30 facts about Gandalf to rule them all

30 facts about Gandalf to rule them all

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"Fly, idiots!"

But what happened after Gandalf fell into the abyss to fight the Balrog was far more than what the adaptation has said.

The wizard is much more than the movies can convey.

So here are 30 wild facts about Gandalf to give you more insight into this wise wizard!

Gandalf comes from a race called the Maiar, shape-shifting spirits.

He is considered to be the wisest of the Maiar.

Along with the other 4 Maiars, Gandalf was sent to Middle Earth to help the people fight against the forces of evil.

When Gandalf found that he had been chosen to go to Middle-earth, at first he did not want to go for fear of Sauron.

Gandalf's original name was Olórin.

Gandalf's name translates from the old Mannish to "Elf of the Wand", referring to the stick he is always with.

As a Maia, this meant that Gandalf's spirit was immortal, but his body was not.

The entire fight with Balrog, from the bridge to the fall of the Balrog, lasted 10 days.

When Gandalf died in the battle with the Balrog, 20 days later he was sent back to replace the corrupted Saruman.

Because he is immortal, there is no way of telling how old Gandalf is - but his soul may have existed since the very beginning.

Just as Sauron is the personification of evil, Gandalf is the embodiment of good.

Gandalf stayed in Middle Earth for four years after the ring was destroyed, spending most of his time with Tom Bombadil.

Gandalf abandoned his habit of pipe tobacco smoking by spending so much time with hobbits.

Before The Ring's time, Gandalf had spent his time wandering among the Liberals of Middle Earth.

In a search with Bilbo and the dwarves, Gandalf found the ancient sword, the Glamdring, in a demon cave.

While in Middle-earth, Gandalf was called by 15 different names.

Gandalf's look was inspired by a postcard that J. R. R. Tolkien bought in Switzerland.

Gandalf used telepathy, not magic, to free Théoden from Saruman's mind control.

Of the three powerful Elven rings, Gandalf was given to Narya, which was capable of manipulating fire and light.

It is believed that out of the 5 Maiar sent to Middle Earth, Gandalf was the only one who remained loyal to his mission.

Before Thráin II, King Dwarf and father of Thorin Oakenshield, died, he gave Gandalf the map and key to the Lonely Mountain.

Gandalf bought his horse, Shadowfax, from Theodin.

Gandalf spent more than 2,000 years in Middle-earth before sailing across the sea back to Valinor, also known as the Immortal Land.

Initially, Galadriel wanted Gandalf to be the head of the White Council, but he refused because he didn't want to be restricted by anything except Valar who sent him.

Gandalf suspected that the Necromancer was Sauron before anyone else did.

Wise, Gandalf did not expect Saruman to join Sauron.

Gandalf's eyebrows are described as long and bushy that they stick out under the brim of his hat!

Tolkien never determined the limits of Gandalf's magic.

Gandalf met Thorin Oakenshield during a chance encounter at the Bree.

After Gandalf persuaded Bilbo to leave The Ring with Frodo, he left and spent the next 17 years researching and searching for answers about The Ring before returning to Frodo.