Discussing The Lord of the Rings would be incomplete without mentioning the rings. The rings were skillfully crafted by the Elves of Middle Earth, unaware of Sauron's watchful eye.
Sauron himself created the One Ring, while the Rings of Power were intended to tempt the world's rulers towards evil, allowing Sauron to gain control over them. The One Ring, intended to be kept by Sauron, was connected to all the other rings. If it were to be destroyed, the powers of the other rings would also fade. It would be appropriate to revisit the history and significance of each of these remarkable rings after the conclusion of the first season of The Rings of Power.
The rings, bestowed upon the races of Middle Earth by Sauron, possessed a destructive and corruptive power that proved irresistible to the minds of most mortals. Sauron's intention was to tempt the leaders with the rings, making them easier to control. In order to remain incognito and avoid detection by the Elves, Sauron managed to convince the skilled Elven-smiths, led by Celebrimbor, to craft the rings with his guidance.
Out of the 19 rings forged, the Dwarves and Men were given 16 of them (seven to the Dwarves and nine to the Men). However, it's worth noting that the Elves independently forged three rings without any involvement from Sauron. The Elves have carefully safeguarded these three rings, ensuring they remained concealed from Sauron. It is important to note that these rings were not forged for the purpose of warfare, but rather to bring about healing and protection.
Could you please provide information about the Rings of Power and their creation in the books?
The history of the Rings of Power is extensive and intricate, and their role in the destiny of Middle Earth is undeniably crucial to the narrative of The Lord of the Rings. Here is a breakdown of The Rings of Power, including the rings given to the races of Men and Dwarves, the rings kept hidden by the Elves, and the One Ring, made by and for Sauron himself. The 19 rings, also referred to as the Lesser Rings, were bestowed upon the races of Middle Earth by Sauron with the intention of enticing them and influencing them to align with Sauron’s desires.
Men were bestowed with nine rings, granting them immortality. However, the eternal life they gained eventually became too much to bear. They experienced visions of Sauron due to the rings, and unfortunately, they were ultimately defeated by him. These individuals transformed into ringwraiths, commonly referred to as the Nazgûl. They served Sauron and possessed immense power, yet were entirely under his command. The leader of their group, the Witch-king of Angmar, held a high position as Sauron's second in command.
The Dwarves received seven of the lesser rings, but they did not submit to Sauron, as they were known for their resilience and hardiness. Nevertheless, the rings have sparked a strong desire for wealth among the Dwarves, resulting in their accumulation of immense riches. The leaders of the Dwarves who possessed the rings all succumbed to their insatiable desire for more. One of the most significant rings among the seven was entrusted to Durin III and later inherited by Thráin II. Unfortunately, Thráin II was deprived of it when he fell into the clutches of Sauron, who was cunningly disguised as the Necromancer. Unfortunately, the curse of the ring continued to afflict the descendants of Durin, even after it was taken from Thráin II. As a result, a "gold sickness" spread among the line of Durin. Thorin, son of Thrain and King Under the Mountain, also fell victim to this affliction.
'Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Adjusts the Elven Rings' Origin Slightly
The three remaining rings were crafted and owned by the Elves. They are known as Narya, Nenya, and Vilya. Each ring is linked to an element and possesses distinct abilities. They could only be seen by those who possessed a Ring of Power.
Narya was known for its association with fire and its power to bring people together and uplift them, instilling hope even in the darkest of times. The item was entrusted to CÃrdan, the esteemed ruler of the Havens of Mithlond, who later passed it on to Gandalf. Galadriel wielded Nenya. It had a radiant quality, associated with water. Samwise Gamgee once commented that Galadriel seemed to hold a star in her fingers, even though he couldn't see the ring itself.
It possessed the remarkable ability to preserve and safeguard; Galadriel utilised it to hide Lothlórien, a majestic Elven forest, from malevolence. Vilya, associated with wind, was possessed by the Elven King Gil-galad and was considered the most powerful of the three. After Gil-galad's passing, it was entrusted to Elrond. It is possible that Vilya possessed the ability to heal and protect, although it is not directly mentioned.
In The Rings of Power series, these three rings were forged first instead of being the last ones. Amidst the fading light of the Elves and the looming danger that threatened their existence, Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) skillfully forged the three Elven rings as a means to protect their kind. The three rings are crafted from Mithril and the gold and silver of Galadriel's brother's dagger, which originated from Valinor. They remain untouched by Sauron's influence, but their origins are quite distinct.
The One Ring was infused with Sauron's immense power.
The previous 19 rings were crafted with the assistance of the Elves, but the final ring, known as the "One Ring to rule them all," was solely crafted by Sauron. This ring had the ability to dominate the other rings and was made with a portion of Sauron's own power, enhancing its strength. The objective of Sauron was to utilise the One Ring to exert influence and manipulate the thoughts of those who possessed the lesser rings. Additionally, it possessed all the same powers as the other rings, but to a greater degree. The person who possessed the ring had the ability to read the thoughts of other ring-bearers and become invisible.
In an attempt to exert control over the other races, Sauron distributed the lesser rings to their leaders, aiming to manipulate their thoughts and desires. His ultimate goal was to gain dominion over the entirety of Middle Earth without resorting to warfare. The victory, unfortunately, did not unfold as smoothly as Sauron had hoped. In the War of the Last Alliance, Isildur, the son of Elendil and co-ruler of Gondor with his brother, managed to remove Sauron's finger and obtain the ring.
He held onto the ring until the end of his days, unable to resist its allure. During his journey to deliver the One Ring to Elrond, Isildur and his companions encountered a group of orcs who were drawn to the ring's immense power. Reluctant to part with the ring, Isildur tragically witnessed the loss of his sons before ultimately escaping and being swept away by a river. Regrettably, the ring was lost and Isildur met his demise due to orc arrows.
The One Ring was discovered by two hobbit cousins, Déagol and Sméagol. Unfortunately, Sméagol ended up taking the ring after a tragic incident involving Déagol.
Over time, the ring had a detrimental effect on Sméagol, corrupting him. Now referred to as Gollum, he managed to survive for 500 years thanks to the ring, until Bilbo Baggins took it away from him. Bilbo chose to keep the ring, ensuring its safekeeping throughout his entire journey alongside Thorin and the Dwarves as they embarked on their quest to reclaim Erebor. Later, he returned to the Shire, where he eventually passed the ring down to Frodo, thus beginning Frodo's journey and the main story of The Lord of the Rings.
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