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The less powerful Ainur who descend to Arda to help and serve the Valar are called the Maiar. During the construction of the world, some of the Maiar are seduced by Melkor into his service, including the Maia (the singular of Maiar) called Sauron. The wizards—sent by the Valar to Middle-earth to aid in Sauron’s defeat—are also Maiar.
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Maia/Maiar Term Timeline in The Silmarillion
The timeline below shows where the term Maia/Maiar appears in The Silmarillion. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Valaquenta
...they are accompanied by lesser spirits also created before the beginning of time called the Maiar, who act as their helpers. The elves don’t know how many Maiar there are, since...
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Some of the best known Maiar are Ilmarë, the handmaid of Varda, Eönwë, the herald of Manwë, and Ossë and Uinen,...
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Other famous Maiar are Melian, who serves both Vána and Estë and tends to Lórien’s trees, and Olórin...
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...and seeking power. He wields darkness to create evil in Arda, and many of the Maiar are corrupted by his lies and promises into joining his side. Among these are the...
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Chapter 1. Of the Beginning of Days
Melkor hears about the feast from his spies among the Maiar. Jealous and hateful, he waits until Tulkas falls asleep after the feast, then descends to...
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Chapter 4. Of Thingol and Melian
...life and Melian doesn’t return as long as their kingdom lasts. Their children, half-elf and half-Maia, are the “fairest” of the Children of Ilúvatar. Elwë (now called Thingol) and Melian rule...
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Chapter 5. Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië
...he is reunited with his people and appears tall and gray-haired, like one of the Maiar. Though he wants to see the light of Valinor’s Trees again, he’s content to see...
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Chapter 19. Of Beren and Lúthien
...they go to Angband together. They’re stopped at the door, but some power of the Maiar overtakes Lúthien, who throws off her disguise and raises her hand to put the guard...
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Chapter 22. Of the Ruin of Doriath
...knows that Thingol’s death will be followed by the doom of Doriath. Though she’s a Maia, she took on the form of an elf for Thingol, and after his death a...
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Chapter 24. Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath
...chooses the fate of men, and through him elvish blood (and the blood of a Maia) enters the race of men.
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