In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Annatar is the new disguised form of Sauron. He believes that this majestic and beautiful Elf persona will win over Celebrimbor. When Sauron becomes Annatar, he sheds the noble and humble human characteristics of Halbrand, who was created to appeal to Galadriel's goals in season 1.
In season 1, Sauron's deception peaked when he disguised himself as Halbrand and spent most of the season by Galadriel's side. After Galadriel discovered his true identity, she warned Celebrimbor to avoid working with Halbrand/Sauron again, but that plan didn't quite work out at the start of season 2.
Sauron, now known as Annatar or the Lord of Gifts, has made a comeback in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2, episode 2, leaving fans wondering about the meaning behind his new form.
How did Sauron become Annatar in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power?
In the world of Tolkien, Sauron is a Maia—a powerful spirit who becomes corrupted. He can change his shape at will. Initially, Sauron serves the dark lord Morgoth. When Morgoth is defeated, Sauron attempts to take his place.
After being defeated, Sauron transforms into a beam of light and then becomes a dark, gooey substance. By consuming the flesh of various creatures, he takes on a human-like form and calls himself Halbrand, pretending to be the long-lost King of the Southlands. Although he can still assume his original form, this would only make his enemies, like Adar and Galadriel, more suspicious. By wearing a disguise, Sauron can deceive his enemies.
Sauron, still pretending to be Halbrand in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, dramatically transforms into Annatar in front of Celebrimbor. With loud explosions and flames, Sauron convinces Celebrimbor that the gods chose him to bring their creations to life on Earth. As Annatar, Sauron tricks Celebrimbor into believing he is destined to save Middle-earth from darkness by creating powerful rings—a desire that Celebrimbor strongly harbors.
Is Annatar an Elf or a Human?
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is a treasure trove of answers. The history of Middle-earth is truly fascinating, with some elements being well-known and others remaining a mystery.
Annatar was not an Elf in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Since Annatar was just another form of Sauron in disguise, he couldn't be an Elf. As an Ainur, Sauron was not an Elf. Even when he took the form of Annatar, he presented himself as an envoy of the Valar, not an Elf.
Sauron, disguised as Annatar, had to create a believable story to trick the Elves, which wasn't simple. The Elves were extremely intelligent and skilled at detecting deceit. Annatar used his knowledge of the Elves and pretended to be a messenger from the Valar, bringing gifts.
Did Galadriel trust Annatar?
Not all Elves trusted "Annatar". Galadriel, Elrond, and Gil-galad, the High King of the Ñoldor, had doubts about him. They soon realized they were right to be suspicious when they discovered he had created the One Ring to control all the others.
In Tolkien's lore, in 1200, a mysterious craftsman named Annatar showed up in the Elven city of Eregion. He claimed he was sent by the Valar to help the Elves. Sauron infiltrated the Elven smiths of Eregion, pretending to be someone else. He became friends with many, including the Gwaith-i-Mírdain, the Elven Jewel-smiths. These Elves wanted to learn more and feel closer to the light of Valinor, where the powerful beings lived.
So, they worked closely with "Annatar" and made most of the Rings of Power. However, Celebrimbor created the three rings for the Elves on his own, and Sauron did not corrupt them.
Both seasons of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power are now available for fans to stream online on Prime Video.
