Melkor, the Ainur’s first and most powerful Maia, was born of Eru Ilúvatar’s song. Initially, he inspired the other Ainur to weave harmony into the Music of the World. However, his pride and desire for dominion led him to corrupt this harmony. By introducing discord into the music, he became the first source of evil in Tolkien’s mythology. After the world’s creation, Melkor plagued Middle-earth with endless conflict, from the creation of the Dwarves (twisting Eru’s design) to the forging of the Silmarils—a theft of the very light of the Valar’s jewels.