In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the Silmarils (Quenya Silmarilli) are three fictional sacred objects in the form of brilliant star-like jewels which contained the unmarred light of the Two Trees. The Silmarils were made out of the crystalline substance silima by Fëanor, a Noldorin Elf, in Valinor during the Years of the Trees. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien CBE (3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) is best known as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. ... A legendarium is a book or series of books consisting of a collection of legends. ... Quenya is one of the languages spoken by the Elves in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. ... In J. R. R. Tolkiens legendarium, the Two Trees of Valinor are Telperion and Laurelin, the Silver Tree and the Gold that brought light to the Land of the Valar in ancient times. ... Fëanor is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkiens Middle-earth universe, and central to Tolkiens mythology as told in The Silmarillion. ... The main part of this article relates to the version of Middle-earths history that is considered canon by most Tolkien fans who accept such labels (see: Middle-earth canon). ... Celeborn (portrayed by Marton Csokas), an Elf in Peter Jacksons adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring. ... A fan-created map of Aman and Valinor. ... A map of Aman, courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Arda In J. R. R. Tolkiens Middle-earth legendarium, the Years of the Trees are one of the three great time-periods of Arda. ...

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 is not fully explained. Even the Valar, including Aulë, could not 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. Fëanor is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkiens Middle-earth universe, and central to Tolkiens mythology as told in The Silmarillion. ... Eldar Djangirov a jazz pianist. ... Aulë is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkiens legendarium. ...

After Fëanor was exiled to Formenos, the Silmarils were stored in a chamber of iron. In J. R. R. Tolkiens fictional universe of Middle-earth, Formenos was the stronghold of Fëanor and his sons in the north of Valinor, built after the banishment of Fëanor from Tirion. ...

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. In the fictional world of Middle-earth, Ungoliant was an evil spirit in the form of a spider who dwelt in Avathar in the First Age. ... The Ainur (from Valarin Ayanûz; singular Ainu) are a fictional race from J. R. R. Tolkiens universe, Eä. Spoiler warning: The Ainur are the spirits emanated by Ilúvatar to help him to create the Universe, Eä, through the Music of the Ainur. ... Morgoth Bauglir (also known as Melkor) is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth Cycle. ... In J. R. R. Tolkiens mythology, the Valar (singular Vala) are the Powers of Arda, or direct representatives of Eru Ilúvatar (God). ... Finwë is a fictional character in the fantasy universe of J.R.R. Tolkien. ... The main part of this article relates to the version of Middle-earths history that is considered canon by most Tolkien fans who accept such labels (see: Middle-earth canon). ... In J. R. R. Tolkiens fictional world of Middle-earth, Angband (Sindarin for Hells of Iron, although the literal meaning is iron prison) is the name of the fortress of Melkor, constructed before the First Age, located in the Iron Mountains in the enemys realm Dor Daedeloth north... The Iron Crown is a fictional object from J. R. R. Tolkiens Middle-earth legendarium. ...

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. Morgoth Bauglir (also known as Melkor) is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth Cycle. ... In J. R. R. Tolkiens world of Middle-earth, the seven sons of Fëanor, the great Ñoldorin Prince, led their people from Valinor to rule over kingdoms in the Northeast of Beleriand: Maedhros the Tall, who ruled from the March of Maedhros, based at the hill of Himring... In the fictional world of J.R.R. Tolkien the oath of Fëanor was an oath taken by Fëanor and his seven sons after Morgoth killed Finwe and stole the Silmarils. ...

Fëanor led many of the Noldor back to Middle-earth. His flight, which began 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. In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the First Age began with the awakening of the Elves, and ended with the final overthrow of Morgoth by the combined armies of Valinor and Beleriand. ... The race of Men in J. R. R. Tolkiens Middle-earth books, such as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, refers to humanity and does not denote gender. ... In J. R. R. Tolkiens The Silmarillion, there were many battles between the Elves of Beleriand and the forces Morgoth. ... In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Beleriand was the region of northwestern Middle-earth during the First Age. ...

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 sons, Maedhros and Maglor, as they tried to fullfill the oath they had sworn so many years ago. But the jewels burned their hands, in refusal of their rights of possession, as they had 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. Beren is a fictional character, from J. R. R. Tolkiens fantasy-world Middle-earth. ... Lúthien Tinúviel is a character in J. R. R. Tolkiens Middle-earth. ... For the Anglo-Saxon name, see Earendel. ... Combatants Host of the Valar, Edain Servants of Morgoth Commanders Eönwë, Eärendil Morgoth, Ancalagon the Black† Casualties Unknown Most balrogs, uncounted legions of Orcs In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the War of Wrath, or the Great Battle was the final war against Morgoth at the... In J. R. R. Tolkiens legendarium, Maedhros (Y.T. ? – Y.S. 587) was the first son of Fëanor and Nerdanel. ... Maglor is a fictional character portrayed in J.R.R. Tolkiens fantasy universe of Middle-earth, the second son of Fëanor and Nerdanel. ...

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 will break them and with their light she will revive the Two Trees, the Pelóri Mountains will be flattened and the light of the Two Trees will fill the world in eternal bliss. (See also Zoroastrian eschatology, the final conflict between good and evil as defined by the oldest recorded eschatology). Mandos is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkiens universe, Middle-earth. ... The term Final Battle in this article refers to the expression used in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. ... In J. R. R. Tolkiens mythology, the Valar (singular Vala) are the Powers of Arda, or direct representatives of Eru Ilúvatar (God). ... Yavanna Kementári is a Vala from J. R. R. Tolkiens legendarium. ... The Pelóri Mountains, in the fictional works of J. R. R. Tolkien, are a mountain range in Aman that separates the inner plains of Valinor from Eldamar and the wastelands of Araman and Avathar. ... Zoroastrianism eschatology is the oldest eschatology in recorded history. ... // For the book by Pope Benedict XVI, see Eschatology (book). ...

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 is not 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. Valkyrie Warrior Maiden by artist Arthur Rackham (1912) Der Ring des Nibelungen, commonly translated into English as The Ring of the Nibelung or The Nibelungs Ring, is a series of four epic music dramas based loosely on figures and elements of Germanic paganism, particularly from the Icelanders sagas and... Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 – February 13, 1883) was an influential German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as he later came to call them). ... The Rhinemaidens The Rhinemaidens (de: Rheintöchter) are protagonists in the four-part Der Ring des Nibelungen by Richard Wagner. ...

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. In Christian mythology, the Holy Grail was the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, said to possess miraculous powers. ... In Christianity, divine grace refers to the sovereign favor of God for humankind, as manifest in the blessings bestowed upon all —irrespective of actions (deeds), earned worth, or proven goodness. ... The Lancelot-Grail, also known as the prose Lancelot, the Vulgate Cycle, or the Pseudo-Map Cycle, is a major source of Arthurian legend. ... The Arthurian legend or the Matter of Britain is a name given collectively to the legends that concern the Celtic and legendary history of the British Isles, especially those centered on King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table. ...

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 is not 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. The Kalevala is an epic poem which Elias Lönnrot compiled from Finnish folk lore in the 19th century. ... In Finnish mythology, the Sampo was a magical artifact constructed by Ilmarinen that brought good fortune to its holder; nobody knows exactly what it was supposed to be. ... Seppo Ilmarinen, the Eternal Hammerer, blacksmith and inventor in the Kalevala, is an archetypal artificer from Finnish mythology. ... Illustration from the Kalevala, by Akseli Gallen-Kallela 1896. ... In Finnish mythology and the mythology of Lapland, Louhi is a goddess of the land of the dead known as Pohjola. ... Pohjola is a location in Finnish mythology, referring to Pohja (North), as a point of the compass, the Northland — the whole polar region, and in the world of the Kalevala, the land of the Sami. ... The Kalevala is an epic poem which Elias Lönnrot compiled from Finnish folk lore in the 19th century. ...

See also

• The Silmarillion, the book which tells the story of the Silmarils
• Arkenstone
• Rings of Power
• One Ring