Rings of Power

**The Rings of Power** were Rings created by the Elves of Eregion, nineteen **Great Rings** (and many other lesser rings) with knowledge obtained from Sauron, and several of them with Sauron aiding the creation. Sauron forged the twentieth Great Ring, called the One Ring or the Ruling Ring, secretly in the fires of Mount Doom.

## Overview

### Origins

The Rings of Power were very powerful rings forged in the Elvish realm of Eregion under the guidance of Sauron (who assumed the fair guise of Annatar). They were created for the Elves, Dwarves, and the Men to corrupt each race.

Sauron, who made the One Ring, intended to enslave the owners of all the others, but only succeeded in enslaving the nine human bearers. The Elvish Rings were not made by his hand, and the Dwarves proved unsusceptible to his influence.

Revealed in *The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,* all twenty rings appeared in the film's prologue, which show each race taking the rings. At first they started out as nineteen, given to each race. Galadriel, Gil Galad and Cirdan took the three, Durin III and six other Dwarf Lords took the seven and nine kings of men took the nine Rings.

However, in Mordor Sauron created the twentieth ring, the One Ring, enslaving the nine kings of Men and sending the three into hiding. The Elves and men of Numenor went to war, in which Sauron lost the Ring and his body was destroyed. It was claimed by the Numenorean king Isildur, but with his death it disappeared into the bottom of the Anduin before the Riverfolk Hobbit Deagol found it.

## Known Rings of Power

### The Three

#### Narya

Narya is also known as the Ring of Fire, or the red Ring. It was owned first by Círdan. He later gave it to Gandalf when he first arrived to Middle Earth via Cirdan's port, with the old Elf knowing who he truly was.

#### Nenya

Nenya, the Ring of Adamant, Ring of Water and White Ring, is one made of mithril with a white stone, giving it its name. Galadriel bears the ring, a gift from Celebrimbor.

#### Vilya

Vilya, the Ring of Air, Blue Ring, the Dominant Ring, or Ring of Sapphire is the third and last Elven Ring of Power. It is the most powerful of the three and was given to the High King, Gil Galad. After his death it passed to Elrond.

### The Seven Rings of Power

Of the seven, the Ring given to Durin III, King of Moria, was the most important and the Dwarves held that it was made and given to them by Celebrimbor himself. It was the last of the Seven to be reclaimed by the Dark Lord. The other Rings were given the Lords of the other six Dwarf mansions, of which there was at least one in the Blue Mountains and two in the Mountains of the East.

Four others were consumed by dragon fire (probably during the dragon attacks on the Grey Mountains) while two were taken by Sauron himself: probably from the Lords of the Dwarvish mansions in the Mountains of the East, near Mordor.

The last Ring, was kept with Thror who passed it to his son Thrain before they went into the Battle of Moria. Thrain was wearing it when Azog captured him, and he cut off his finger to take it, and later gave it to Sauron.

### The Nine Rings of Power

The Nine were offered by Sauron to kings of Men. Three of them were Numenorean lords (probably the lords of Numenorean forts and provinces in Middle Earth), one was an Easterling lord, one was a lord of Forod and at least one was from Harad. Blinded by their greed, they took them instantly. One by one, they fell into darkness and became the Ringwraiths.