Annatar

Annatar is a name used by the Dark Lord Sauron in J. R. R. Tolkien’s legendarium. In the Second Age he appeared to the Elves of Eregion under the guise of a benevolent emissary, presenting himself as “Annatar, the Lord of Gifts” (often rendered as gift-giver or lord of gifts in Quenya). This persona was designed to win trust and to impart knowledge of crafts and metalwork to the Elven smiths, particularly those of Celebrimbor and the Gwaith-i-Medhros.

In this role, Annatar aided the Elves in the forging of the Rings of Power. The Elves created three rings of their own, while Sauron—still in disguise—assisted in the broader ring-craft. The Seven were forged for Dwarves and the Nine for Men, all intended to extend Sauron’s influence. The One Ring, forged by Sauron in secret and intended to dominate the others, completed the overarching plan. The deceit began to unravel as Celebrimbor and others realized the true purpose behind Annatar’s teachings and the rings themselves.

Annatar remains a central example of Sauron’s method of subterfuge and promises of beneficence to further his aims. The name marks a deliberate contrast between his outward, gracious presentation and his true objective of domination through the Rings of Power. In Tolkien’s mythology, the revelation of his identity and the subsequent wars led to Sauron’s temporary defeat, though the power and shadow of the Rings persisted for ages.