- "The Authorities, it is true, differ whether this last question was a mere ‘question’ and not a ‘riddle’ according to the strict rules of the Game."
- ― Prologue
The Authorities are a group mentioned fleetingly in a discussion regarding the Riddle-game between Bilbo Baggins and Gollum.
Considering that the rules of the Game were sacred, it's possible that the Authorities was another name for the Valar.
Authorities is also another name for the Aratar.
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "Prologue", "Of the Finding of the Ring"
- ↑ Michael Martinez, "Are There Any Christian Themes in The Hobbit?", Middle-earth and J.R.R. Tolkien News & Articles (accessed 8 July 2020); note that the reference is wrong, as the Authorities aren't mentioned in Riddles in the Dark.
- ↑ Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, entry "Authorities", according to information from Dick Plotz.
J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Appendix D. *Kwen, Quenya, and the Elvish (especially Ñoldorin) words for 'Language': Note on the 'Language of the Valar'"