Elatar

The Elatar, also known as the Great Five or the Mighty Five and the Holy Ones of the Maiar, are the greatest, wisest and most powerful of all the Maiar.

Ilmarë is the Queen and Leader of the Elatar. She is also the Queen and Leader of all the Maiar. Ilmarë is greatest and most powerful of all the Maiar, her wisdom is equal to that of other Elatar. Arien is second greatest and most powerful of the Elatar. She is the Creator of Fire, Lady of Fire and Guardian of the Sun. She also guides the Sun. Uinen third greatest and most powerful of the Elatar. She is the Lady of the Sea, Spirit of the Sea, The Tempest Calmer, Calmer of the Sea. Melian is fourth greatest and most poweful of the Elatar. She is Queen of Doriath and Creator of the Girdle of Melian. Tilien is fifth greatest and most powerful of the Elatar. She is the Lady of the Moon, The Silver Lady and she also guides the Moon.

Originally, the Elatar (the Holy Ones of the Maiar), Ilmarë, Arien, Uinen, Melian and Tilien were chosen as the five emissaries of the Valar. They would took the form of Old Women, very similar to that of the Wizards (just in female form). There purpose was suposed to be the same as the purpose of the Wizards (to aid and guide the Free Peoples of Middle-earth and to oppose Sauron). However, the idea of the Elatar beign the emissaries of the Valar was abandoned by the Valar for two reasons. Firstly, they were too powerful, even in their dimished form and their powers would destroy Middle-earth (just like the whole Continent Beleriand was destroyed and it sanked into the Sea as the result of the War of Wrath). Secondly, each of them, already had a task which they performed (Ilmarë is the Leader of the Elatar and also Queen of the Maiar and Guardian of the Stars, Arien was guiding the Sun, Uinen was the Lady of the Sea, Melian was the Queen of Doriath and Tilien was guiding the Moon). So the Valar had chosen the lesser Maiar to sent to Middle-earth, Olórin(Gandalf) who belonged to Varda and Manwë, Aiwendil(Radagast) who belonged to Yavanna, Curumo(Saruman) who belonged to Aulë, Morinehtar(Alatar) and Rómestámo(Pallando) who belonged to Oromë.