Colours of the Istari

Alqualaure · 10-01-2003, 12:27 PM

I was just wondering if anyone can tell me the significance of the colours assigned to the Istari...? I've been pondering this one for quite some time.

Of course we know the colours associated with each wizard - "Gandalf the Grey/[White]", "Saruman the White", Radagast the Brown" - but do these colours mean anything? Gandalf the Grey becomes Gandalf the White after his fall in Moria, and Saruman refers to himself as "Saruman of Many Colours" during his meeting with Gandalf at Isengard.

Do these colours denote power of some kind? Was Gandalf's transformation from Grey to White some sort of... "promotion" (for lack of a better word!) I've searched and pondered, but cannot seem to find any reference to this.

Any thoughts?

Alqua

PS - As a sort of side note, in The Two Towers, when Gandalf first reappears to Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, he says to them: "Yes, I am white now... Indeed I am Saruman, one might almost say, Saruman as he should have been."

What could this mean?

Elf Girl · 10-01-2003, 02:03 PM

Yes. Well, White was for highest in the 'wizard pecking order'- Galadriel wanted Gandalf to be white from the start, but her designs went awry. Then grey, I suppose because it is kind of white, but not as pure. It was indeed a 'promotion' when Gandalf became white, to answer the 'PS', I believe that because Saruman went bad, Gandalf the White was Saruman as he would have been if he had not become corrupt. Brown for Radagast has a double meaning- another level down in the 'wizard pecking order' but brown also refers, I think, to his fascination with the nature of Middle-Earth. (brown for the woods, the birds, etc...)

The other two wizards were Blue. I have no idea why.

~please note that most of this post is pure speculation, and I may be utterly wrong.~

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 10-01-2003, 02:50 PM

Here is a link to another thread that may give some more insight.

http://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/show...Wizards+colors

Moving to the Middle-earth forum.

Alqualaure · 10-02-2003, 10:48 AM

Oooh, thanks for the great link, Sister GH!

Sorry if I posted this in the wrong place - I'm still feeling my way around here!

Alqua

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 10-02-2003, 10:52 AM

Oh, no problem. Happens all the time. If people didn't post in the wrong place, or spam and flame once in awhile. I'd have nothing to do.

Alqualaure · 10-02-2003, 11:00 AM

LOL - well, I guess we have to keep you on your toes!

Sheeana · 10-02-2003, 03:21 PM

Hmm, I haven't flamed in a while, have I? ....

SGH, where do you get off being such a Finrod-ass-kisser? *runs away VERY quickly*

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 10-02-2003, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sheeana
Hmm, I haven't flamed in a while, have I? ....

SGH, where do you get off being such a Finrod-ass-kisser? *runs away VERY quickly*

Sheanna, my dear, come hear to Sister. I have something for you.

***Earniel*** · 10-02-2003, 03:43 PM

I don't think she's going to fall for that, SGH. You should hide your little admin stick behind your back.

***Sister Golden Hair*** · 10-02-2003, 03:47 PM

That's okay. she will slip up, and when she does, I'll be there to whap her a good one.

10-01-2003, 12:27 PM	#1
Alqualaure Enting Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 62	Colours of the Istari I was just wondering if anyone can tell me the significance of the colours assigned to the Istari...? I've been pondering this one for quite some time. Of course we know the colours associated with each wizard - "Gandalf the Grey/[White]", "Saruman the White", Radagast the Brown" - but do these colours mean anything? Gandalf the Grey becomes Gandalf the White after his fall in Moria, and Saruman refers to himself as "Saruman of Many Colours" during his meeting with Gandalf at Isengard. Do these colours denote power of some kind? Was Gandalf's transformation from Grey to White some sort of... "promotion" (for lack of a better word!) I've searched and pondered, but cannot seem to find any reference to this. Any thoughts? Alqua PS - As a sort of side note, in The Two Towers, when Gandalf first reappears to Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, he says to them: "Yes, I am white now... Indeed I am Saruman, one might almost say, Saruman as he should have been." What could this mean? __________________ Ma il mio mistero e chiuso in me, il nome mio nessun sapra! No, no, sulla tua bocca lo diro' quando la luce splendera'! Ed il mio bacio scioglier?* il silenzio che ti fa mia! - from Turandot; Nessun dorma by Puccini

10-01-2003, 02:03 PM	#2
Elf Girl Lurker Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Lothlórien Posts: 3,419	Yes. Well, White was for highest in the 'wizard pecking order'- Galadriel wanted Gandalf to be white from the start, but her designs went awry. Then grey, I suppose because it is kind of white, but not as pure. It was indeed a 'promotion' when Gandalf became white, to answer the 'PS', I believe that because Saruman went bad, Gandalf the White was Saruman as he would have been if he had not become corrupt. Brown for Radagast has a double meaning- another level down in the 'wizard pecking order' but brown also refers, I think, to his fascination with the nature of Middle-Earth. (brown for the woods, the birds, etc...) The other two wizards were Blue. I have no idea why. ~please note that most of this post is pure speculation, and I may be utterly wrong.~ __________________ There's antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium...

10-01-2003, 02:50 PM	#3
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	Here is a link to another thread that may give some more insight. http://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/show...Wizards+colors Moving to the Middle-earth forum. __________________ "Whither go you?" she said. "North away." he said: "to the swords, and the siege, and the walls of defence - that yet for a while in Beleriand rivers may run clean, leaves spring, and birds build their nests, ere Night comes." AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide

10-02-2003, 10:48 AM	#4
Alqualaure Enting Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 62	Oooh, thanks for the great link, Sister GH! Sorry if I posted this in the wrong place - I'm still feeling my way around here! Alqua __________________ Ma il mio mistero e chiuso in me, il nome mio nessun sapra! No, no, sulla tua bocca lo diro' quando la luce splendera'! Ed il mio bacio scioglier?* il silenzio che ti fa mia! - from Turandot; Nessun dorma by Puccini

10-02-2003, 10:52 AM	#5
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	Oh, no problem. Happens all the time. If people didn't post in the wrong place, or spam and flame once in awhile. I'd have nothing to do. __________________ "Whither go you?" she said. "North away." he said: "to the swords, and the siege, and the walls of defence - that yet for a while in Beleriand rivers may run clean, leaves spring, and birds build their nests, ere Night comes." AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide

10-02-2003, 11:00 AM	#6
Alqualaure Enting Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 62	LOL - well, I guess we have to keep you on your toes! __________________ Ma il mio mistero e chiuso in me, il nome mio nessun sapra! No, no, sulla tua bocca lo diro' quando la luce splendera'! Ed il mio bacio scioglier?* il silenzio che ti fa mia! - from Turandot; Nessun dorma by Puccini

10-02-2003, 03:21 PM	#7
Sheeana Lord of the Pants Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,382	Hmm, I haven't flamed in a while, have I? .... SGH, where do you get off being such a Finrod-ass-kisser? runs away VERY quickly

10-02-2003, 03:43 PM	#9
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	I don't think she's going to fall for that, SGH. You should hide your little admin stick behind your back. __________________ We are not things.

10-02-2003, 03:47 PM	#10
*Sister Golden Hair* Queen of Nargothrond Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Akron, Ohio - USA Posts: 7,121	That's okay. she will slip up, and when she does, I'll be there to whap her a good one. __________________ "Whither go you?" she said. "North away." he said: "to the swords, and the siege, and the walls of defence - that yet for a while in Beleriand rivers may run clean, leaves spring, and birds build their nests, ere Night comes." AboutNewJersey.com - New Jersey Travel and Tourism Guide

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
The Blue Istari	Beren One-Hand	Middle Earth	5	04-15-2007 05:15 PM
Istari Anyone?	LickTheEnvelope	Middle Earth	10	03-20-2005 01:25 PM
The Five Istari	Angelus22	Lord of the Rings Books	4	03-05-2004 08:24 PM
A lady Istari?	Kirinki54	Middle Earth	20	01-26-2002 07:19 PM
Istari restrictions	afro-elf	Lord of the Rings Books	30	01-15-2002 03:47 PM