Where have all the dragons gone?: Re: Dragons and gold

» Michael_Martinez - Re: Dragons and gold

In response to message posted by Neithan:

Although I'm quite familiar with your signature, I was made aware of the Augustus anecdote many years before getting involved with the Internet. So it was merely a convenient example and not an inspiration.

But Tolkien's discussion of the Melkor-element and its concentration in gold was quite specific. Melkor didn't create gold -- none of the Valar created any part of Ea, which all came from the will of Iluvatar. Melkor simply permeated himself with gold, identifying it with himself.

Gold, since it was useful for Sauron's "magic", would therefore be useful for other forms of "magic", essentially drawing upon Melkor's strength.

Nothing in Ea comes from the Music of the Ainur. It all comes from the will of Iluvatar and the subsequent actions of the Ainur and the Children.

Whether the dragons required gold to sustain themselves is anyone's guess now that Tolkien is gone, but the available facts do fit the interpretation.

-- posted by Michael_Martinez