From The Lord of the Rings
by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Istari, a group of Maiar sent to Middle Earth as old men by the Valar, play a pivotal role in J.R.R. Tolkien's stories and are some mighty wizards.
Gandalf the Grey, later the White:
A powerful wizard, and mentor to the Fellowship of the Ring, and a generally all-around friendly guy. Known for his power, wisdom, and courage, the Shirefolk claim that he has the best fireworks around.
Saruman the White, later of Many Colors:
A skilled sorcerer and formidable foe, Saruman is as “Trixie” as the day is long. This once powerful wizard fell from grace into the darkness with his friend Sauron and turned into a murderous villain.
Radagast the Brown:
A wise and gentle soul who would much rather surround himself with nature and animals. His role in the stories was just as crucial in propelling the stories along as the rest of the Istari, except for the two blues. No one knows what happened to them...
Honorable Mentions:
Many Elves had magical abilities but were not called witches or wizards. Yet, I give a nod to Glorfindel, Galadriel, and Elrond the Predhil.
From the Shadow and Bone Series
by Leigh Bardugo
Within the Ravka Empire, there exists a magical society called the Grisha.
Not all Grisha have the magical abilities to make them real witches or wizards, but their unique powers and influence align with both archetypes, sparking intrigue and fascination among readers.
Not to mention, the books are brilliant reads.
Alina Starkov:
The main protagonist in the story. This Grisha soldier is a powerful Sun Summoner, one of the most powerful Grisha ever to live, capable of controlling light. She can destroy the volcra and the shadow fold.
The Darkling:
The series’ main antagonist, is a Shadow Summoner, the former Second in Command of all Ravka, and the former leader of the Second Army.
Nina Zinek:
A Grisha Corporalnik, trained as a heartrend but eventually stopped manipulating living bodies and started manipulating dead ones instead. With newfound abilities, she becomes a “Corpsewitch.”
Other Notable Witches And Wizards From Literature
Morgan Le Fay:
A powerful sorceress from Arthurian legend. A powerful sorceress who is often portrayed as a half-sister to King Arthur. She is known for her magical abilities and her rivalry with Arthur.
From Greek Mythology:
Circe:
The sorceress is known to bend reality to her and her Island’s will using her potions and spells. With this ability, she turned men into pigs. Circe played a significant role in Homer’s Odyssey.
Medea:
The Greek sorceress is known for her powerful magic and tragic love for Jason. Appearing in the Argonautica by Apollonios Rhodios, she gives meaning to “a woman scorned.”
Hecate:
Last but never least, it would be wrong not to include this Lady Titan of Witches in this list.
Hecate is the Goddess of witchcraft, magic, and the crossroads. She is often depicted as a three-headed figure associated with the Underworld. Hecate guides Demeter in her search for her daughter, Persephone.
In Hesiod's Theogony, Hecate became active in human affairs and granted various blessings to humankind.
