April 15, 2002

Re: Re: Who's the First?
Richard P.

In any case the answer to who is the first is then going to be Bombadil, if he was there before the Valar came to Middle-earth that means the he was there before Yavvana created the Ents. Admitedly he is probably not the oldest mortal since Ents can be killed (though its very hard); while it has been suggested that Bombadil will be there until the end of Middle-earth. He could be a Maia of Valar, but that is kind of ruled out by him being, "there before the great ones came out of the West". I personally don't think he is Illuvatar as Eru the One takes a generally non-intrusive role in Middle-earth.

In any case, he is definatly living, as he is not a god (Valar) or an "angel" (Maia), it is extremly unlikely that he is Illuvatar, and he seems to have a set lifespan, when Middle-earth goes, so will he, whearas the Valar and Maia will endure beyond the end of Arda (or be released from its running). [I think; although there's not a whole lot of evidence you can use to prove it, Tolkien didn't really write all that much about events after the Fourth Age]

So in my opinion it is Bombadil who is the oldest thing, and probably also the oldest living thing, on Middle-earth.