The Valar and the Maiar both have an enigmatic presence in The Lord of the Rings, but J.R.R. Tolkien explained the difference between the two in The Silmarillion. The Valar (the plural of Vala) are referenced throughout Tolkien’s masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, published in three parts between 1954 and 1955. They are also referenced in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, which adapted a part of the novel per movie, released between 2001 and 2003. Yet, the Maiar (the plural of Maia) feature most heavily in the book and movies.
