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Revision as of 15:32, 4 August 2011

Silmarils
File:Marco - The Silmarils.jpg
Other namesThe Jewels
LocationFormenos, Angband, various
AppearanceHard, bright crystals that glow
GalleryImages of Silmarils

The Silmarils (Quenya Silmarilli) were three gems of immense might and beauty.

History

The Silmarils were created by Fëanor while the Eldar were still in Valinor. The gems were named for and crafted of the hard crystalline substance silima, and contained some of the light from the Two Trees of Valinor. After Fëanor was exiled to Formenos, the Silmarils were stored in a chamber of iron.

Together with Ungoliant, Melkor destroyed the Two Trees. The Silmarils now contained all the remaining light of the Two Trees. Therefore the Valar entreated Fëanor to give up the Silmarils so they could restore the Trees, but he refused. Then news came: Melkor had killed Fëanor's father Finwë, the High King of the Ñoldor, and stolen all the gems, including the Silmarils. After this deed Melkor fled to the northlands of Middle-earth, where his ancient fortresses were. Melkor, now named Morgoth by Fëanor, set the Silmarils in his crown.

Fëanor was furious at Melkor and at the Valar's perceived desire to take the gems for their own purposes, and, swearing that he and his sons would not rest until the Silmarils were recovered, he led the Ñoldor back to Middle-earth. His flight, which began the First Age of Middle-earth, led to no end of grief for the Elves and eventually for the Men of Middle-earth. Five major battles were fought in Beleriand, but ultimately the Ñoldor failed.

One of the Silmarils was recovered by Beren and Lúthien through great peril and loss. This stone was later taken by Eärendil to the Valar in the West as a token of repentance. The Valar then set this Silmaril as a star. The other two gems remained in Morgoth's hands, and were taken from him only at the end of the War of Wrath. However, soon afterwards, they were stolen by Fëanor's two surviving sons Maedhros and Maglor. The jewels burned their hands, in refusal of their rights of possession, as they had burned Morgoth's hands many years before. In agony, Maedhros threw himself and his Silmaril into a fiery pit, and Maglor threw his into the sea. Thus the Silmarils remained in all three elements of Arda -- in the sky, soil and water.

In most versions of the texts, following Melkor's final return and defeat in the Dagor Dagorath (Battle of Battles), the world will be changed and the Three Silmarils will be recovered by the Valar, and Yavanna will break them and with their light she will revive the Two Trees, the Pelóri Mountains will be flattened and the light of the Two Trees will fill Arda again in a new age of eternal bliss.

Etymology

Silmarils is a derivation of Quenya Silmarilli (cf. silima).[source?]

Names

In the Etymologies appears the Noldorin name Silevril, being related to Quenya Silmaril.[1] Tolkien appears to have retained the Noldorin form in Sindarin, since the name Pennas Silevril (apparently the Sindarin translation of Quenya Quenta Silmarillion)[2] is used in later manuscripts.[3]

See also

References