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The ring was given to [[Barahir son of Bregor|Barahir]] by the [[Elves|Elven]] Lord [[Finrod Felagund]], in reward for saving his life in [[Dagor Bragollach]]. It was a sign of eternal friendship between Finrod and the House of Barahir. Barahir's hand and ring were taken by the orcs that killed him, but were retrieved by his son [[Beren]] when he avenged his father. Beren laid the hand to rest with the rest of his father's body, but kept and wore the ring.
{{quote|...and the green jewels gleamed there that the [[Noldor]] had devised in [[Valinor]]. For this ring was like to twin serpents, whose eyes were emeralds, and their heads met beneath a crown of golden flowers, that the one upheld and the other devoured; that was the badge of [[Finarfin]] and his house.|''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "Of Beren and Lúthien"}}
[[Image:Noble Collection - Ring of Barahir.jpg|thumb|200px|The ''Ring of Barahir'' as conceived by [[The Noble Collection]]]]
The '''Ring of Barahir''', originally '''Ring of Felagund''', was an [[Elves|Elven]] artifact that was originally given by [[Finrod Felagund]] to [[Barahir]] and aftewards was kept by the [[Edain]] as a heirloom in the later [[Ages]].
==Description==
The ring had the shape of two serpents with emerald eyes, one devouring and the other supporting a crown of golden flowers, the emblem of the [[House of Finarfin]].


: 'Death you can give me earned or unearned, but names I will not take from you of baseborn, nor spy, nor thrall. By the ring of Felagund, that he gave to Barahir my father on the battlefield of the North, my house has not earned such names from any Elf, be he king or no.'
{{quote|Proud are the words, and all there turned<br>to see the jewels green that burned<br>in [[Beren]]'s ring.  These [[Gnomes]] had set<br>as eyes of serpents twined that met<br>beneath a golden crown of flowers,<br>that one upholds and one devours:<br>the badge that [[Finrod]] made of yore<br>and [[Felagund]] his son now bore...|''[[Lay of Leithian]]'', [[Lay of Leithian Canto IV|Canto IV]], lines 1096-1103}}
==History==
The Ring was fashioned in [[Valinor]] by the [[Noldor]], and was owned by the [[Elves|Elven]] Lord [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]].
[[File:Antti Autio - The Oath of Felagund.jpg|thumb|Antti Autio - ''The Oath of Felagund'']]
During the [[Dagor Bragollach]] the [[Adan]] [[Barahir]] saved his life, and Finrod gave him the ring as a token of eternal friendship between Finrod and the House of Barahir.  


Thus spoke Beren Erchamion in the halls of mighty Thingol as he held aloft the ring, "and the green jewels gleamed there that the Noldor had devised in Valinor. For this ring was like to twin serpents, whose eyes were emeralds, and their heads met beneath a crown of golden flowers, that the one upheld and the other devoured; that was the badge of Finarfin and his house." ([[The Silmarillion]], Chapter 19: Of Beren and [[Lúthien Tinúviel|Lúthien]])
Barahir wore the Ring for the rest of his life, until his hand (wearing it) was taken by [[Gorgol the Butcher]],<ref>{{LB|4}}</ref> leader of  the [[Orcs]] who killed him, as a proof of his feat. But [[Beren]] went through great perils to avenge his father and retrieved his hand. Beren laid the hand to rest with the rest of his father's remains, but kept and wore the Ring.<ref>{{S|Beren}}</ref>


Beren later used it as a token when he sought Finrod's help in the quest for the [[Silmarils|Silmaril]].  
When Beren was assigned the [[Quest for the Silmaril]], he went to [[Nargothrond]] and used it as a token to seek Finrod's help. Finrod fulfilled his pledge and even found his death in the dungeons of [[Minas Tirith (Beleriand)|Minas Tirith]] in order to save Beren.


The ring was passed from Beren in direct line to [[Dior Eluchil|Dior]], then his daughter [[Elwing]] and her son [[Elros]], who brought it to [[Númenor]] during the [[Second Age]]. It was an heirloom of the kings of Númenor until [[Tar-Elendil]] gave the ring to his eldest daughter [[Silmariën]], who was not allowed to succeed him on the throne. She in turn gave the ring to her son [[Valandil of Andúnië|Valandil]], first [[Lord of Andúnië]]. It was handed down to succeeding Lords of Andúnië to the last one, [[Elendil]].  
The Ring's fate in the following centuries is only vaguely recorded. Through [[Dior]], his daughter [[Elwing]] and her son [[Elros]], it found its way to [[Númenor]]. Apparently it remained a heirloom of the [[Kings of Númenor]], until King [[Tar-Elendil]] did not give it to his heir [[Tar-Meneldur]], but to his eldest daughter [[Silmariën]], who was not allowed to succeed him on the throne. She in turn gave the ring to her son [[Valandil (Lord of Andúnië)|Valandil]], first [[Lords of Andúnië|Lord of Andúnië]]. The Ring was handed down to the succeeding Lords of Andúnië until the last of the [[Faithful]]. Thus it survived the [[Downfall of Númenor]] when the [[Faithful]] escaped to [[Middle-earth]].<ref>{{UT|Numenor}}, Note 2</ref>


In the [[Third Age]] ring was again passed in direct line from Elendil to [[Isildur]] to the [[Kings of Arnor]], and then [[Kings of Arthedain]]. The last King of Arthedain, [[Arvedui]], gave the ring to the [[Lossoth]] of [[Forochel]], thankful for the help he received from them. It was later ransomed from the Snowmen by the [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Dúnedain of the North]], and it was kept safe at [[Rivendell]].
In the [[Third Age]] the ring was again passed in direct line from [[Elendil]], the last of the Lords of Andúnië, as a heirloom of the [[Kings of Arnor]], and then [[Kings of Arthedain]] until the [[Battle of Fornost|fall]] of [[Arthedain]].  


Eventually, it was given by [[Elrond]] to [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]] son of [[Arathorn II|Arathorn]], when he was told of his true name and lineage, together with the shards of [[Narsil]]. In the year 2980 of the [[Third Age]], in [[Lórien]] Aragorn gave the ring to [[Arwen Undómiel]], and thus they were betrothed.
The last King of Arthedain, [[Arvedui]], gave the ring to the chief of the [[Lossoth]] of [[Forochel]], thankful for the help he received from them. Years after {{TA|1975}}, it was ransomed from the Snowmen by the [[Rangers of the North]], and it was kept safe at [[Rivendell]].<ref>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>


Nothing is said of the fate of the ring in the [[Fourth Age]], but it was most likely either again passed to the Kings of Gondor and Arnor, descendants of Aragorn and Arwen, or it went with Arwen to her grave in [[Cerin Amroth]].
Eventually, in {{TA|2951}} it was given by [[Elrond]] to [[Aragorn]] son of [[Arathorn II|Arathorn]], when he was told of his true name and lineage, together with the shards of [[Narsil]]. In {{TA|2980}}, while in [[Lothlórien|Lórien]], Aragorn gave the ring to [[Arwen|Arwen Undómiel]], and thus they were betrothed.<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref>


Nothing is said of the fate of the ring in the [[Fourth Age]], but unles it went with Arwen to her grave at [[Cerin Amroth]], it most likely passed to the Kings of the [[Reunited Kingdom]], descendants of Aragorn and Arwen.
{{references}}
[[Category:Rings and Jewels]]
[[Category:Rings and Jewels]]
[[de:Barahirs Ring]]
[[fr:encyclo/artefacts/bijoux/anneaux/anneau_de_barahir]]
[[fi:Barahirin sormus]]

Revision as of 20:18, 26 August 2014

"...and the green jewels gleamed there that the Noldor had devised in Valinor. For this ring was like to twin serpents, whose eyes were emeralds, and their heads met beneath a crown of golden flowers, that the one upheld and the other devoured; that was the badge of Finarfin and his house."
The Silmarillion, "Of Beren and Lúthien"
The Ring of Barahir as conceived by The Noble Collection

The Ring of Barahir, originally Ring of Felagund, was an Elven artifact that was originally given by Finrod Felagund to Barahir and aftewards was kept by the Edain as a heirloom in the later Ages.

Description

The ring had the shape of two serpents with emerald eyes, one devouring and the other supporting a crown of golden flowers, the emblem of the House of Finarfin.

"Proud are the words, and all there turned
to see the jewels green that burned
in Beren's ring. These Gnomes had set
as eyes of serpents twined that met
beneath a golden crown of flowers,
that one upholds and one devours:
the badge that Finrod made of yore
and Felagund his son now bore...
"
Lay of Leithian, Canto IV, lines 1096-1103

History

The Ring was fashioned in Valinor by the Noldor, and was owned by the Elven Lord Finrod Felagund.

Antti Autio - The Oath of Felagund

During the Dagor Bragollach the Adan Barahir saved his life, and Finrod gave him the ring as a token of eternal friendship between Finrod and the House of Barahir.

Barahir wore the Ring for the rest of his life, until his hand (wearing it) was taken by Gorgol the Butcher,[1] leader of the Orcs who killed him, as a proof of his feat. But Beren went through great perils to avenge his father and retrieved his hand. Beren laid the hand to rest with the rest of his father's remains, but kept and wore the Ring.[2]

When Beren was assigned the Quest for the Silmaril, he went to Nargothrond and used it as a token to seek Finrod's help. Finrod fulfilled his pledge and even found his death in the dungeons of Minas Tirith in order to save Beren.

The Ring's fate in the following centuries is only vaguely recorded. Through Dior, his daughter Elwing and her son Elros, it found its way to Númenor. Apparently it remained a heirloom of the Kings of Númenor, until King Tar-Elendil did not give it to his heir Tar-Meneldur, but to his eldest daughter Silmariën, who was not allowed to succeed him on the throne. She in turn gave the ring to her son Valandil, first Lord of Andúnië. The Ring was handed down to the succeeding Lords of Andúnië until the last of the Faithful. Thus it survived the Downfall of Númenor when the Faithful escaped to Middle-earth.[3]

In the Third Age the ring was again passed in direct line from Elendil, the last of the Lords of Andúnië, as a heirloom of the Kings of Arnor, and then Kings of Arthedain until the fall of Arthedain.

The last King of Arthedain, Arvedui, gave the ring to the chief of the Lossoth of Forochel, thankful for the help he received from them. Years after T.A. 1975, it was ransomed from the Snowmen by the Rangers of the North, and it was kept safe at Rivendell.[4]

Eventually, in T.A. 2951 it was given by Elrond to Aragorn son of Arathorn, when he was told of his true name and lineage, together with the shards of Narsil. In T.A. 2980, while in Lórien, Aragorn gave the ring to Arwen Undómiel, and thus they were betrothed.[5]

Nothing is said of the fate of the ring in the Fourth Age, but unles it went with Arwen to her grave at Cerin Amroth, it most likely passed to the Kings of the Reunited Kingdom, descendants of Aragorn and Arwen.

References