Ring of Barahir

The **Ring of Barahir** was an ornate silver ring given to Barahir by the Elven king Finrod Felagund, in reward for saving his life in the Dagor Bragollach. It was a sign of eternal friendship between Finrod and the House of Barahir, and became an heirloom of Barahir's kin.

## Description

The ring was described as the likeness of two serpents intertwined with eyes made of green jewels. This was the symbol of the House of Finarfin. The serpents met beneath a crown of golden flowers that one upheld and one devoured. The jewels, at least, were crafted in Valinor and sometimes seemed to burn with green fire.

While the Ring of Barahir was not known to contain any magic or power, it is notable as one of the oldest crafted objects in Middle-earth. Lasting through the War of the Ring but having been crafted before the First Age, the Ring of Barahir was thousands of years older than any of the Rings of Power. The Palantíri were the only other items to rival the ring in age, both being made in the Years of the Trees.

## History

The ring was forged by the Ñoldor in Valinor, at so at some point prior to the beginning of the First Age. It was brought to Middle-earth by Finrod Felagund as an heirloom of the House of Finarfin. Finrod carried the ring until the year FA 455, when Barahir, an Edain, saved his life during the Dagor Bragollach. Finrod gave Barahir the ring as a sign of friendship between himself and Barahir's house.
Barahir would bear the ring for the remainder of his life, until he was waylaid by Orcs led by Gorgol, who took Barahir's hand and ring. Both hand and ring, however, were retrieved by Barahir's son Beren when he avenged his father. Beren laid the hand to rest with his father's remains, but kept and wore the ring. Beren later used the ring to prove his lineage to Thingol when he first entered Doriath and again when he sought Finrod's help in the quest for the Silmaril.

The ring was passed from Beren in direct line to 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, first Lord of Andúnië. It was handed down to succeeding Lords of Andúnië to the last one, Elendil.

In the Third Age the ring was again passed in direct line from Elendil, to Isildur, to the High 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 Dúnedain of the North, after which it was kept safe at Rivendell.

Eventually, 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 2980 of the Third Age, in Lórien, Aragorn gave the ring to Arwen Undómiel at their betrothal.

Nothing is said of the fate of the Ring of Barahir in the Fourth Age, but it was most likely either again passed to Eldarion and the Kings of the Reunited Kingdom, or it went with Arwen to her grave in Cerin Amroth.