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[[Image:Noble Collection - Ring of Barahir.jpg|thumb|200px|The ''Ring of Barahir'' as conceived by [[The Noble Collection]]]]
[[Image:Noble Collection - Ring of Barahir.jpg|thumb|200px|The ''Ring of Barahir'' as conceived by [[The Noble Collection]]]]
{{quote|Proud are the words, and all there turned<br>to see the jewels green that burned<br>in [[Beren Erchamion|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 Felagund|Finrod]] made of yore<br>and [[Felagund]] his son now bore...|''[[Lay of Leithian]]'', [[Lay of Leithian Canto IV|Canto IV]], lines 1096-1103}}
The '''Ring of Barahir''', originally '''Ring of Felagund''', was an [[Elves|Elven]] artifact that was originally given by [[Finrod Felagund]] to [[Barahir]] and afterwards was kept by the [[Edain]] as an 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]].<ref name=sberen/>
==History==
The Ring was fashioned in [[Valinor]] by the [[Noldor]], and was owned by the [[Elves|Elven]] Lord [[Finrod]]. He took it to [[Middle-earth]] during the Exile of the Noldor, along with other treasures he brought from [[Tirion]],<ref>{{S|Return}}</ref> and wore it with him in [[Nargothrond]].
[[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.


The '''Ring of Barahir''' was given to [[Barahir son of Bregor|Barahir]] by the [[Elves|Elven]] Lord [[Finrod Felagund]], in reward for saving his life in [[Dagor Bragollach]] ("The Battle of Sudden Flame"). 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 Erchamion|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 of Barahir.
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 name=sberen>{{S|Beren}}</ref>
[[File:Anke Eißmann - Finrod is reminded of his oath.jpeg|thumb|left|[[Anke Eißmann]] - ''Finrod is reminded of his oath'']]
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.


Thus spoke Beren Erchamion in the halls of mighty King [[Thingol]] as he held aloft the ring:
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>
{{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"}}


Beren later used it as a token when he sought Finrod's help in the quest for the [[Silmarils|Silmaril]].  
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 Fornost|fall]] of [[Arthedain]].  


The ring was passed from Beren in direct line to [[Dior Eluchíl|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 Númenor|Valandil]], first [[Lord of Andúnië]]. It was handed down to succeeding Lords of Andúnië to the last one, [[Elendil]].  
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>


In the [[Third Age]] the 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]].
Eventually, in {{TA|2952}} 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>


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 2980, while in [[Lórien in Middle-earth|Lórien]], Aragorn gave the ring to [[Arwen Undómiel]], and thus they were betrothed.
Nothing is said of the fate of the ring in the [[Fourth Age]], but unless 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.
 
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 at [[Cerin Amroth]].


==Other versions of the Legendarium==
In the [[Lay of Leithian]] the Ring belonged to [[Finrod#Other versions of the Legendarium|Finrod]] (later Finarfin) and inherited by his son [[Inglor|Inglor Felagund]] (later Finrod). When Beren shows the Ring in [[Menegroth]] it is described as thus:
{{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]]''<ref>{{LB|C4}}, lines 1096-1103</ref>}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Rings and Jewels]]
[[Category:Rings and Jewels]]
[[Category:Heirlooms]]
[[de:Barahirs Ring]]
[[fr:encyclo/artefacts/bijoux/anneaux/anneau_de_barahir]]
[[fi:Barahirin sormus]]

Revision as of 21:38, 25 July 2018

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 afterwards was kept by the Edain as an 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.[1]

History

The Ring was fashioned in Valinor by the Noldor, and was owned by the Elven Lord Finrod. He took it to Middle-earth during the Exile of the Noldor, along with other treasures he brought from Tirion,[2] and wore it with him in Nargothrond.

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,[3] 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.[1]

Anke Eißmann - Finrod is reminded of his oath

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.[4]

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.[5]

Eventually, in T.A. 2952 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.[6]

Nothing is said of the fate of the ring in the Fourth Age, but unless 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.

Other versions of the Legendarium

In the Lay of Leithian the Ring belonged to Finrod (later Finarfin) and inherited by his son Inglor Felagund (later Finrod). When Beren shows the Ring in Menegroth it is described as thus:

"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[7]

References