@nightvid3607]

Excellent episode! Ive always been fascinated by the Necromancer since i read the Hobbit as a kid.

[@MrBrendofc]

I love this channel ❤

[@SkysWeirdProductions]

Maybe "Necromancy" in Tolkien's context meant "Death-Magic". A plague that kills hundreds of thousands, conjuring dark beasts, werewolves, and vampires all which prey on mortals. Maybe the purpose was to cause mass-death, or being in control of the flow of death.

[@ravendedanaan3425]

I enjoyed watching and hearing you.

[@frederikschulze8218]

I like the GW interpretation with the Castellans of Dol Guldur, essentially "mini Nazgul" like warriors created by Sauron in Dol Guldur, probably former Woodmen who were captured in Mirkwood and turned into undead spirits in service of the Necromancer

[@t.s.adrian8785]

Sir Micheal: We must avenge my slain brother. Who's with me? Paladin: I'll bring my sword! Dwarf: ...and I'll bring my axe! Elf: ...and I'll bring my bow! Necromancer: ...and I'll bring your brother.

[@MarkLewis...]

I always read it as Sauron was labeled "The Necromancer" not because he could summon an army of undead, but believe it was because he would use a dead body as the host, to take his physical form. I still believe that.

[@B3RyL]

The original meaning of the word necromancer was actually a spirit summoner and diviner. Someone who consulted spirits in order to tell fortunes and find lost objects and people. So back in antiquity, a necromancer was actually the good guy.

[@MarkLewis...]

@@B3RyL There is evidence of that, but word meanings change over time, and I doubt the philologist Tolkien would use an archaic and long since unused meaning over the historic usage and understanding. When the word was Latinized, (necromantia) to the Old French (nigromantia) it meant "of the black magic". So, from Latin, to Old French, to Middle English, and finally English, it meant anyone who used or practiced "black magic" and Sauron fits that bill, unlike Gandalf who used its (theological dualist) understood antithesis. I find this all fascinating, but I still believe Sauron would use a dead body as the host, to take his physical form (a black magic) hence why a "necromancer". But all speculation on the reader's preference.

[@bobjohnson1633]

It just means black magic.

[@evolving_dore]

Where in the text does he ever inhabit a dead body? The ëala of Ainur don't require a hroa like the fëa of incarnate beings, but they can generate a physical form around the ëala if they choose. Sauron lost the ability to shape his body how he liked, but he was still capable of slowly regernating a physical body after his defeat to the Last Alliance.

[@MarkLewis...]

@@evolving_dore Darmok and Gilad at Tenagra. His eyes closed.

[@jessemillan1385]

Sauron is undoubtedly one of the most terrifying villains in Lord of the Rings.

[@zStC1]

It's almost like he's the big bad

[@7yep4336dfgvvh]

Well yeah, just after melkor

[@Sephiroth144]

Wait- wait wait wait. You mean the Big Bad (or the second Big Bad, if you mean Tolkien's works overall) is scary...? GET OUTTA HERE!

[@NuisanceMan]

I thought Bombadil was scarier.

[@daarom3472]

looks like none of you ever stole from farmer Maggot's crops

[@patrickkoenigsfeld1253]

Always watch until I hear "and Debby"! Amazing video as always!

[@michielayers3692]

This information may be non canonical, but in The Hobbit game published in 2003, in the game chapter Flies and Spiders, in about the middle of the level you will encounter undead enemies and a boss that are supposedly servants of the necromancer. Now, they never actually encountered undead in The Hobbit (book), but it does show that even a minor game stayed rather close to the lore....unlike Rings of Power.

[@frostykilz123]

Awesome stuff 😊

[@thebrowneyesofmandalore6524]

This was a really cool video. I really like that newer track you’ve been using, the one with the organ. It’s really dark, beautiful, and haunting and can be use for many topics. I wanted to ask, how would you recommend purchasing all the works that make up “ the history of middle earth”? I’ve seen a lot that set cased in black. Then I believe there is individual volumes. There was also that newer set with John Howe art that you recently posted about. I don’t want to purchase anything I might already have and that black case is on the pricey side at the moment. Any recommendation would be great!

[@CloudSephiroth]

During the 1st and 2nd age, how much territory did the high elves own of what is now the reunited kingdom? I’m playing third age total war and I’d like to make a lore accurate high elven kingdom that reflects the elves territory at the height of their power. Thanks in advance😊

[@Alexs.2599]

In the First Age directly west of where eventually the reunited kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor were located in the second and third ages there was a huge land mass called Beleriand. That is where the Noldor high Elves had their realms. East beyond the Blue Mountains in Eriador where Arnor and Gondor were located later there were Mortal Men and the Avari Dark Elves. Beleriand was destroyed in the War of Wrath at the end of the First Age. In the Second and Third Ages the Noldorin Elves who still resided in Middle Earth lived at the Grey Havens in Lindon, Eregion, Imladris(Rivendell) and the Silvan kingdom of Lothlórien that was ruled by Galadriel who had Noldorin, Telerin and Vanyar blood and Celeborn who was a Telerin Elf that was related to Elu Thingol ruler of the Kingdom of Doriath in the First Age. Hope that helps.

[@MikeG23]

Any chance of an ecthelion of the fountain video? I just read he killed 3 balrogs before killing gothmog, thats insane!

[@NerdoftheRings]

Indeed! I'll add him to my list! Him killing a bunch of balrogs comes in an earlier version of the tale when Tolkien envisioned there being hundreds of balrogs. Later, he decided to make them fewer, but mightier (as we see them in LOTR/Silmarillion). Latest estimate is there are, at most, 7 total.

[@MikeG23]

@NerdoftheRings oh wow I see. Thats interesting, yet still killing gothmog at the least is more than impressive on its own! What a great character

[@jaysgamingcorner8539]

Another fantastic video! These descriptions of Sauron remind me of how Mumm-Ra is portrayed in Thundercats, but I'm probably just being a Cats fanboy. 🤣🤣

[@jakyru1981]

You have a great voice for these. Seems like you practice!

[@noahvellacott2643]

Hi man, I love your videos so much you probably won't see this but I have two questions just incase you have: 1 - Can you make a video on Dol Amroth? They are so cool and I really want to know more about the kingdom. Also, 2: for school I am doing a project on whatever I want and I chose "how men handle power in Tolkien's world" - could you give me suggestions on videos to watch on noble men who handled power well and those that were affected by having too much power? I picked this topic because I love the history of men and I also can watch your videos and call it productive!

[@IHazPeppers]

It's almost 2am, but I gotta listen to this before I go to sleep.

[@sussusamogus7831]

incredible video

[@gagaplex]

Also remember those fell spirits housed in the Watcher Statues. He didn't summon skeletons or zombies, but he could bind spirits where he needed them.

[@istari0]

I think it is clear that Sauron had great power over beings who were dead or at least not alive in the conventional sense. The Nazgûl alone demonstrate that and when you add in all the others examples and discussions that NOTR provided, I think it is a slam dunk.

[@CT-pi2gl]

It's incredible how large how varied Sauron figured throughout the history of Middle Earth. How many forms he had, and how many schemes and empires - and yet had no dialogue in the main work, and only a few scenes of dialogue in the whole cannon. He's basically the Devil. Behind every plot, constantly scheming throughout all history in all kinds of places, yet unknown and always in the shadows

[@donovanbradford8231]

I would imagine that the term necromancer was used for onebof two reasons either because those in and around the area saw signs of dark magic coming from that place or because at a certain one to all the nasgul were seen coming and going from the fortress. Because in the Fellowship it's said they travel as dark riders but there physical forms faded a longtime ago so they easily could be seen a ghosts or spirits to others.

[@transwomenaremale]

Boston, MA has a little-known legend of a necromancer, written about by John Winthrop.

[@p3ter9000]

Interested etymology: In classical Latin, it was "necromantia" with necro meaning death, but in the medieval period it was written as some variation of "nigromauncy," with nigro suggesting "black" rather than death

[@__xvx__]

Awesome video

[@superhigh5302]

Ty for the vid

[@akselrdder2173]

I love your videos nerd of the rings ❤😊

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks!!

[@Lucy-yc4bc]

Amazing video

[@waffle8364]

I like how you can read a story with character

[@KazgarothUsher]

Loved it :)

[@Slappy8147]

Love your Videos 👍👍🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@HoopTY303]

So where do those in the dead marshes fit in do you think?

[@KirbyLeeDavis]

Well done.

[@benkutta6328]

Please make a video about Amon Hen and its special qualities. :)

[@ergu7811]

Im so impressed with your ability to analyze and finding Tolien´s data. Ive seen multiple of your videos now and I must ask - what is your education; you must have an academic education based on your discussions? Best/ Erik, Sweden

[@feanor1865]

Video on Caranthir please 🙏

[@fiore7939]

Nice video! 😊 Thanks!

[@Feelings..519]

Hey nerd i hope you get 1 million soon 🎉

[@andrewhesse4201]

Daaang man! soo cloooose to 1 million!!!!

[@smackyfrog6046]

I always assumed he was the necromancer because he enthralled the 9 to his will past their mortal life.

[@eggymcwolf1]

Good to see something a little different. Good luck with the squeak

[@jameshatfield2473]

I saw your Video of the New Shadow. I personally allways thought that had it been written it was Tolkiens intent to have Saruman as the new Dark Lord. In the LOTR Gandalf talks about how Saruman most deeply studied the lore of the Rings and how they were made. Then when he tells the story of his entrapment by Saruman at Isengard to the council in Imladres he describes Saruman on the steps of the Tower and says " He had a Ring on his Finger". He mentions Sarumans Ring once more after that . I believe his intent was to make it that Sarumans spirit like Saurons after his first defeat fled to waste places until he began to grow again . I think his intent was that Saruman wiuld do the same and return and take up his own ring again ( although probably less powerful) . I think it was Sarumans Ring that gave him the power over the Orcs in his service so 5hat they weren't drawn to Saurons service and his power over the Dunlanders as well.

[@scoobysnacker1999]

That's a very intriguing observation! As a Maia, Saruman wouldn't be 'slain' as he apparently was, in the Scouring of the Shire. And it's interesting to note that he was significantly weaker there, merely capable of a few mean acts (as Tolkien worded it), when several years before he was capable of imprisoning Gandalf the Gray, and resisting the Nazgul less than a year before. If he used ringcraft to transfer and enhance his power, and then set it away for whatever reason, it would explain why he had diminished so greatly. And give him a few hundred years or more to reform (as it seemed to take Sauron when he suffered such events), let him reclaim his own Ring, and I'd say he comes back to about the power level he was while in Isengard. And conveniently enough for him, when he rose again Aragorn would have passed away, and Gandalf and most of the Elves (at the very least the last of the Noldor) would have gone over the sea. This would leave him with just Men to deal with, something he was more than capable of.

[@jameshatfield2473]

@@scoobysnacker1999 That was part of my theory as well , that Saruman had put away his ring as Sauron had done when he went to Numenor as Ar-Pharazons hostage only to come back to retrieve it once Numenor was destroyed. I think he was hiding it because he knew Gandalf and the Noldor would all be leaving after Sauron was destroyed .

[@scoobysnacker1999]

@@jameshatfield2473 A smart play on his part, if so; the ultimate tactical retreat. Even with his ring, he's unable to contend with Gandalf the White, so he fakes his death and waits until the coast is clear. And it's interesting to consider this; it's completely canon that Maia don't actually die. And the stuff he did, the "devilry" he devised- very much what Men embraced. Gunpowder and behind the scenes manipulation of legitimate leaders, to mention just a few. The one potential issue- a calculated risk, you could say: Sauron. HIS power is permanently diminished by the loss of the One Ring, and now he's just a disembodied bad mood wandering the earth. But if Saruman set his essence into another ring, there's a chance Sauron finds it and claims it. And with that, does he get that part of Saruman's power, enough to reform? Wouldn't be the Dark Lord of old, but enough to "be around" again, and this time use his cunning instead of his might? But that's a small chance, as Saruman would know where his ring is, and Sauron doesn't even know it exists.

[@TarMody]

The book The Fall of Númenor says: "Sauron, however, inherited the 'corruption' of Arda." In HoME-Morgoth's Ring, it is mentioned that everything in Arda, including spiritual beings, is tainted to a certain extent by Melkor's will. In this context, Sauron's use of these spiritual beings for his own purposes forms the basis of his Necromancer character. This character of Sauron was valid even before Melkor was banished. This character structure is also functional in terms of providing the soul for the metaphysical existence of the orcs for the sustainability of the orc population.

[@TheBrothersArda]

One of the most notable myths regarding necromancy was where Othinn of Nordic Mythologie desired knowledge of Ragnarok and ended up using Necromancy to commune with the dead to divine the future. The act itself was a horrid thing, and yet Othinn sought to know the future to protect humanity as best he could from it against the Jotunnr or so goes the myths. The Norse had the best myths and tales, and Tolkien borrowed extensively from them and was honestly able to write stories that were their equal. Always loved that Sauron was called the Necromancer.

[@myriadmediamusings]

I wonder if Tolkien always intended for this Necromancer to be the villain of LOTR while he was originally writing the Hobbit. Great long-game stuff if he really had that plan from the start.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

It's possible that he was just an evil spirit. As groundbreaking as Tolkien is, there are lots of things from the Hobbit that don't fit in the rest of his works. I would ever argue that the Hobbit trilogy is more true to the Lord of the rings and The Silmarillion than the Hobbit book.

[@NerdoftheRings]

I actually cover this very development in the vid. :)

[@WooogaTooga]

I could be wrong but I think the Lay of Leithain (where Sauron first appears as Thu the Necromancer) was written before Tolkien began work on The Hobbit. In which case the Necromancer in the Hobbit could at least be inspired by Sauron if not meant to be him directly.

[@darreng745]

@@valentinkambushev4968 The Hobbit was writtena s a story for Christopher and was not actually any part of the trilogy regarding the Ring until much later when Tolkien revised it to fit within the LOTR, there is a version of the LOTR which lists the revisions undertaken over the years where Tolkien rewrote parts of the story and corrected proof errors which still persist to this day.