The Truth About What Tom Bombadil Really Is

Join us as we explore one of the greatest mysteries in Middle earth: what is Tom Bombadil really? Ancient even by the standards of Tolkien’s world, Tom claims to have existed before the Dark Lord came from outside, yet almost nothing about his true nature is ever clearly explained. The One Ring appears to have no power over him. He can wear it without disappearing, sees Frodo while he is invisible, and willingly gives the Ring back without any desire to possess it. These strange abilities have inspired countless theories about whether Tom is a Maia, a spirit of nature, something even older, or a being that simply does not fit into any known category. From his mysterious origins to his strange relationship with the One Ring, this video explores everything Tolkien revealed about Tom Bombadil, the biggest theories surrounding his identity, and why the mystery of what he truly is may have been deliberately left unanswered.