Where does Gandalf come from?

[Earendil Halfelven]

I was just wondering if it says anywhere about where Gandalf and the Istari came from? I was looking in the Silmarillion but it doesn't say much. How old is Gandalf anyways?

[Legolas]

Gandalf is Olorin, as noted by The Silmarillion.

Five Maiar (Aiwendil = Radgast, Curumo = Saruman, Olorin = Gandalf, Alatar, and Pallando) were sent from Valinor by the Valar to aid the people of Middle-earth in their fight against Sauron. The Maiar were Ainur, the immortal spirits that existed before the creation of the world. When these five were sent to Middle-earth, they were disguised as old men, wizards, who were wise and aged slowly.

They weren't sent to fight the battle alone, but to simply aid/guide the people there against him.

Gandalf was the only one to stick to the mission though.

[ February 19, 2003: Message edited by: Legolas ]

[Adanadhel]

Gandalf is a Maia, sort of like an angel. He is older than the world. He came from the west - the undying lands - with the other 4 Istari (or wizards) to help organize the fight against Sauron (another Maia)

see Unfinished Tales - the chapter on Istari - for more info

[Inderjit Sanghera]

Also see HoME 12- Peoples of M-E ,for an essay on the Istari. (Or more specifacilly, the Blue wizards.)

Gandalf is mentioned in the Silmarillion as 'Olorin'-wisest of the Maia and counsellor if Irmo.

[Phrim]

I'm no expert on Elvish, but to me, Radagast's Valinorean name, Aiwendil, sounds distinctly Elvish, where the others (Olorin, Curumo, etc.) do not. Can anyone confirm/deny this?

[Legolas]

Christopher Tolkien offers this note about 'Aiwendil' in Unfinished Tales that suggests Quenya origin:

Aiwendil must mean "lover of birds;" cf. Linaewen "lake of birds" in Nevrast (see the Appendix to The Silmarillion, entry lin (I).)

I certainly sense the Elvish feel to it too, if I'm qualified to recognize and/or acknowledge such a feel.

[ February 19, 2003: Message edited by: Legolas ]

[Cibbwin]

Why was Gandalf the only one to stick to the actual plan? I mean, this might sound kind of redundant(did I just butcher that word) but why is he the only one to stay true? Any thoughts?

[obloquy]

PLEASE CALL ME PEDRO

[Gorwingel]

Probably someone else on the forum would know more than me about that. All I know is Gandalf was the only one who actually finished the mission that he was sent to do. Saurman was corrupted by Sauron's dark forces (there is probably a better way to word that). Radgast decided to keep away from the battles of the ring and Sauron, he decided to keep busy with matters of the earth, and the animals (there is probably a better way to word that too). And then we never hear about any of the other wizards (or at least in any of the books that I have read, maybe they talk about them more in HoME, but I doubt it) because I guess they were corrupted by the dark forces long ago.
Gandalf was "killed" by the Balrog, he gave up his life for the survival of the fellowship, thus the powers of Valinor sent him back to complete his quest. (ok, that is me doing my best, probably someone can fill in the blanks that I left out, and there is probably some other threads on this exact topic) So maybe he was the only one to complete the quest because he got a second chance.

[Inderjit Sanghera]

he gave up his life for the survival of the fellowship, thus the powers of Valinor sent him back to complete his quest

It was Eru, the one, who sent him back, not the Valar, as Tolkien tells us in one of his letters.

[ February 20, 2003: Message edited by: Inderjit Sanghera ]