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Three rings for the Elven-kings under the sky.
They were the only Rings of Power untainted by Sauron’s direct influence.
Crafted by the great smiths of Eregion and at great lengths, kept from falling into the
hands of the dark lord.
Today, on Nerd of the Rings, we’re covering the origin, the history, and the abilities
of The Three Elven Rings of Power.
Around 1200 of the Second Age, Sauron in his fair form of Annatar (lord of gifts), begins
working to corrupt the elves.
He gains a foothold in Eregion.
Infiltrating the realm and working with the Gwaith-i-Mirdain (people of the jewel-smiths)
- a brotherhood of great elven craftsman, led by their lord Celebrimbor - the greatest
elven smith since his grandfather Feanor.
These Noldorian smiths had a desire to bring the joys of Valinor to Middle-earth, making
them susceptible to Sauron’s deception.
He teaches them the manner of creating the Rings of Power, with the promise they would
slow the decay of the world, preserving the things they cared for, and enhancing their power.
Sometime in the next 300 years, the elves forge lesser rings - what Gandalf calls mere
essays in the craft.
These rings were plain, without jewels, similar in appearance to the One Ring at a glance
- partially explaining why it was assumed for many years that Bilbo’s was one of these lesser rings.
Finally, in 1500, the Gwaith-i-Mirdain begin forging the great Rings of Power.
Together, with Sauron’s help, they forge 16 great rings, which we will cover in videos of their own.
After Sauron leaves Eregion, heading to Mordor to forge his greatest of rings, Celebrimbor
and his elves forge three rings on their own - the elven Rings of Power.
Having been created without Sauron’s help, these three rings are free from his corrupting influence.
The three rings are named after the three elements of Water, Fire, and Air.
Nenya, the Ring of Water, is made of Mithril with a stone of adamant and is considered
the chief of the Three.
Narya, the Ring of Fire has a ruby setting, and Vilya, the Ring of Air is made of gold
with a stone of sapphire.
While Nenya is the chief ring, Vilya is the mightest of the Three.
It just so happens that the Three elven rings - important objects of the Second and Third
Ages, have a connection to the Silmarils - greatly important objects of the First Age.
The elements of the rings - Water, Fire and Air - correspond with the fates of the three Silmarils.
One is cast by Maglor into the sea at the end of the First Age, one Maedhros took with
him as he cast himself into a fiery chasm around the same time, and the third is worn
upon the brow of Earendil and is in the sky as a great star.
In 1600 SA, Sauron creates the One Ring, and putting it on, his treachery is revealed to
the elves, who take off their rings.
Celebrimbor, perceiving Sauron’s mind, sends the three rings to other great elves to keep
them from falling into Sauron’s hands.
He sends the chief of the three to Galadriel, who was now living in Lothlorien.
She advises him to send the other two to Lindon, farther away from Sauron.
They are sent to the High King Gil-galad, who takes Vilya himself, while giving Narya
to Cirdan the Shipwright.
By 1697, Sauron has laid waste to Eregion, and sacked it’s capital Ost-in-Edhil.
He seizes control of the 16 Rings of Power, but cannot find the Three.
Of the Three Rings, Tolkien states, “And of all the Elven-rings Sauron most desired
to possess them, for those who had them in their keeping could ward off the decays of
time and postpone the weariness of the world.”
In his deep desire to obtain the Three, Sauron tortures Celebrimbor to determine their hiding place.
Celebrimbor, however, would reveal nothing to the dark lord, and is put to death.
While Cirdan and Galadriel would continue to possess their rings, Gil-galad would pass
his on to Elrond prior to the War of the Last Alliance.
In this War, Gil-galad would fall alongside Elendil as they defeat Sauron.
While the loss of the high king is a tremendous blow to the elves, with Sauron defeated and
his ring taken by Isildur, they are free to once again use their Three Rings of Power.
Galadriel, with Nenya, would make Lothlorien into a great and beautiful realm, harkening
back to the days of old.
Meanwhile, Elrond would return to Rivendell, which would be a safe haven for thousands of years.
Cirdan remains in Lindon, specifically the Grey Havens, where he would possess the Ring
of Fire for the next 1000 years.
In that year of 1000 of the Third Age, emissaries of the Valar would arrive in Middle-earth
in order to help the men and elves combat the resurgent threat of Sauron.
As Cirdan meets Saruman the White, Radagast the Brown, and Gandalf the Grey, he gives
his Ring of Power not to the leader Saruman, but to Gandalf.
Perceiving that the wizard would have great use for such a ring in his journeys and duties.
This quote from Cirdan alludes to a unique ability of his ring.
Narya, carried by Gandalf, is said to have the power to inspire others to resist tyranny
- something we see Gandalf do quite often - perhaps no greater a situation than the
Siege of Minas Tirith.
Nenya, Galadriel’s ring, as it is said of all the elven rings, enables her to preserve
Lorien from the decay of time.
However, it’s power goes beyond that.
With Nenya, Galadriel is able to make Lorien into a great and beautiful realm that harkens
back to the great realms of old.
We even hear of this ring being helpful in protecting Lorien from later attacks by orcs
- for Lorien would be attacked from Dol Guldur while war was marching upon Minas Tirith.
With Galadriel expelling the orcs each time.
As for Vilya, we are never directly told of a specific power aside from the general preservation
ability - allowing Rivendell to become a great refuge of it’s own.
Knowing that it is considered the greatest of the three, there are many great theories
on what this could have meant.
Perhaps it was similar to Galadriel’s, allowing Elrond to keep Rivendell safe from would-be
attackers, as we see at the Ford of Bruinen.
Another great possibility is that it enhanced it’s wearer’s natural gifts of wisdom
and healing - perhaps aiding Elrond in treating the wounds Frodo receives from the cursed
blade of the Witch King.
While the Three Rings were not connected to the One in the same way as, say, the Nine,
which enabled Sauron to enslave men into ringwraiths, their powers were still connected.
Since these rings were still made using the teachings the elves had received from Sauron,
they could not be wholly separate from the Ruling Ring.
Thus, when the One Ring is destroyed and Sauron is finally defeated, the power of the Three
Rings begins to fade.
Their power gone, the rings are nothing more than mere relics of a bygone age.
No longer having the ability to preserve the lore and beauty of their realms, Elrond and
Galadriel go with Gandalf to the Grey Havens.
The three rings and their bearers would take the White Ship and sail into the West, ending
the Third Age, and ushering in the Fourth.
As the Dominion of Men begins, the time of the Elves and their rings comes to a close.
I plan to make videos for each group of rings - so be sure to hit Subscribe and the Bell
so you don’t miss The Dwarven Rings of Power here on Nerd of the Rings.
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you can pick up one of the fantastic maps at LordofMaps.com to see your own realm drawn
in this fantastic style.
They have a wide selection from around the world, and are always working on new maps.
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