Everything about The Silmarils totally explained
The
Silmarils (
Quenya pl.
Silmarilli,
radiance of pure light) are three fictional brilliant star-like jewels which contained the unmarred light of the
Two Trees in
J. R. R. Tolkien's
legendarium. The jewels were created by the
Vala Yavanna, the mother of all trees and herbs. The Silmarils were made out of the crystalline substance
silima by
Fëanor, a
Noldorin
Elf, in
Valinor during the
Years of the Trees.
Appearances
The Silmarils are not mere jewels which shine with a great light. The three Silmarils are in some sense both
alive and
sacred. How
Fëanor, admittedly the greatest of the
Eldar, was able to create these objects isn't fully explained. Even the Valar, including
Aulë, the master in handskills indeed, couldn't copy them. In fact, not even Fëanor could copy them as part of his essence went into their making. Their worth, in Tolkien's universe, was close to infinite, even to the Valar, as they were unique and irreplaceable.
After Fëanor was exiled to
Formenos, the Silmarils were stored in a chamber of iron.
Together with
Ungoliant, the rebellious
Vala Melkor destroyed the Two Trees. The Silmarils now contained all the remaining unmarred light of them. Therefore the
Valar entreated Fëanor to give them up so they could restore the Trees, but he refused. Then news came: Melkor had killed Fëanor's father
Finwë, the High King of the
Noldor, and stolen the Silmarils. After this deed Melkor fled from Valinor to his fortress
Angband in the north of Middle-earth. Thereafter he wore the Silmarils in his crown.
Fëanor was furious at Melkor, whom he named
Morgoth, "Dark Enemy of the World", and at the Valar's perceived desire to take the gems for their own purposes. Together with his
sons he swore the
Oath of Fëanor, which bound them to fight anyone who withheld the Silmarils from them. This terrible oath resulted in much future troubles including mass-murder and the war of Elf against Elf.
Fëanor led many of the Noldor back to Middle-earth. His flight, which occurred during 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 Noldor and all the people who took the oath failed in their attempt to regain the Silmarils from Morgoth.
One of the Silmarils was recovered by
Beren and
Lúthien through great peril and loss. It 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 in the sky. The other two gems remained in Morgoth's hands, and were taken from him at the end of the
War of Wrath. However, soon afterwards, they were stolen by Fëanor's two remaining sons,
Maedhros and
Maglor, as they tried to fulfil the oath they'd sworn so many years ago. But the jewels burned their hands, in denial of their rights of possession, as they'd burned Morgoth's hands 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 — in the sky, earth and water.
According to a prophecy of
Mandos following Melkor's final return and defeat in the
Dagor Dagorath (Battle of Battles), the world will be changed and the Silmarils will be recovered by the
Valar. Then Fëanor will be released from the Halls of Mandos and give
Yavanna the Silmarils and she'll break them and with their light she'll revive the Two Trees, the
Pelóri Mountains will be flattened and the light of the Two Trees will fill the world in eternal bliss.
Concept and creation
A literary parallel to the Silmarils can be found in the mythology which underlies
The Ring of the Nibelung by
Richard Wagner. In the Wagnerian mythology the
Rhinemaidens guard the
Rheingold, which isn't merely gold, but special gold that can be made into a ring whose bearer will rule the world. The quest for the
Rheingold drives both gods and men to terrible and heroic deeds. In the end, the Rheingold goes back to the Rhinemaidens, forever beyond the power of the gods or men.
Another, earlier — if less exact — literary parallel to the Silmarils is with the
Holy Grail, an object which is unique, sacred, and of almost infinite worth. To find the Holy Grail is to find a state of
Divine grace. The
Quest for the Saint Graal is a key element in the
Arthurian Legends.
A further parallel is found in the Finnish epic poem
Kalevala. The
Sampo is an object of power forged by the smith
Ilmarinen at the urging of the wizard
Väinämöinen, who requires it to win the hand of the daughter of
Louhi, the hag of
Pohjola. Although its exact nature isn't known, the object is evidently capable of magically providing those who possess it with both the necessities and luxuries of life. The pursuit, theft, and recovery of the Sampo by various characters drives much of the
Kalevala's action.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Silmarils'.
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