SAURON
Sauron is the titular primary antagonist of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, a fallen angelic being who seeks to dominate Middle-earth through the power of the One Ring. From his origins as a master craftsman to his manifestation as a lidless Eye of flame, he remains one of the most iconic figures in fantasy history.
Cronologia
Biografia
Sauron, originally known as Mairon, is the primary antagonist of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium. As a Maia—an angelic being of immense power—he was initially a student of Aulë the Smith before being corrupted by Morgoth, the first Dark Lord.
Throughout the ages, Sauron has served as a lieutenant to ultimate evil and eventually rose to become the second Dark Lord, establishing his dominion in the volcanic land of Mordor. His role in the history of Middle-earth is defined by his desire for order through absolute control.
He famously deceived the Elves of Eregion into forging the Rings of Power, while secretly crafting the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom to rule them all. Though his physical form was destroyed multiple times—including during the fall of Númenor and his defeat by the Last Alliance of Elves and Men—his spirit endured. During the War of the Ring, he manifested as a disembodied, flaming Eye atop the tower of Barad-dûr, directing his vast armies of Orcs and Nazgûl in a final attempt to reclaim his lost Ring and plunge the world into darkness.
Storia
Sauron’s origins date back to before the creation of the world. As a Maia of Aulë, he possessed great skill in crafting and mechanics, traits that would later define his mastery of the Rings.
During the First Age, he was seduced by Morgoth’s promise of power and became his most feared captain, commanding the fortress of Tol-in-Gaurhoth.
Following Morgoth’s defeat, Sauron went into hiding, only to re-emerge in the Second Age under the fair guise of 'Annatar,' the Lord of Gifts. In this form, he manipulated the Elven smith Celebrimbor to create the Rings of Power. His history is a cycle of rising to power through deception, suffering catastrophic defeats—such as his interrogation of Gollum or his battle against the hound Huan—and slowly rebuilding his influence from shadows like Dol Guldur, where he was known as the Necromancer.
Evoluzione
Sauron’s character has undergone significant conceptual and visual evolution. In Tolkien's earliest drafts, he was not a dark lord but a giant cat named Tevildo. This eventually transitioned into the Necromancer and finally the Dark Lord of the Rings. Visually, he evolved from a shape-shifter who could take 'fair forms' to deceive elves, to a towering armored warlord seen in the Peter Jackson prologues.
The most abstract evolution is his transformation into the lidless 'Eye of Sauron,' which Peter Jackson popularized as a physical ball of fire atop Barad-dûr, whereas in the books, it was often described more as a spiritual or heraldic presence. Modern adaptations like 'The Rings of Power' have returned to his roots as a deceptive manipulator, showcasing his human-looking 'Halbrand' and 'Annatar' guises.
Da Collezione
For collectors, Sauron is a 'grail' character due to his massive presence and intricate design. The most sought-after figures typically fall into two categories: the 'Armored Warlord' from the First/Second Age and the 'Eye of Sauron' architectural pieces. LEGO has produced significant sets, including the massive Barad-dûr tower featuring the Eye.
The 'prologue' version of Sauron, with his spiked helm and heavy mace, is a staple for high-end statue brands and action figure lines like those released for the Peter Jackson films. Due to his size—often depicted as much taller than humans—his figures are frequently 'oversized' or 'Build-A-Figure' releases, making them centerpieces for Middle-earth displays. Rare items include first-edition book covers featuring Tolkien's own Eye of Sauron sketches.
Benedict Cumberbatch provided both the voice and the motion-capture performance for Sauron/The Necromancer in The Hobbit trilogy.
