The Rings of Power: Who is the god that Durin says created the dwarves?

• The dwarves consider a Vala to be their maker.
• The Vala Aule is not only the dwarven creator, but also the god of blacksmithing and craftsmanship.
• What significance does he have for the dwarves and their history?

Watch “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” on Amazon Prime Video❯

Long gone are the days when the living gods dwelt on Middle-earth, but they still hold great importance for the peoples of Middle-earth. Certain groups honor specific Valar. The greatest reverence and worship held by the dwarves in The Rings of Power is their creator, the god of earth and craft, Aule.

Blacksmith of the Gods

Alongside Manwe and the corrupted and fallen Melkor, Aule was among the greatest and most powerful of the Ainur. In creating the world, he was responsible for the landscapes and mountains as an aspect of the earth. That’s why his middle name in the Elven language Sindarin, “Barthan”, is the world-maker.

Appreciating all things made and beautiful by hand and mind, he became the Vala of Blacksmithing and Craftsmanship. His thinking most closely resembled that of Melkor of all his brethren, yet he remained faithful and uncorrupted to the pure music of the Ainur, the great plan of the one god Ilúvatar. Moreover, he did not long for destruction and transformation like Melkor, but for creation, and subjected all his creations to Ilúvatar.

His greatest work besides the dwarves was the construction of the Two Lights. The two enormous lamps, Illuin and Ormal, created by Aule at the request of his wife Yavanna, were intended to illuminate the world before the age of trees and sun.

teacher of many students

Through the ages, Aule taught many in his abilities. The Noldor Elves who came to Valinor learned much from him and created magnificent artifacts, armor and weapons. The greatest disciple of Aule was Fëanor. Aule taught him to make legendary jewels. 3 of them, the Silmaril, were to shape the fate of the world in the Second Age.

Many of the Valar’s servants, the Maiar, also learned from Aule. However, two of them should gradually fall into the dark and defect to Melkor/Morgoth. Sauron and Saruman were possessed of a natural affinity with all things crafted and created. These things are also associated with power, so it was easy for Melkor to take advantage of their quest and win Saruman and Sauron over to his side.

The Maker of the Dwarves

Aule’s best-known and perhaps most momentous creation were the dwarves. Without the permission of the other Valar, he created them from fire and stone, his favorite materials. Except for the progenitor of the dwarves of Khazad-Dum, Durin, he hid the elder dwarves in pairs in subterranean halls in various parts of Middle-earth and let them sleep.

When Ilúvatar discovered Aule’s illicit creation, the Forge-God wished to destroy a work, his children, but Ilúvatar intervened and forgave him, and gave the dwarves life of their own. The premise, however, was that the dwarves should sleep on, for Ilúvatar Elves had already been promised the firstborn.

From then on, the dwarves looked to Aule as their father. However, since they stood outside of the “Great Plan” of Ilúvatar, unlike the Elves and Men, quarrels often broke out between them and other peoples of Middle-earth.

Although Aule ceased to be actively involved in the events of Middle-earth after the War of Wrath and Fall of Morgoth, his power still lingers over his creations. The dwarves worship him like no other race but God and their father, while the elves still treasure and cherish his knowledge and skill.

The final episode of “The Rings of Power” will be released on October 14, 2022 in the Amazon Prime Video news program.