Gil-Orestel

Gil-Orestel, also known as the Star of Eärendil, Star of High Hope, Gil-Estel, Rôthinzil, and Azru-bēl, was a light created by the Silmaril carried into the sky by Eärendil the Mariner. It was particularly visible in the morning and evening and was referred to as the Evening Star.The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath", pgs. 249-50, 252, 254-5
==History==
Gil-Orestel was one of the three Silmarils fashioned by Fëanor that contained the Light of the Two Trees of Valinor.The Lord of the Rings, "Appendix A: Annals of the Kings and Rulers", I: "The Númenórean Kings", (i) Númenor They were stolen by Morgoth, who set them in his Iron Crown.The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book One, Ch. XI: "A Knife in the Dark", pgs. 205-7
In the year 466 of the late First Age, Beren and Lúthien braved the depths of Angband where they cast Morgoth from his throne. Upon doing so, Beren used the knife AngristThe History of Middle-earth, Vol. III: The Lays of Beleriand, IV: "The Lay of Leithian Recommenced" to wrest "the great central"The History of Middle-earth, Vol. II: The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, I: "The Tale of Tinúviel", pgs. 29, 33 jewel from Morgoth's Iron Crown. After which, Beren took it to the Forest of Neldoreth in DoriathThe Lord of the Rings, Vol. I: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Ch. II: "The Council of Elrond" where he gave it to Thingol, who took it as Lúthien's bride-price.
In the year 503,The History of Middle-earth, Vol. XI: The War of the Jewels, Part Three: "The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion, I: "The Wanderings of Húrin", pg. 258 Thingol commissioned the Dwarves of Nogrod to remake the Nauglamír that Húrin brought him a year before. When the work was completed, a conflict arose between Thingol and the Dwarves, resulting in Thingol's death and the Battle of Sarn Athrad where he was avenged by Beren.Concerning ... 'The Hoard'
After the battle, Beren took the necklace to Tol Galen where Lúthien wore it until her death. The Nauglamír was then sent back to Doriath to her son Dior before it passed onto his daughter Elwing after the Fëanorians sacked the realm in the year 506The History of Middle-earth, Vol. XI: The War of the Jewels, Part Three: "The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion, V: "The Tale of Years",.
Elwing took it with her to the Havens of Sirion where she became the wife of Eärendil in the year 525.
In the year 538, the Fëanorians attacked the Havens of Sirion in Arvernien. During the attack, Elwing cast herself into Belegaer and came to Vingilot with the Silmaril as a seagull. While the fate of the Nauglamír is untold, Elwing bound the Silmaril to Eärendil's brow as he sat at the helm of his ship. The light of the Silmaril guided them through Evernight, glowing brighter the closer they got to Aman. Upon arriving in Valinor, they sought the Valar's aid against Morgoth's forces. After facing the judgment of the Valar for defying the Doom of Mandos, Eärendil's ship was hallowed by Varda, making it fit to bear the Silmaril. Eärendil passed the Door of Night, sailing into Eä from the World's End.
Since the Silmaril contained the Light of the Two Trees of Valinor, The first rising of the star happened was observed across Arda sometime between the years 542 and 545. Since the Silmaril contained the Light of the Two Trees of Valinor, the people of Middle-earth were encouraged with hope by the sight of the star, naming it Gil-Orestel. It was recognized by Maedhros and Maglor as a Silmaril, and despite their oath to recover the jewels, Maglor was gladdened that it was outside the Circles of the World and thus beyond the reach of themselves and of evil forces. Morgoth grew uncertain at its sight, but did not believe that the Valar would go to war against him.
Before the end of the War of Wrath in the year 489, Eärendil briefly returned to Arda, slaying Ancalagon using the light of Gil-Orestel. Afterwards, Eärendil set off on many journeys through Eä, guarding the walls of Arda.
In the year 32 of the early Second Age, the light of Gil-Orestel guided Elros and the majority of the Edain to Númenor. Their route across the sea was clear since the star shone so bright it could even be seen in the morning.The Silmarillion, Akallabêth, pgs. 259-61, 279 In a clear night sky, no other star could be seen near it. In reference to their guide, one of the names that the Númenóreans gave to their land was Elenna.
Star motifs were thereafter closely associated with Númenor, and Elendil and the heirs to his kingdoms employed stars in their heraldry.
By the time of the Third Age, Gil-Orestel was of particular importance to the Galadhrim of Lothlórien, being their "most beloved" star. In this time, Galadriel set its light in her Mirror, catching some in a Phial.The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Ch. VIII: "Farewell to Lórien", pg. 393
On February 16 of the year 3019 during the War of the Ring, Galadriel gave Frodo Baggins the Phial containing the light of Gil-Orestel just before the Fellowship departed from Lothlórien.
In the morningThe Chronology of The Lord of the Rings, pg. 72 of March 13, when Frodo used the Phial of Galadriel in Shelob's Lair, it seemed like Eärendil himself had come back to Arda with Gil-Orestel.The Lord of the Rings, Vol: II: The Two Towers, Book Four, Ch. IV: "Shelob's Lair", pgs. 329-31
Later that day, when Samwise Gamgee unconsciously cried out an appeal to Gil-Orestel while using the Phial against Shelob; its light was effective in repelling the spider.The Lord of the Rings, Vol. II: The Two Towers, Book Four, Ch. V: "The Choices of Master Samwise", pgs. 338-41
On March 15, Gil-Orestel broke through the clouds of Mordor, shining "like a shaft" upon the Plateau of Gorgoroth, causing Samwise Gamgee to regain hope in the quest to Mount Doom.The Lord of the Rings, Vol. III: The Return of the King, Book Six, Ch. II: "The Land of Shadow", pg. 199
A few days later, on March 25, Samwise Gamgee tried to use the Phial of Galadriel in the Crack of Doom, but Sauron's power there dimmed even the light of Gil-Orestel.The Lord of the Rings, Vol. III: The Return of the King, Book Six, Ch. III: "Mount Doom", pg. 222
Ages after the end of the Third Age, Gil-Orestel still lit up the sky as the planet Venus.
==Etymology==
Gil-Orestel was a Sindarin name meaning "Star of High Hope", containing the words gil ("star; bright spark, silver glint, twinkle of light"), a variation of ar(a)- ("noble, royal, high")The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, pg. 347, and estel ("hope, trust")The History of Middle-earth, Vol. X: Morgoth's Ring, Part Four: "Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth", pgs. 320, 470.
Rôthinzil was an Adûnaic name meaning "Flower of the Foam" or "Foam-flower", containing the words róþ ("foam, white crest of waves")The History of Middle-earth, Vol. XII: The Peoples of Middle-earth, XII: "The Problem of Ros", pgs. 369, 376 (note 22) and inzil ("flower, lily")Parma Eldalamberon XIX, "Quenya Phonology", pg. 99.
Azru-bēl was an Adûnaic name meaning "Sea-lover" or "Friend of the Sea", containing the words azru ("sea") and bēl ("to befriend, love").The History of Middle-earth, Vol. IX: Sauron Defeated, Part Three: "The Drowning of Anadûnê", (vi): "Lowdham’s Report on the Adunaic Language", pgs. 305, 359, 429
"Flammifer" was a Latin name meaning "flame-bearer", containing the words "flamma" ("flame") and "fero" ("to bear").
==In other versions==
In early drafts of The Silmarillion, the star went though various names such as Gil-Amdir and Gil-Orrain before Tolkien finally settled on Gil-Orestel and Gil-Estel.
==In adaptations==
===The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King===
In the third film of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Gil-Orestel is depicted in Mordor as shining through some dim clouds rather than breaking through them "like a shaft".
===The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power===
In the sixth episode of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, part of a passage associated with Gil-Orestel ("in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.") is given in relation to some bad dreams that Theo had in the past.
==Translations==
Foreign Language	Translated name
Danish 	Rothinzil (Eärendils Stjerne)
==References==
Category:Sindarin names & words
Category:Stars
it:Stella di Eärendil