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Anubis1000 — Ainulindale I

Published: 2012-02-21 20:08:07 +0000 UTC; Views: 1732; Favourites: 41; Downloads: 0
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Description "There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar"
- The Silmarillion


A photo-collage depicting Ilúvatar from Tokien's "The Silmarillion"

I decided, after much consternation and procrastination...that I would finally attempt to depict the creator of all beings in Middle Earth, Eru Ilúvatar.

He is, after all, the very first image we as readers are presented with in the telling of the Silmarillion. Albeit, how do you depict a formless god. There was never any description of Iluvatar in any of the writings that I am aware of.

I took my inspiration from the iconic depiction of the maia Sauron's flame wreathed eye.

It is told that Sauron actually did have a form pleasant to behold, or could take on a from that was more humanoid then the floating fiery eyeball he had been reduced to at the end of the Third Age and the events of The Lord Of The Rings.

The Valar and Maiar of Middle Earth may take on the forms of their choosing due to their angelic and spiritual natures...as well as at times discard these forms at will.

It seemed to me that this would hold true of Ilúvatar as well.

If Sauron's eye was the embodiment of his most base form, and its depiction was twisted by his hate and malice...perhaps Ilúvatar could also be depicted in much the same way...and due to his temperment as a being a benevolence could be depicted as an angelic, breathtaking and beautiful eye in opposition to Saurons tyrannical form.

After messing with the final image a little more on my cell phone...I came up with this more painted image.

I also added a little more photcollage elements to the piece...I may still mess with it some more but wanted to upload ot for your consideration....hope you like it."


Here is a link to my Silmarillion Blog for more images:

The Silmarillion Project: [link]
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Comments: 7

Hosker25 [2012-06-17 23:23:48 +0000 UTC]

He is not explicitly described, but he's implied to have a humanoid form: he sits and a throne, smiles, raises both hands etc. Nevertheless, I really like your imagining of him.

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Anubis1000 In reply to Hosker25 [2012-06-19 22:43:37 +0000 UTC]

I thought it added more spirituality and power to his illusiveness and creator status to not have a physical form....

Thats why i used the form of an eye to insinuate that Iluvatar COULD take a form if he so chose...but for the purpose of these images the formless spiritual being of iluvatar worked better for me

thanks for your comment

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Kitt-Otter [2012-02-25 19:48:23 +0000 UTC]

The pupil is hypnotizing. Everything in this image screams Awesome Depth and Greatness!

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Anubis1000 In reply to Kitt-Otter [2012-02-28 03:13:02 +0000 UTC]

I really am grateful you are digging the series )

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Anubis1000 [2012-02-22 19:18:06 +0000 UTC]

Thank You. Im glad someone GOT it. It spurs me on to do more of this series....

I do have a direction im trying to take it in but it wont be apparent till i get more images in the serie.

BTW I really really appreciate your comment. I really needed that

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jayden444 [2012-02-22 02:22:11 +0000 UTC]

The first thing I thought of when i saw this was EA, and how the music might have first started taking shape in the void. That globe (pupil) really draws your attention. Excellent job on this!

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Anubis1000 In reply to jayden444 [2012-02-22 19:37:11 +0000 UTC]

Id love to talk with you about your Silmarillion art

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