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{{disambig-two|the Ring of Power|Quenya word and the tengwa|[[Vilya (word)]]}}
[[Image:Noble Collection - Vilya.jpg|thumb|Vilya as conceived by [[The Noble Collection]]]]
{{object infobox
'''Vilya''' ([[Quenya|Q]], pron. {{IPA|[ˈviʎa]}}) or '''Wilya''' (pre-[[Second Age|SA]] and [[Vanyarin]], {{IPA|[ˈwiʎa]}}), as a proper noun, was one of the [[Rings of Power]] made by the [[Elves]] of [[Eregion]]. Vilya, [[Nenya]], and [[Narya]] were the [[Three Rings|Three Rings of the Elves]], more powerful than the rings given to [[Dwarves]] or [[Men]].  Like the other Elven Rings, Vilya was jeweled: it contained a great blue stone set in a gold band, which contributed to its titles as the '''Ring of Sapphire''' and the '''Blue Ring'''.  A lesser-used title of Vilya was the '''Ring of Air''', signifying its preeminence even over the other Rings of the Elves; it was generally considered that Vilya was the mightiest of these three bands.<ref name="Grey">{{RK|VI9}}</ref>
 
| name=Vilya
| image=[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Vilya.jpg|250px]]
| caption=Vilya by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]
| pronun=[[Quenya|Q]], {{IPA|[ˈviʎa]}}
| othernames=The Blue Ring, Ring of Air, Ring of Sapphire
| location=[[Eregion]], [[Lindon]], [[Rivendell]]
| owner=[[Celebrimbor]], [[Gil-galad]], [[Elrond]]
| type=Ring
| appearance=Ring of gold with a great blue sapphire
| creator=[[Celebrimbor]]
| created=c. {{SA|1590}}
| createdlocation=[[Eregion]]
| destroyer=
| destroyed=
| destroyedlocation=
| notablefor=
}}
 
'''Vilya''' was one of the [[Rings of Power]], specifically one of the "[[Three Rings]] for the Elven Kings under the sky".
 
==Characteristics==
Vilya was made of gold with a great blue<ref name=Havens>{{RK|Havens}}, p. 1028</ref> sapphire<ref name=Rings>{{S|Rings}}</ref>. It was also called the '''Ring of Sapphire'''<ref name=Rings/>, the '''Ring of Air'''<ref name=Rings/><ref name=Concerning>{{UT|Concerning}}</ref> or the '''Blue Ring'''.<ref name=Concerning/> Vilya was the most powerful of the three rings of the Elves<ref name=Havens/> and like the other two had the power to prevent decay through the effect of time and to postpone the weariness of the world.<ref name=Rings/>


==History==
==History==
By {{SA|1590}},<ref name="SA">{{App|SA}}</ref> [[Celebrimbor]], the lord of [[Eregion]], had forged all Three Rings independently of [[Annatar]], a guise of the Dark Lord [[Sauron]].  As a result, none of the Three were stained by his evil. However, like all the Rings of the Elves, Vilya was still under Sauron's influence when he wielded [[The One Ring]], which held dominion over all the others.
Around {{SA|1200}}, Sauron took on a fair form and went to the elven city of [[Eregion]] and pretended to be an emissary of the [[Valar]] called [[ Annatar]]. [[Gil-galad]] did not allow Sauron or his emissaries to enter the elven Kingdom of [[Lindon]] and [[Galadriel]] scorned Sauron, but Sauron was accepted as an instructor by [[Celebrimbor]], the Lord of Eregion, and by the other elven smiths in Eregion and taught them how to forge rings of power. After the smiths of Eregion started to make the rings of power Sauron left Eregion around {{SA|1500}} and returned to [[Mordor]].


When Sauron made his Ring in {{App|1600|n}} Celebrimbor became aware of his designs and in {{App|1603}} gave the Three Rings to Elven guardians,<ref name="SA"/> with Vilya sent to [[Gil-galad]] in [[Lindon]].  Sauron waged war against the Elves in [[Eriador]] but was eventually defeated. Afterwards, Gil-Galad gave Vilya to [[Elrond]],<ref>{{UT|Concerning}}</ref> who bore it through the later years of the [[Second Age]] and all of the [[Third Age|Third]].
By {{SA|1590}},<ref>{{App|SA}}, entry for the year ''c.'' 1590, p. 1083</ref> Celebrimbor had forged all Three Rings of the Elves alone, but with knowledge that he had gained from Annatar. As a result, none of the Three Rings were stained by the evil of Sauron. However, like all the Rings of the Elves, Vilya was still under Sauron's influence when he wielded [[The One Ring]], which held dominion over all the others.


Upon Sauron's destruction in {{TA|3019}}<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref>, the power of Vilya faded and it went over the sea along with Elrond at the end of the Third Age.<ref name="Grey"/>
When Sauron forged the One Ring and put it on his finger around {{SA|1600}}<ref name=Second>{{App|SA}}, p. 1083</ref> Celebrimbor<ref>{{FR|Council}}, p. 253</ref> and the other Elves became aware of his plan to be the master of the wearers of the rings and took off their rings<ref name=Rings/> and Celebrimbor revolted against Sauron.<ref name=Concerning/> After Sauron became aware of the revolt of Celebrimbor, he prepared a war against the Elves to take the Rings of Power by force. When Sauron started his war agains the Elves in {{SA|1693}},<ref name=Second/> Celebrimbor went to [[Lothlórien]] to discuss the situation with [[Galadriel]], who advised him to hide the rings and disperse them far from Eregion. At that time Galadriel received [[Nenya]] from Celebrimbor, while Vilya and [[Narya]] were sent by Celebrimbor to [[Gil-galad]] in [[Lindon]].<ref name=Concerning/>{{rp|237}} In {{SA|1697}},<ref name=Second/> Sauron destroyed Eregion, captured and tortured Celebrimbor and had him killed after he only told him of the location of the Nine Rings and the Seven Rings, but did not tell him the location of the Three Rings of the Elves.<ref name=Concerning/> Sauron was eventually defeated and driven out of Eriador in {{SA|1701}}.<ref name=Second/>  


==Quenya Noun==
After the defeat of Sauron, a [[White Council|Council]] was held in [[Imladris]], and the place was chosen to be the Elven stronghold of the East. Gil-Galad gave Vilya to [[Elrond]] and appointed him to be his vice-regent in Eriador.<ref name=Concerning/>{{rp|239}} Elrond hid Vilya and never used it openly as long as Sauron was in possession of the One Ring. However, the power of Vilya was always used to create mirth and to prevent things from being changed by the effect of time. For this reason at the end of the Third Age it was known to the Elves that the Ring of Sapphire was kept by Elrond in Rivendell.<ref name=Rings/>
'''''vilya''''', when not referring to the Ring of Air, is a noun meaning "air" or "sky" in [[Quenya]].<ref name="Names">{{App|Letters}}, Note, ''The names of the letters''</ref>


==Tengwa==
Upon Sauron's defeat and the destruction of the One Ring in {{TA|3019}},<ref>{{App|Great}}, entry for the year 3019, p. 1085</ref> Vilya lost its power and it went over the sea along with Elrond at the end of the Third Age.<ref name=Havens/>
[[Image:Vilya.gif|left]]''Vilya'' is also the name in Quenya of the twenty-fourth letter of the [[Tengwar]] alphabet.<ref name="Names"/>  It is the fourth letter of the sixth grade or [[Tyellë]], which contains "semi-vocalic" consonants and it is the sixth letter in the fourth series of consonants.<ref>{{App|Letters}}</ref> In early written Quenya this letter represented '''W''' when the letter was called ''Wilya''.  Over time this letter ceased to have a clear function.  However, in the [[Mode of Beleriand]] (as seen in the [[West-gate]] of [[Moria]] inscription) ''Vilya'' is used for a following '''W''' in the diphthong ''iw''.<ref>{{FR|II4}}</ref>  The [[Westron]] name for this letter is ''''''Á'''''.<ref>See [[Westron Tengwar]].</ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
The word derives from the [[Primitive Quendian]] [[Sundocarme|root]] [[WIL]].<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, WIL-</ref>
''[[Vilya (word)|vilya]]'' is a [[Quenya]] word for "air, sky".<ref name="Names">{{App|Letters}}, Note, ''The names of the letters'', p. 1123</ref> However, as Paul Strack notices, given how the names of the other Elven rings are formed, it could be the combination of [[root]] [[WIL]] + [[-ya]] (adjectival suffix).<ref>{{webcite|author=Paul Strack|articleurl=https://eldamo.org/content/words/word-1943029509.html|articlename=Q. ''Vilya'' pn.|website=Eldamo|accessed=29 April 2021}}</ref>


==See Also ==
{{references}}{{rings}}
* [http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/qlist.htm Quenya Corpus Wordlist] edited by [[Helge Fauskanger]]
[[Category:Rings and jewels]]
{{rings}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Rings and Jewels]]
[[Category:Quenya nouns]]
[[Category:Quenya adjectives]]
[[Category:Quenya adjectives]]
[[Category:Tengwar letters]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[fr:encyclo/artefacts/bijoux/anneaux/vilya]]
[[fr:encyclo/artefacts/bijoux/anneaux/vilya]]

Latest revision as of 16:51, 16 February 2024

This article is about the Ring of Power. For the Quenya word and the tengwa, see Vilya (word).
Vilya
Ring
J.R.R. Tolkien - Vilya.jpg
Vilya by J.R.R. Tolkien
PronunciationQ, [ˈviʎa]
Other namesThe Blue Ring, Ring of Air, Ring of Sapphire
LocationEregion, Lindon, Rivendell
OwnerCelebrimbor, Gil-galad, Elrond
AppearanceRing of gold with a great blue sapphire
CreatorCelebrimbor
Eregion, c. S.A. 1590
GalleryImages of Vilya

Vilya was one of the Rings of Power, specifically one of the "Three Rings for the Elven Kings under the sky".

Characteristics[edit | edit source]

Vilya was made of gold with a great blue[1] sapphire[2]. It was also called the Ring of Sapphire[2], the Ring of Air[2][3] or the Blue Ring.[3] Vilya was the most powerful of the three rings of the Elves[1] and like the other two had the power to prevent decay through the effect of time and to postpone the weariness of the world.[2]

History[edit | edit source]

Around S.A. 1200, Sauron took on a fair form and went to the elven city of Eregion and pretended to be an emissary of the Valar called Annatar. Gil-galad did not allow Sauron or his emissaries to enter the elven Kingdom of Lindon and Galadriel scorned Sauron, but Sauron was accepted as an instructor by Celebrimbor, the Lord of Eregion, and by the other elven smiths in Eregion and taught them how to forge rings of power. After the smiths of Eregion started to make the rings of power Sauron left Eregion around S.A. 1500 and returned to Mordor.

By S.A. 1590,[4] Celebrimbor had forged all Three Rings of the Elves alone, but with knowledge that he had gained from Annatar. As a result, none of the Three Rings were stained by the evil of Sauron. However, like all the Rings of the Elves, Vilya was still under Sauron's influence when he wielded The One Ring, which held dominion over all the others.

When Sauron forged the One Ring and put it on his finger around S.A. 1600[5] Celebrimbor[6] and the other Elves became aware of his plan to be the master of the wearers of the rings and took off their rings[2] and Celebrimbor revolted against Sauron.[3] After Sauron became aware of the revolt of Celebrimbor, he prepared a war against the Elves to take the Rings of Power by force. When Sauron started his war agains the Elves in S.A. 1693,[5] Celebrimbor went to Lothlórien to discuss the situation with Galadriel, who advised him to hide the rings and disperse them far from Eregion. At that time Galadriel received Nenya from Celebrimbor, while Vilya and Narya were sent by Celebrimbor to Gil-galad in Lindon.[3]:237 In S.A. 1697,[5] Sauron destroyed Eregion, captured and tortured Celebrimbor and had him killed after he only told him of the location of the Nine Rings and the Seven Rings, but did not tell him the location of the Three Rings of the Elves.[3] Sauron was eventually defeated and driven out of Eriador in S.A. 1701.[5]

After the defeat of Sauron, a Council was held in Imladris, and the place was chosen to be the Elven stronghold of the East. Gil-Galad gave Vilya to Elrond and appointed him to be his vice-regent in Eriador.[3]:239 Elrond hid Vilya and never used it openly as long as Sauron was in possession of the One Ring. However, the power of Vilya was always used to create mirth and to prevent things from being changed by the effect of time. For this reason at the end of the Third Age it was known to the Elves that the Ring of Sapphire was kept by Elrond in Rivendell.[2]

Upon Sauron's defeat and the destruction of the One Ring in T.A. 3019,[7] Vilya lost its power and it went over the sea along with Elrond at the end of the Third Age.[1]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

vilya is a Quenya word for "air, sky".[8] However, as Paul Strack notices, given how the names of the other Elven rings are formed, it could be the combination of root WIL + -ya (adjectival suffix).[9]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Grey Havens", p. 1028
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn"
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age", entry for the year c. 1590, p. 1083
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age", p. 1083
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond", p. 253
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for the year 3019, p. 1085
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Writing", "The Fëanorian Letters", Note, The names of the letters, p. 1123
  9. ↑ Paul Strack, "Q. Vilya pn.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon (accessed 29 April 2021)


Rings of Power
The One Ring | Three Rings (Narya · Nenya · Vilya) | Seven Rings (Ring of Thrór) | Nine Rings
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