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[[Image:John Howe - Mithril.jpg|thumb|''Mithril'' by [[John Howe]]]]
{{disambig-two|the precious metal of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s [[legendarium]]|the real-world producers of metal mintiatures|[[Mithril Miniatures]]}}
'''''Mithril''''' is a precious silvery metal, stronger than steel but much lighter in weight, which was mined by the [[Dwarves]] in the mines of [[Khazad-dûm]]. The name ''mithril'' comes from two words in [[Sindarin]] — ''[[mith]]'' meaning "grey", and ''[[ril]]'' meaning "glitter". ''Mithril'' was also called "true-silver" by [[Men]], while the [[Dwarves]] had their own, secret name for it.


The wizard [[Gandalf]] explained ''mithril'' to the Company, passing through Khazad-dûm, the Mines of Moria:
[[Image:John Howe - Mithril.jpg|thumb|[[John Howe]] - ''Mithril'']]
{{quote|The wealth of Moria was not in gold and jewels, the toys of the Dwarves; nor in iron, their servant... Its worth was ten times that of gold, and now it is beyond price; for little is left above ground, and even the [[Orcs]] dare not delve here for it.<p>''Mithril!'' All folk desired it. It could be beaten like copper, and polished like glass; and the Dwarves could make of it a metal, light and yet harder than tempered steel. Its beauty was like to that of common silver, but the beauty of ''mithril'' did not tarnish or grow dim.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Journey in the Dark]]")}}
{{quote| ''Mithril!'' All folk desired it. It could be beaten like copper, and polished like glass; and the Dwarves could make of it a metal, light and yet harder than tempered steel. Its beauty was like to that of common silver, but the beauty of ''mithril'' did not tarnish or grow dim.|[[Gandalf]]<ref name="Journey">{{FR|Journey}}</ref>}}
'''''Mithril''''' was a precious silvery metal, stronger than steel but much lighter in weight, which was mined by the [[Dwarves]] in the mines of [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]] and could be beaten and polished without being weakened or tarnished. ''Mithril'', also known as silver-steel and Moria-silver, was admired and treasured by all the [[Portal:Characters|races]]. The [[Men]] called it "true-silver" while the [[Dwarves]], who loved it above all things, had their own, secret name for it.


For the literal-minded reader, it is unclear whether or not ''mithril'' is a real metal; many have thought it to be platinum, however, platinum is far too heavy to qualify as a candidate. It is possible that this legendary material was modelled after titanium, as this metal, while actually quite abundant as ore, was very expensive to produce in its metallic form (especially by medieval technology), and has some of ''mithril's'' properties of strength, bright silvery color, corrosion resistance, and light weight. Other possibilities are aluminium or magnesium; these metals are even lighter than titanium, but not as strong or as silvery shiny. (Famously, Napoleon III of France once bought dinnerware made out of aluminium because it was more expensive than gold at the time.) Certainly Tolkien, being highly educated, would have had knowledge of these three metals and the difficulty in preparing them. However, probably because nobody is known to have asked Tolkien about "''mithril''", it will never be known with certainty whether ''mithril'' is based on any real metal.
Mithril was rare and was found in [[Númenor]] and perhaps also in [[Aman]].  


''Mithril'' is extremely rare by the end of the [[Third Age]], as it was found only in [[Khazad-dûm]]. Once the [[Balrogs|Balrog]] destroyed the Dwarven Kingdom of Khazad-dum, Middle-earth's only source of new ''mithril'' ore was cut off.  Before Moria was abandoned by the Dwarves ''mithril'' was worth ten times its own weight in gold.  After the Dwarves abandoned Moria and production of new mithril ore stopped entirely, it became priceless.  The only way to obtain a ''mithril''-object at the end of the Third Age was to either use heirloom ''mithril'' weapons and armour that were produced before the fall of Moria, or to melt down these existing weapons to forge new ones. The [[Noldor]] of [[Eregion]] made an alloy out of it called ''[[ithildin]]'' ("star moon"), which was used to decorate gateways and portals. It is visible only by starlight or moonlight. The [[Doors of Durin]] bore inlaid ''ithildin'' designs and runes.
==History==
The sole mithril-vein of the [[Misty Mountains]] made the [[Durin's Folk|Longbeards]] wealthy. The [[Gwaith-i-Mírdain]] settled [[Eregion]] because of it and created objects of mithril, thanks to trade with the [[Dwarves of Khazad-dûm|Dwarves of Moria]]; one of the [[Three Rings]] [[Rings of Power|of Power]], [[Nenya]], was made of mithril. The [[Noldor]] of [[Eregion]] made an alloy out of it called ''[[ithildin]]'' ("star moon"), which was used to decorate gateways and portals. It is visible only by starlight or moonlight. The [[Doors of Durin]] bore inlaid ''ithildin'' designs.  


While Moria is the only known source of ''mithril'', there are indications that it was also found in [[Númenor]] and in [[Aman]] in smaller quantities.
The [[Star of Elendil]] was a gem set on mithril fillet that was a heirloom of the [[Lords of Andúnië]] of Númenor.<ref name="Gladden">{{UT|Gladden}}</ref> 


== The Mithril Coat ==
After the [[Downfall of Númenor]], the only source of mithril was Moria. In [[Gondor]], the [[Guards of the Citadel]] of [[Minas Tirith]] wore helmets of ''mithril''. The smiths of [[Rivendell]] also created a second "Star of Elendil" of mithril, after the first one was lost with [[Isildur]].<ref name="Gladden"/>
Of all items made of ''mithril'', the most famous is the "small shirt of mail" retrieved from the hoard of the dragon [[Smaug]], and given to [[Bilbo Baggins]] by [[Thorin Oakenshield]].  "It was close-woven of many rings, as supple almost as linen, cold as ice, and harder than steel..."
{{quote|'It's a pretty thing isn't it,' said Bilbo, moving it in the light.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Ring goes South]]"}}


A kingly gift, the ''mithril''-coat was actually worth more than the entire worth of the Shire (Bilbo probably knew this, but he didn't care).  Bilbo later gave the coat to his nephew [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], who wore it during the Quest to [[Mount Doom]].  It saved Frodo's life when he was nearly skewered by an [[Orc]] in the Mines of Moria. (In the film adaptation of ''[[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring|The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', the attack was by a [[Cave-trolls|Cave-troll]].) It was later taken by the Orcs who captured him in the pass above [[Cirith Ungol]], and passed on to the Dark Lord's servants at [[Barad-dûr]].  When the coat was displayed before the hosts of [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]] at the Gates of Mordor, many despaired, thinking Frodo had been captured or killed, and the Ring taken.  Gandalf reclaimed it from Sauron's lieutenant, and was later able to return it to Frodo after the battles were won.
Even before Moria was abandoned by the Dwarves ''mithril'' was worth ten times its own weight in [[gold]].  


== Other ''Mithril'' Objects in the Lord of the Rings Novels ==
The mithril-vein reached [[Barazinbar]]<ref>{{App|A3}}</ref>, where the Dwarves mined and by {{TA|1980}} they released the [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]] from the [[Elder Days]] which destroyed the Dwarven Kingdom. Middle-earth's only source of new ''mithril'' ore was cut off. Production of new mithril ore stopped entirely, and it became priceless.  The only ''mithril''-objects at the end of the Age were only heirlooms, or new weapons forged out of existing ones. The mithril helmets worn by the [[Guards of the Citadel]] were considered "heirlooms from the glory of old days".
* [[Galadriel]] possesses one of the three [[Three Rings|Elven Rings]], [[Nenya]]. It is wrought of ''mithril'' with a white stone.
* Poking through the closets of [[Orthanc]], King [[Elessar]] and his aides found the long lost ''[[Star of Elendil|Elendilmir]]'', a white star of Elvish crystal affixed to a fillet of ''mithril''. Once owned by [[Elendil]], the first King of [[Arnor]], it is an emblem of royalty in the North Kingdom.
* The Dwarves' beloved metal appears in [[Gondor]] too, the Kingdom of the South. The [[Guards of the Citadel]] of [[Minas Tirith]] wear helmets of ''mithril'', "heirlooms from the glory of old days."
* As Aragorn's ships sail up the [[Anduin]] to relieve the besieged Minas Tirith during the [[War of the Ring]], the standard flying on his ship shows a crown made of ''mithril'' and gold.
* After [[Gimli]] became lord of [[Aglarond]], he and his Dwarves forged great gates of ''mithril'' to replace the gates of Minas Tirith which were broken by the [[Witch-king of Angmar]].


== Other Contexts ==
During the [[War of the Ring]] [[Arwen]] prepared for [[Aragorn]] a banner with the [[Livery of Elendil]] in mithril, gems, and gold. Aragorn used this during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] to herald the Return of the King.<ref>{{RK|V6}}</ref>
''Mithril'', or similarly spelled names, has been used in other fictional contexts as a strong and semi-magical metal. Examples include:
* Objects in ''[[Bored of the Rings]]'' (a ''Lord of the Rings'' parody) are made of cheap "''mithral'' plate" rather than solid ''mithral''.
* In the role-playing game ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', ''mithral'' is one of the special materials used to make high-quality or magical items.
* In the MMORPG ''EverQuest'', ''mithril'' is a metal that can make weapons, armor, and other equipment.
* In the anime series ''Full Metal Panic!'', ''Mithril'' is a mercenary organization. In the Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid, the origin of the name is explained as a reference to ''The Lord of the Rings''.
* The name of a Celtic/World music quartet.


== Tolkien's Inspiration ==
After [[Gimli]] became lord of [[Glittering Caves|Aglarond]], he and his Dwarves forged great gates of ''mithril'' to replace the [[Great Gate of Minas Tirith|Great Gate]] of [[Minas Tirith]] which were broken by the [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]].
In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hervarar_Saga Hervarar saga], which was a cycle dealing with the magic sword ''Tyrfing'' (and from which Tolkien borrowed, for instance, the names [[Dwalin]] and [[Durin]]), the hero Orvar-Odd wore a ''silken mailcoat'' which nothing could pierce (''Oddr svarar: "ek vil berjask við Angantýr, hann mun gefa stór högg með Tyrfingi, en ek trúi betr skyrtu minni, enn brynju þinni, til hlífðar"'').
 
=== The Mithril Coat ===
[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Mithril vest.jpg|thumb|The coat as depicted in the movies]]
Of all items made of ''mithril'', the most famous is the "small shirt of mail" retrieved from the hoard of the dragon [[Smaug]], and given to [[Bilbo Baggins]] by [[Thorin]]. 
 
A kingly gift, the ''mithril''-coat was actually worth more than the entire worth of the Shire (Bilbo probably knew this, but he didn't care).  Bilbo had it decorated on a stand in [[Bag End]] until he donated it to [[Mathom-house]]<ref>{{H|Stage}}</ref> but he took it back before leaving the [[Shire]] for [[Rivendell]]. Years later, he gave it to his nephew [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], who wore it during the Quest to [[Mount Doom]].  It saved Frodo's life when he was nearly skewered by an [[Orcs|Orc]] in the Mines of Moria. It was later taken by the Orcs who captured him in the pass above [[Cirith Ungol]], and passed on to the Dark Lord's servants at [[Barad-dûr]].  When the coat was displayed before the hosts of [[Aragorn]] at the Gates of Mordor, many despaired, thinking Frodo had been captured or killed, and the Ring taken.  Gandalf reclaimed it from Sauron's lieutenant, and was later able to return it to Frodo after the battles were won.
 
==Etymology==
 
The name ''mithril'' consists of the two [[Sindarin]] words ''[[mith]]'' ("grey, light grey") + ''[[ril]]'' ("brilliance").<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 47</ref>
 
== Inspiration ==
In the ''[[wikipedia:Hervarar Saga|Hervarar saga]]'', which was a cycle dealing with the magic sword ''Tyrfing'' (and from which Tolkien borrowed, for instance, the names [[Dwalin]] and [[Durin]]), the hero Orvar-Odd wore a ''silken mailcoat'' which nothing could pierce (''Oddr svarar: "ek vil berjask við Angantýr, hann mun gefa stór högg með Tyrfingi, en ek trúi betr skyrtu minni, enn brynju þinni, til hlífðar"'').
 
For the literal-minded reader, it can be unclear whether or not ''mithril'' is a real metal.  Candidates for a possible real-world equivilent of ''mithril'' have been diverse, but the one metal that has by far the greatest similarities with described ''mithril'', is '''titanium'''.  Titanium has half the density and weight of steel, has a lustrous silver-white color, is one of the strongest of metals, and is chemically inert such that it does not corrode over time.  Like ''mithril'', titanium was also exceptionally rare and precious, as it does not typically occur as a workable metallic form in nature&mdash;the ore is actually extremely abundant, but the practical technology to extract titanium metal from the ore has only been widely available and economical since the 20th century.  Titanium also has remarkable strengthening effects on other metals when alloyed with them.<ref>[http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?13037-Mithril-and-Orichalcum&p=426876#post426876 Re: Mithril and Orichalcum], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium Titanium on Wikipedia]</ref>  Other metals have been proposed as candidates for ''mithril'':
* Platinum is silver-white in appearance and extremely resistant to corrosion, but is simply far too heavy to be ''mithril''.
* Aluminium and magnesium have been a candidates for similar reasons as titanium, and aluminium is indeed the single most abundant metallic element in the earth's crust.  These metals are also far too chemically reactive to naturally exist as a workable metal, which originally made them as precious and scarce as ''mithril''.  (Famously, Napoleon III of France once bought dinnerware made out of aluminium because it was more expensive than gold at the time.)  But they are also less lustrous and not as strong as titanium, though they are each also lighter than titanium.
Certainly Tolkien, being highly educated, would have had knowledge of these metals and the difficulty in preparing them.  In Tolkien's universe, ''mithril'' metal also does not typically exist anywhere except in specific localized deposits, with the only known deposits in [[Middle-earth]] being found in the mines of [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]].  If ''mithril'' was indeed titanium and titanium does not tend to occur naturally as a metal, then ''mithril'' deposits may have possibly been a result of [[Morgoth|Melkor]]'s original formation of the [[Misty Mountains]], with the ''mithril'' either being intentionally refined as a workable metallic form when the mountains were risen, or being coincidentally formed as a chemical by-product of when Melkor so quickly formed the mountain chain to fend off the [[Valar]].  However, probably because nobody is known to have asked Tolkien about "''mithril''", it will never be known with an absolute certainty whether ''mithril'' is based on any real metal.


==See also==
==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Mithril|Images of Mithril]]
* [[:Category:Images of Mithril|Images of Mithril]]


==External links==
*"[http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2013/03/06/where-did-all-the-mithril-go/ Where Did All the Mithril Go?]" by [[Michael Martinez]]
{{references}}
[[Category:Materials]]
[[Category:Materials]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]

Revision as of 14:00, 21 May 2016

This article is about the precious metal of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. For the the real-world producers of metal mintiatures, see Mithril Miniatures.
John Howe - Mithril
" Mithril! All folk desired it. It could be beaten like copper, and polished like glass; and the Dwarves could make of it a metal, light and yet harder than tempered steel. Its beauty was like to that of common silver, but the beauty of mithril did not tarnish or grow dim."
Gandalf[1]

Mithril was a precious silvery metal, stronger than steel but much lighter in weight, which was mined by the Dwarves in the mines of Khazad-dûm and could be beaten and polished without being weakened or tarnished. Mithril, also known as silver-steel and Moria-silver, was admired and treasured by all the races. The Men called it "true-silver" while the Dwarves, who loved it above all things, had their own, secret name for it.

Mithril was rare and was found in Númenor and perhaps also in Aman.

History

The sole mithril-vein of the Misty Mountains made the Longbeards wealthy. The Gwaith-i-Mírdain settled Eregion because of it and created objects of mithril, thanks to trade with the Dwarves of Moria; one of the Three Rings of Power, Nenya, was made of mithril. The Noldor of Eregion made an alloy out of it called ithildin ("star moon"), which was used to decorate gateways and portals. It is visible only by starlight or moonlight. The Doors of Durin bore inlaid ithildin designs.

The Star of Elendil was a gem set on mithril fillet that was a heirloom of the Lords of Andúnië of Númenor.[2]

After the Downfall of Númenor, the only source of mithril was Moria. In Gondor, the Guards of the Citadel of Minas Tirith wore helmets of mithril. The smiths of Rivendell also created a second "Star of Elendil" of mithril, after the first one was lost with Isildur.[2]

Even before Moria was abandoned by the Dwarves mithril was worth ten times its own weight in gold.

The mithril-vein reached Barazinbar[3], where the Dwarves mined and by T.A. 1980 they released the Balrog from the Elder Days which destroyed the Dwarven Kingdom. Middle-earth's only source of new mithril ore was cut off. Production of new mithril ore stopped entirely, and it became priceless. The only mithril-objects at the end of the Age were only heirlooms, or new weapons forged out of existing ones. The mithril helmets worn by the Guards of the Citadel were considered "heirlooms from the glory of old days".

During the War of the Ring Arwen prepared for Aragorn a banner with the Livery of Elendil in mithril, gems, and gold. Aragorn used this during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields to herald the Return of the King.[4]

After Gimli became lord of Aglarond, he and his Dwarves forged great gates of mithril to replace the Great Gate of Minas Tirith which were broken by the Witch-king of Angmar.

The Mithril Coat

The coat as depicted in the movies

Of all items made of mithril, the most famous is the "small shirt of mail" retrieved from the hoard of the dragon Smaug, and given to Bilbo Baggins by Thorin.

A kingly gift, the mithril-coat was actually worth more than the entire worth of the Shire (Bilbo probably knew this, but he didn't care). Bilbo had it decorated on a stand in Bag End until he donated it to Mathom-house[5] but he took it back before leaving the Shire for Rivendell. Years later, he gave it to his nephew Frodo, who wore it during the Quest to Mount Doom. It saved Frodo's life when he was nearly skewered by an Orc in the Mines of Moria. It was later taken by the Orcs who captured him in the pass above Cirith Ungol, and passed on to the Dark Lord's servants at Barad-dûr. When the coat was displayed before the hosts of Aragorn at the Gates of Mordor, many despaired, thinking Frodo had been captured or killed, and the Ring taken. Gandalf reclaimed it from Sauron's lieutenant, and was later able to return it to Frodo after the battles were won.

Etymology

The name mithril consists of the two Sindarin words mith ("grey, light grey") + ril ("brilliance").[6]

Inspiration

In the Hervarar saga, which was a cycle dealing with the magic sword Tyrfing (and from which Tolkien borrowed, for instance, the names Dwalin and Durin), the hero Orvar-Odd wore a silken mailcoat which nothing could pierce (Oddr svarar: "ek vil berjask við Angantýr, hann mun gefa stór högg með Tyrfingi, en ek trúi betr skyrtu minni, enn brynju þinni, til hlífðar").

For the literal-minded reader, it can be unclear whether or not mithril is a real metal. Candidates for a possible real-world equivilent of mithril have been diverse, but the one metal that has by far the greatest similarities with described mithril, is titanium. Titanium has half the density and weight of steel, has a lustrous silver-white color, is one of the strongest of metals, and is chemically inert such that it does not corrode over time. Like mithril, titanium was also exceptionally rare and precious, as it does not typically occur as a workable metallic form in nature—the ore is actually extremely abundant, but the practical technology to extract titanium metal from the ore has only been widely available and economical since the 20th century. Titanium also has remarkable strengthening effects on other metals when alloyed with them.[7] Other metals have been proposed as candidates for mithril:

  • Platinum is silver-white in appearance and extremely resistant to corrosion, but is simply far too heavy to be mithril.
  • Aluminium and magnesium have been a candidates for similar reasons as titanium, and aluminium is indeed the single most abundant metallic element in the earth's crust. These metals are also far too chemically reactive to naturally exist as a workable metal, which originally made them as precious and scarce as mithril. (Famously, Napoleon III of France once bought dinnerware made out of aluminium because it was more expensive than gold at the time.) But they are also less lustrous and not as strong as titanium, though they are each also lighter than titanium.

Certainly Tolkien, being highly educated, would have had knowledge of these metals and the difficulty in preparing them. In Tolkien's universe, mithril metal also does not typically exist anywhere except in specific localized deposits, with the only known deposits in Middle-earth being found in the mines of Khazad-dûm. If mithril was indeed titanium and titanium does not tend to occur naturally as a metal, then mithril deposits may have possibly been a result of Melkor's original formation of the Misty Mountains, with the mithril either being intentionally refined as a workable metallic form when the mountains were risen, or being coincidentally formed as a chemical by-product of when Melkor so quickly formed the mountain chain to fend off the Valar. However, probably because nobody is known to have asked Tolkien about "mithril", it will never be known with an absolute certainty whether mithril is based on any real metal.

See also

External links

References