Yes, I know he rules Middle Earth with a terrible iron fist, brings death and destruction, and enslaves the free peoples.
But more specifically, how much of his power does Sauron regain when he repossesses it? Would he have then been able to take a body again? Or would he still need to rule through his agents?
Any other random thoughts and speculation are welcome here.
Part of Sauron’s powers rests in the rings he made and gave to the other races. He needs those rings to control them. So, the extent of his power would depend on the other races using their rings, and being influenced through them by Sauron.
IIRC, once the elves realized what Sauron intended to do with the rings he gave them, they hid their three rings and did not use them. Only after the One Ring was thought lost forever (swept out to sea by the river in which Isildur died) did the elves begin to use the powers of their rings to create places like Rivendell and Lothlorien.
The re-discovery of the One Ring, whether in Sauron’s hands or not, signals the beginning of the end of the elves’ way of life.
Well, I presume that power and control over the other rings is a big part of it. Although it’s sort of a moot point in the case of the 9 rings given to the humans, as those guys already fell under his control long before, and they are now the Nazgul.
However, the Three – the Elven rings – are not currently under his control, and are pretty much hidden from him. Gaining the One would allow him to control and command the three elven rings, too – and I presume that means being able to see everything that is going on in those places and being able to control their bearers. And I believe that Galadriel has one of them, and another was given to Gandalf’s keeping.
So would he have regained enough power to corporeate again?
Shall we get into the Third Theme of Illuvatar? All things in the music of the Ainur had their beginning in the thought of Illuvatar.
So, although the ends are hidden, even from the wise, in the foundation of Sauron’s power is the source of its own destruction, even if it should overcome the elves. Great though the suffering, in the end, evil would destroy itself, and good, long thwarted, would rise again, amidst the ashes.
Not to say it wouldn’t suck, though.
“We better get back, cause it’ll be dark soon, and they mostly come at night, mostly.” ~ Newt, Aliens ~
If the wearers of the “three” rings continued to wear their rings while Sauron had the “one”, he would at a minimum know their thoughts, and he might be able to control them, particularly the longer they wore them while he wore the one.
The ring had more powers than just controlling the other rings: it had the power to vastly increase the perceived stature of the bearer of the ring. Note that Frodo easily cowed Gollum and had planted a subconscious command for Gollum to make his final misstep.
The ring also made the wearer invisible, presumably a more skilled and powerful wearer could appear to others.
But most importantly, it is worth noting, that a great portion of Sauron’s power, malice and will to dominate others went into the ring, and a wearer would be able to access this power and the ring would turn these uses always to Sauron’s will. Sauron focused and enhanced his power by putting it into the ring, but it was alway, altogether evil.
In the book he had already taken bodily form by the events of LOTR
So the creation of these sacred spaces was via not just inherent elf power but ring power?
If you can call being a flaming lidless eye “bodily form”.
Yeah, exactly. After the fall of Numenor, he lost the ability to take a pleasing shape, and he took a new body for the battle against the Last Alliance. When Isildur cut the ring from his hand, his body was gone again, and I was under the impression that his “flaming lidless eye” was for lack of a better or more solid form.
Is this not the case? And if not, where can I find it?
Here is the final answer, from The Encyclopedia of Arda. The section titled “Movie-goer’s Guide” is mandatory reading for folks who haven’t read the books yet.
“this is not one of the Ulairi, as many have long supposed. It is Sauron himself who has taken shape again and now grows apace; and he is gathering again all the Rings to his hand; and he seeks ever for news of the One, and of the Heirs of Isildur, if they live still on earth”
From “OF THE RINGS OF POWER AND THE THIRD AGE” in The Silmarillion
Also, Quoting Gollum, who had been taken before Sauron in Barad-Dur. (Approximating) “Yes, he has only 4 fingers on his black hand, but they are enough”.
Sounds like he’s embodied to me.
Dang! c_carol beat me! Nicely done! Gotta keep the reference volumes handy to the computer, not on the second floor, while I’m typing down here in the basement!
Yes, I believe so, though I can’t conjure up a reference as readily as our colleagues here. This was one of the elements which the film glossed over (though perhaps the recently released extended version includes it), but you can still see traces of it. Elrond’s debate with Gandalf prior to the council meeting at Rivendell takes on a certain edge: the One Ring cannot remain in Rivendell because it is too powerful and a dangerous temptation; but the destruction of it, however necessary, will mean that Rivendell’s power will fade. The elves will leave Middle-Earth and sail west across the sea – as many have already done by this time – and so Elrond wonders to whom will be entrusted the future once his people are gone. To him the re-discovery of the One Ring heralds the twilight of elven history. Galadriel also receives Frodo in Lothlorien with a certain amount of reluctance, because of what he, as Ring-bearer, represents.
There is a third ring but I can’t remember who had it. Monstre suggests that Gandalf himself had one.
We know what happened the “Nine rings for mortal men, doomed to die”, but I don’t know what became of the seven rings given to the dwarves.
Celebrimbor made all 3 rings, having benefitted from the teachings of “Annatar” (Sauron), but without Sauron’s participation or supervision. Celebrimbor gave Nenya to Galadriel himself. He gave Vilya and Narya to Gil-Galad, before Sauron laid siege to Eregion. Gil-Galad gave Narya to Cirdan, who later gave it to Gandalf. Gil-Galad kept Vilya himself, until just before the last battle, when he gave it to Elrond.
Ah, I had forgotten about the four fingers on the black hand. Frodo only had four fingers on his ring hand. So we have an eye (as depicted on the original book covers) and a four fingered hand.
According to Gandalf in chapter 2 of FOTR (I’m re-reading it at the moment), “Seven the Dwarf-kings possessed, but three he has recovered, and the others the dragons have consumed”.
So, I guess Sauron would also gain control of some dragon bowels… 
Hrm…Is there any more regarding his form than has been posted here? I don’t recall his making an actual appearance in the book, and I managed to let the movie color my memory. haha
Thanks for the correction.
Yes, there is stuff in the Silmarillion back when the evil one had form.
Oooh, I wouldn’t want to be the minion in charge of that mission. . .
:eek: