The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerbrings fans back to Middle-earth, but things are not exactly the same. Set inthe Second Age, there are still discoveries to be made that will shape the world into the one found inJ.R.R. Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Rings.And one important discovery is happening in the Khazad-dûm. InSeason 1, Prince Durin IV (Owain Arthur) had something to hide until he finally revealed the truth to his friend, Elrond (Robert Aramayo), in Season 1, Episode 4, “The Great Wave.” Prince Durin admitted to secretly mining mithril from the depths of Khazad-dûm. The idea of the Dwarves mining a mineral doesn’t seem so groundbreaking, butmithril has a significant history in Middle-earth.A history that is just beginning inThe Rings of Powerseries and will have a heavy impact on Middle-earth in the present and future. The series has already shown how uniquely powerful mithril is, but they have yet to find the limit of what it can do.
‘The Rings of Power’ Shows the Dangers of Mining Mithril
In Season 1, Episode 4, Elrond learns that Durin is sneaking off to an old mining tunnel. Elrond follows his friend to the tunnel, forcing Durin to explain. He is mining a unique substance, but the process is dangerous. As such,King Durin III (Peter Mullan)has put restrictions on the work. When Elrond asks what it is, Durin calls it “gray glitter.” Though the substance has no name in the Elvish language, Sindarin, Durin approximates it to be “mith-raud.” Elrond corrects him, translating his term with the word “mith” for gray and “ril” as glitter, putting them together to make mithril, a name more familiar to Tolkien fans.
Though the mineral is precious, mining it is hazardous.At this point, the Dwarves are keeping mithril a secret, knowing that as soon as the substance is common knowledge, it will be in high demand. However, Prince Durin gives Elrond a shard of mithril asa token of friendship. While the two discuss the substance, the mithril mine caves in, trapping four Dwarves. Although they manage to save all four without any fatalities, Durin’s father decides to shut down the mining operation, much to Durin’s anger. It seems unlikely that Durin will let it rest forever, given the lore explained inThe Lord of the Ringsand, perhaps more importantly, mithril’s growing role inRings of Power.
The Origins of Mithril Are Different in ‘Rings of Power’
In Season 1, Episode 5, “Partings,” the High King of the Elves, Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker), asks Elrond about an obscure Elvish legend calledThe Song of the Roots of Hithaeglir. The story is about a battle in the Misty Mountains where an Elven warrior and a Balrog of Morgoth fought over a tree that supposedly hid the last ofthe lost Silmarils. The Elf channeled all his light into this tree to protect it. Meanwhile, the Balrog channeled his hatred into it to destroy the tree. When lightning struck the tree, it created a new power. Gil-galad describes this power as “pure and light as good” and “strong and unyielding as evil.” This power is said to have seeped down the tree roots and into the depths of the mountains, where Gil-gad believes it became the mithril that Durin found. If this legend is to be believed (as Gil-galad seems to),mithril contains the light of the last lost Silmarils. The Silmarils are stones that contain light from theTwo Trees of Valinorwhich brought light to Middle-earth from the land ofthe Valar.
The origins of mithril are a departure from Tolkien’s lore, giving the mineral more power than it previously had. WhileRings of Powermakes it a magical substance born of light, dark, and Silmarils,Tolkien wrote itas a valuable and rare but naturally occurring mineral.Rings of Power’s origin story directly defies Tolkien’s canon, as neither of the lost Simarils was near the Misty Mountains. Nor were they in a tree, as Tolkien describes one as being lost in the sea and the other deep underground. However,the reasonRings of Powermade such a drastic change is obvious: it adds to the significance of mithril.InRings of Power, mithril is far more powerful than it would be otherwise, giving it the ability to shape Middle-earth’s future. While even Tolkien made mithril an important mineral, it was only a mineral desired by the greedy to show off their wealth, but inRings of Power,it is something else entirety. Mithril is necessary to the Elves' survival in Middle-earth, giving Prince Durin a good reason to defy his father.
Mithril Saves the Elves in ‘Rings of Power’ — and Maybe the Rest of Middle-earth
The new origin story connects mithril to another plotline inRings of Power.In Season 1, Episode 5, Gil-galad also reveals to Elrond why the history of mithril is so important. With the rot growing on the tree as proof, Gil-galad tells Elrond thatthe Light of the Eldar is fading. Without a way to stop it, the Elves must either leave Middle-earth or fade away.Desperately looking for a way to stop the rot, Gil-galad believes that mithril is the answer,putting Elrond in the difficult position of choosing loyalty to his friend or the survival of his people. Elrond refuses to confirm if the Dwarves found mithril because it would break his oath to Durin. But, he andCelebrimbor(Charles Edwards) soon discover that the only way to save the Elves is to obtain a large quantity of mithril quickly. To do this, Elrond would have to break his promise to Durin. Elrond struggles with the choice and eventually shares the truth with Durin, who agrees to talk to his father.
Though Durin III denies the Elves' aid, Celebrimbor finds a way, orSauron (Charlie Vickers)gives him hints. By using an alloy, Celebrimbor used the shard of mithril that Durin had given Elrond to create three rings,the Elven Rings of Power. Though they are potentially tainted by Sauron’s involvement, the rings do stop the rot when Gil-galad, Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), and Círdan (Ben Daniels) don them, allowing the Elves to stay put.The magical origins of mithril explain why even a limited amount can save the Light of the Eldar, and that may not be mithril’s only ability. Celebrimbor and Sauron (now Annatar) discuss making Dwarven rings forall the powerful Dwarf-lordsin exchange for more mithril, and with earthquakes plaguing the Dwarves, Durin III agrees. Of course, fans know that all the rings do not stop there. Men get their own set, which, at this point, seems sure to be made of mithril as well. Through its magical properties, mithril saved the Elves and soon the Dwarves, but it is dangerous. Sauron is planning something, and these mithril rings are a part of it.
Mithril Is Found Throughout Middle-earth
Even without its magical properties inRings of Power, mithril plays a memorable role in Middle-earth.Mithril is a precious metal known to be both lightweight and strong, making it ideal for armor, weapons, and many other things. It’s worth ten times its weight in gold and does not tarnish. As mithril can only be found in a handful of locations and possesses important powers, it is in high demand with all the people of Middle-earth.Khazad-dûm, more widely known as Moria, is one of the few locations,along with Númenor, where it has not yet shown up inRings of Power.Given the new origins,mithril may be limited to Khazad-dûm inRings of Power, which would change little. Whether there are other sources or not, mithril is rare, allowing the single mithril vein in Moria to make the Dwarves exceedingly wealthy.
Though most commonly referred to by its Elven name, in true Tolkien fashion, the author gave the metal many names. Men used the term Moria-silver or true-silver. And the Dwarves are said to have a secret name for it.Middle-earth saw mithril as a sign of wealth and power.The guards of Citadel in Minas Tirith wore mithril helmets that lasted for generations as a remnant of their former glory. And, even in Tolkien’s lore, Nenya, the Elven Ring of Power worn by Galadriel, was forged from mithril.Mithril can also be found in the Doors of Durin, which have not yet been made inRings of Power, but they have been hinted at. The Doors of Durin use an alloy called ithildin, which Celebrimbor makes at the beginning ofSeason 2. The doors were made by Celebrimbor and the dwarf, Narvi, who appears in Season 2, played byKevin Eldon. These doors guard Moria against foes with the riddle “Speak, friend, and enter.” InThe Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo and his companions encounter these doors on their journey. The door stumps them briefly, but Gandalf uses the Elvish word for friend, “Mellon,” and the doors swing open and allow the group to enter.
Why Did Adar and the Orcs Betray Sauron in ‘The Rings of Power’ Season 2 Premiere?
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Mithril Leads to the Fate of Moria in ‘The Lord of the Rings’
What Does That Mean For ‘Rings of Power’?
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
