After he was defeated in the Dagorlad, he was a spirit. He needs the ring to take on Physical form. What better body part then an eye could you imagine to see at what your enemies and servants were doing? What are your thoughts on this?
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Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo! Ring a dong! hop along! fal lal the willow! Tom Bom, Jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!
I would say that Sauron was ultimately physical in the Third Age, and did not need the One to rebuild his body, but needed the One to exist.
There is Gollum's description of Sauron's hand or fingers in The Lord of the Rings, and there's a variety of comments from JRRT in his letters -- which include the explanations: that Sauron was always de-bodied when vanquished, or that it took Sauron longer to rebuild his form after the Last Alliance than it had after the fall of Númenor -- and that it was impossible for Sauron to rebuild after the destruction of the Ring (destruction, not loss).
And in letter 246 (to quote another reference) Tolkien notes: 'Sauron should be thought of as very terrible. The form that he took was that of a man of more than human stature, but not gigantic.'
But also note the context with respect to the time period (same letter):
'In the contest with the Palantír Aragorn was the rightful owner. Also the contest took place at a distance, and in a tale which allows the incarnation of great spirits in a physical and destructible form their power must be far greater when actually physically present. Sauron should be thought of as very terrible. The form that he took was that of a man of more than human stature but not gigantic.'
-- Edited by Galin on Monday 12th of September 2011 01:03:51 PM
Tolkien's letters are very interesting and well worth the read Huan. Since they are spread out over many years, they too can sometimes represent changing conceptions -- but in this case (Sauron's body), I find JRRT to be quite consistent.
Are there cases in the letters where Tolkien gives two ideas about the same concept? As in, letter 240 may contradict letter 17 because Tolkien changed his mind?
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But no wizardry nor spell, neither fang nor venom,nor devil's art nor beast-strength, could overthrow Huan of Valinor;
Many believe the 'Eye' is meant as a metaphor for the will of Sauron 'searching' in his Palantir. Though if my memory serves I don't think you subscribe to that idea Galin?
Huan the great hound wrote:Are there cases in the letters where Tolkien gives two ideas about the same concept? As in, letter 240 may contradict letter 17 because Tolkien changed his mind?
At the moment I can't remember an exact letter contradicting another letter (which doesn't mean there isn't any instances of this), but certainly there are letters that contradict other texts merely because Tolkien had changed his mind about something. What I do recall at the moment is that all of JRRT's letters seem (to me) to be consistent about Sauron.
As for the Eye of Sauron I think (in an old thread here) I included the possibilities of: metaphor, emblem, and vision -- depending upon the quote -- that is, the 'Eye of Sauron' is a fluid description, or can be.
But one thing I don't think it ever refers to is a physical eye independent of Sauron. It's physical as an emblem of course, as that's a physical thing, such as a painted badge upon a shield.
Wow Galin, You really know your stuff... Thanks for the clarification. 
