Lord of the Rings: Rings of Poweris a long-awaited return for fans to Middle Earth before Sauron became the big bad villain.Set in the second age, Rings of Power explores the story of the elves, the hobbits, and the return of the orcsafter the war against Morgoth was won. We see some familiar characters, like Elrond and Galadriel, but an important part of the story is Sauron’s secret return as the successor of Morgoth and his plans for middle-earth.
Simultaneously, we see the discovery of a new precious metal called Mithril in the Khazad-dûm, a material that can change the fate of the elves of Middle-earth. This metal seems to play a huge role in the lore of Middle-Earth, being a source of power, and a source of magic for the Elves. Even Sauron was said to have coveted Mithril, but what exactly makes it so powerful and important?
Why Is Mithril So Important In Rings Of Power?
Mithril is portrayed as a vital materialfor the survival of the elves. The story introducesa legend about Mithril being createdfrom theessence of a Silmaril, which imbued itwith immense light and power. The Silmarils were the jewels that hold the light of the Two Trees of Valinor,which once illuminated Middle-earthfrom the realm of the Valar. This version of Mithril is sought after by the elvesbecause the light of Eldar is fading from the world, as shown by the rotting tree, which means that theElves would have to leave Middle-earth or fade away.
Mithrilbecomes a potential lifeline for the elves, explained by Gil Galad as the only way for the Elves to persevere in Middle-Earth beyond their time. Mithril could restore andpreserve their fading immortalityby rejuvenating their power. Elrond is put up to the task ofretrieving the metal from the Dwarvesand breaking the oath to his friend. After Elrond explains the situation to Prince Durin,he decides to persuade his father to grant the Elves this request.
King Durin III decidesnot to help the Elves in their endeavor, but through Sauron’s indirect involvement, they use an alloy createdfrom the small amount of Mithrilgiven to Elrond by Prince Durinto create the three Elven rings of power. After Galadriel, Gil-Galad and Círdan wear these rings,the rot is vanquished, but this is a part of Sauron’s master plan.
Sauron and Celebrimbor then decide to give the Dwarvestheir own set of ringsin exchange for them giving the Elves more Mithril. These arethe origins of the Rings of Power, andSauron’s master-plan of controlling them with the one ring. Eventually,men will get a set of rings that corrupts them and creates the Nazgûl. These rings showjust how powerful the Mithril metalis in the canon of the show,and we are sure to see more of it in the future.
The Origin Of Mithril In Rings Of Power
The origin of Mithril is different in the showwhen compared to the origin of this alloy as explained by Tolkien. In the show canon, Mithril is said to have sprouted from the lost Silmarilsduring a battle against a Balrog, in the depths of the mountains.The show paints Mithril as a far more powerfuland important alloy than explained in the books, which describes it as a naturally occurring but rare substance.
It starts with the fourth episode of the first season of Rings of Power. The dwarves of Khazad-dûm have just startedmining operations to find a new and uniquely powerful substance. After Elrond finds out,he confronts Prince Durinabout it when the elvish name of thesubstance is revealed to us: Mithril. Mining it is incredibly dangerous though, and so theKing has certain restrictions placed on the process.
Feanor’s hammer. The tool that wrought the Silmarils. The jewels that contain the very light of Valinor. Strange, isn’t it? How one object could be responsible for creating so much beauty… and so much pain.
-Prince Durin
The Dwarves have not yet madethis discovery common knowledge, mining it in secret to avoid conflict over its use. Prince Durin, however, allows Elrond to keep a piece of itbecause of their long-standing friendship. As they continue to talk about Mithril, the cave collapses, trapping four dwarves, however, they’re all eventually saved.
Because of this event,the King decides to stop the mining operation, which disappoints Prince Durin. Knowing what we know, and the fact thatMithril eventually becomes a precious metal in the future, during the age of The Lord of the Rings,there’s little chance that Prince Durin will let it go.
Mithril’s Properties And Other Uses
Mithril is described as a silver-like, lightweight metal that isincredibly resistant to damage. Because of these properties, it can be used for other thingsbeyond its magical properties. Mithril can be used to craft armorlike the chainmail shirt worn by Frodo Bagginsand Bilbo Bagginsgifted to them by the Elves in The Lord of the Rings.
This shirt is light as a feather but stronger than steel, and it saved Frodo’s life once when the fellowshipfaced foes in the mines of Moria. Because of its beauty,Mithril is also used in the creation of intricate jewelryworn by the Elves, as well as crafting weapons. Dwarves and other blacksmiths use Mithrilto forge blades and other weaponsthat can hold an incredibly sharp edge andremain untarnished for a long time.
