Part 3/7:
Barbárvore: The Ancient Ent
On the other hand, we have Barbárvore, known as Treebeard, a shepherd of the forest and the oldest of the Ents. During a critical moment in The Two Towers, Gandalf acknowledges Barbárvore's age when he describes him, stating that he is “the oldest being who still walks under the sun.” Despite this claim, the ambiguity arises around the context of "oldest." While Barbárvore holds profound antiquity among the native inhabitants of Middle-earth, it does leave room for interpretation regarding other beings that might exist beyond the physical realm.
Gandalf, being a Maia—an ancient spirit of creation—clearly recognizes an ontological hierarchy that includes beings older than Barbárvore but does not dismiss Treebeard's significance in the world of Middle-earth.