gandalf as a maia

[Formendacil]

Just to get back to the original topic of the thread, it says that the Istari came to Middle-earth in the FORM of men, meaning tha physically speaking, their bodies were those of Men.

So, to those who knew no better, it was obvious to assume that they were men. Of course, once it was apparent that they had longer life than most, it would be obvious that they were more than ordinary men (wizards, if I may use the word). But only those who knew from whence they came (namely the Elves), would guess that that power came from being Maiar. They would assume that they were just very learned men (and I believe that Tolkien says something similar somewhere).

Now, most of the important Elves would likely know that the Istari arrived from the West, and the nature of getting back from Valinor being what it was, I think they would guess that the Istari were probably Maiar, but they really wouldn't have any way of knowing for sure unless they told, which it appears that they didn't.

A thought that came to me though is that in one of the ideas concerning the origin of the elessar, Gandalf brings it back from Aman, and gives it to Galadriel. In doing so, he practically tells her that he was from Valinor (if not that he was a Maia). Although this is hardly Tolkien's last word on the subject, perhaps it is indicative that it was known by the wise in Middle-earth that the Istari were Valinorean in origin.