The Lord
of the Rings

The One Ring, also known as the ‘Ruling Ring’, ‘Master Ring’, ‘Ring of Power’, and ‘Isildur’s Bane’, was among the most powerful artifacts ever created in Middle-earth. It was crafted by the Dark Lord Sauron in the fire of Orodruin, also known as Mount Doom, during the Second Age. Sauron’s intent was to enhance his own power and exercise control over the other Rings of Power, which had been made by Celebrimbor and the Gwaith-i-Mírdain with Sauron’s assistance. In this way, Sauron hoped to gain lordship over the Elves and all other peoples of Middle-earth.

The Silmarillion

The Silmarils (originally called ‘Silmarilli’ in Quenya), also known as the Jewels of Fëanor, were a set of three gems crafted by Fëanor from essence of the Two Trees of Valinor, Laurelin and Telperion, during the Years of the Trees of the First Age. They were the most prized of all the wonders crafted by the Elves and were coveted by many. It was said that the fate of Arda was woven about the Silmarils. However, they were stolen by Melkor (later known as Morgoth). The “War of the Jewels”, the climax of which ended the First Age, refers to these three jewels.

Fëanor created the Silmarils between YT 1449 and 1450 of the First Age, during the Noontide of Valinor. They were named after and crafted of a crystalline substance named silima, and contained some of the light from the Two Trees of Valinor themselves (made by Yavanna and Nienna, and named Telperion the Silver and Laurelin the Gold). While it was said that no violence within the kingdom of Arda could mar or harm the Silmarils, they could still evidently be destroyed, as the Valar were implied to have the ability to break them open to release the light within.

The Silmarils did not have any inherent power, save containing the light of the Trees, and neither were they able to give any sort of power to their owner. There are several apparent exceptions to this however, as a Silmaril empowered both Eärendil's ship Vingilot and Carcharoth was said to have been filled with great power after consuming the same Silmaril. The Silmarils also appeared to grant some ability to navigate through enchantments meant to keep away intruders, as Carcharoth was able to penetrate the Girdle of Melian after consuming a Silmaril, and Eärendil was likewise able to bypass both the Enchanted Isles and the Shadowy Seas to make his way to Valinor. They were also blessed by Varda such that, if anyone did not take them rightfully or if anything evil comes into contact, they would burn them upon their touch.