Who is truly the oldest creature in Middle Earth-the Ents, the Elves, or Tom Bombadil?

Answer 1

Tom Bombadil says he watched the "little people" (Elves) come to Middle Earth and wake the trees into Ents. (Most Ents are older than most of the Elves you see in Lord of the Rings, however, as they are not the eldest and most powerful elves; Elrond himself was standard bearer in the host of the first war of good vs. evil. Standard bearers are usually above the rank and file, but below most officers.)

Answer 2

Gandalf and Sauron were around even before Middle Earth was created, so I'd say they're the oldest. They're something on the level of angels. I'm not exactly sure what Tom Bombadil is except he seems to be some kind of earth spirit.

Answer 3

Tom Bombadill, of those three However Ungoliat is at least as old if not older, and Illvutar was before middle earth, while not in it the Ainu or Valar specifically Manwe and Ulmo have been know to appear close to and sometimes in middle earth and they helped create it according to the mythology.

Answer 4

That would be Tom Bombadil.

When frodo asks who he is he said that he was old when the elf children woke up and he watched the little people come to this little land.

It was the Elves who started the ent lives. They taught them to walk and talk. I think they were lonely.

Answer 5

Technically it's Tom Bombadil 'cos he's a Maiar spirit.

Answer 6

Tom Bombadil because " He will be last,as he was first, and then night will come" Gandalf or Elrond at the council of Elrond

Answer 7

Definately the Ents.

Answer 8

Eru, the creator, is eternal. His first creations were the Valar, the chorus of spiritual beings whose music in turn created the cosmos.

Answer 9

Good old Tom Bombadil. If you like his style, see if you can figure out who he was based on. http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/kveng/index.htm

Answer 10

I say the Ents, but that's not based on any research at all.