Tolkien Trivia

[elizabeth]

Okay. Need to get the thinking cap on and pray that I don't duplicate an earlier question since I haven't played in forever.

[elizabeth]

Level two.

There are other green stones associated with Aragorn. What are they associated with and what is their history?

If this has been done, poke me and I'll come up with something else. I tried to do a review but do you realize you have 43 pages of triva questions so far?

[elizabeth]

Do I need to offer a hint? Think of a family heirloom that Aragorn has that he wears. Think small.

[Merry]

We are a very slow-thinking group here, elizabeth, and we are courteous to a fault, always giving others time to go ahead of us. So don't be hasty!

Another green stone is the one that Aragorn found on the bridge that was left by Glorfindel as a sign that the bridge was safe to cross.

I personally love green stones: I would follow a man anywhere if he gave me emeralds! (Not that they're lining up to do so!)

Nice to see you here, elizabeth!

[elizabeth]

Another green stone is the one that Aragorn found on the bridge that was left by Glorfindel as a sign that the bridge was safe to cross.

I personally love green stones: I would follow a man anywhere if he gave me emeralds! (Not that they're lining up to do so!)

Nice to see you here, elizabeth!

Not the one that I was thinking of. These are worn in something that Aragorn is wearing.

And you and me both on the second item. On both counts.

Altough I prefer a Tsavorite, a green garnet, beautiful emerald color, harder than an emerald so more suitable for everyday wear.

[Lindariel]

Elizabeth, I suspect you are referring to the Ring of Barahir. Elrond had given it to Aragorn along with the shards of Narsil when Aragorn turned 20 and Elrond deemed it time to reveal the young man's true heritage. However, if I'm not mistaken, the only mention of the Ring of Barahir in LOTR is in the story of Aragorn and Arwen in the Appendices. I don't believe Tolkien mentions Aragorn actually wearing this important Ring during his adventures with the Fellowship. Tolkien talks about him wearing the Star of the North during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields (Elladan and Elrohir had brought it to him) and the Elessar in the Houses of Healing (he received the Elessar from Galadriel during the gift-giving in Lothlorien). Both of these jewels are also mentioned at Aragorn's coronation, but not the Ring of Barahir. The Elessar also reappears when Aragorn bids farewell to the Fellowship.

The only description of the Ring of Barahir is found in "Of Beren and Luthien" in The Silmarillion: "His words were proud, and all eyes looked upon the ring; for he held it now aloft, and the green jewels gleamed there that the Noldor had devised in Valinor. For this ring was like to twin serpents, whose eyes were emeralds, and their heads met beneath a crown of golden flowers, that the one upheld and the other devoured; that was the badge of Finarfin and his house."

In fact, since at that time of LOTR Aragorn was still hiding his true identity from Sauron, it would have been foolish for him to wear this legendary ring, which would declare his ancestry to anyone who noticed it, before he was ready to declare his existence to Sauron. I always privately believed that he gave the Ring of Barahir to Arwen at their troth-plighting on Cerin Amroth in Lothlorien.

Peter Jackson introduced both the Ring of Barahir and the "Evenstar" jewel into the movies, but I don't believe the former is ever mentioned in Tolkien's story, just the Appendices, and the latter of course never existed. I do think PJ makes very interesting use of both of these items to illuminate Aragorn's heritage and his relationship with Arwen in the movies, but their use is outside of Tolkien canon.

[elizabeth]

Those are the stones I was thinking of. I suspect that I am getting my versions crossed and that I have mingled movie truth with book truth in my mind Lindariel.

You are undoubtably correct about the fact that wearing the ring would have been an announcement to all and sundry that here is the heir of the House of Elendil.

'Death you can give me earned or unearned, but names I will not take from you of baseborn, nor spy, nor thrall. By the ring of Felagund, that he gave to Barahir my father on the battlefield of the North, my house has not earned such names from any Elf, be he king or no.' Silamarilian Ch19.

Thus spoke Beren Erchamion in the halls of mighty Thingol as he held aloft the ring, "and the green jewels gleamed there that the Noldor had devised in Valinor. For this ring was like to twin serpents, whose eyes were emeralds, and their heads met beneath a crown of golden flowers, that the one upheld and the other devoured; that was the badge of Finarfin and his house." (Silmarillion, Chapter 19: Of Beren and Lúthien)

Beren later used it as a token when he sought Finrod's help in the quest for the Silmaril.

The ring was passed from Beren in direct line to Dior, then his daughter Elwing and her son Elros, who brought it to Númenor during the Second Age. It was an heirloom of the kings of Númenor until Tar-Elendil gave the ring to his eldest daughter Silmariën, who was not allowed to succeed him on the throne. She in turn gave the ring to her son Valandil, first Lord of Andúnië. It was handed down to succeeding Lords of Andúnië to the last one, Amandil, father of Elendil.

In the Third Age ring was again passed in direct line from Elendil to Isildur to the Kings of Arnor, and then Kings of Arthedain. The last King of Arthedain, Arvedui, gave the ring to the Lossoth of Forochel, thankful for the help he received from them. It was later ransomed from the Snowmen by the Dúnedain of the North, and it was kept safe at Rivendell.

Eventually, it was given by Elrond to Aragorn son of Arathorn, when he was told of his true name and lineage, together with the shards of Narsil. In the year 2980 of the Third Age, in Lórien Aragorn gave the ring to Arwen Undómiel, and thus they were betrothed.

Nothing is said of the fate of the ring in the Fourth Age, but it was most likely either again passed to the Kings of Gondor and Arnor, descendants of Aragorn and Arwen, or it went with Arwen to her grave in Cerin Amroth.

Anyhoo the story from Luthien and Beren was the history I was thinking of. Good job. Your turn.

[Lindariel]

Thanks for that entry from Wikipedia, Elizabeth! I had always imagined that Aragorn would have given the Ring of Barahir to Arwen in token of their pledge to each other. It would have had great meaning for Arwen, because King Finrod Felagund (Galadriel's brother), who originally gave the ring to Barahir, would have been Arwen's great-uncle.

It is nice to have my fond imaginings confirmed, not just by this Wikipedia entry, but also by Tolkien himself! When I went back to the Tale of Years in the LOTR Appendices, sure enough, in the entry for the year 2980 of the Third Age, Tolkien states:

Aragorn enters Lorien and there meets again Arwen Undomiel. Aragorn gives her the ring of Barahir, and they plight their troth upon the hill of Cerin Amroth.

When Elrond first gave Aragorn the Ring of Barahir and the shards of Narsil, he says, "With these you may yet do great deeds . . ." I don't imagine at the time he considered the possibility that Aragorn would use it as the engagement ring for Elrond's own daughter! You must admit, however, it was a great deed!

Now we know why Tolkien nevers mentions the Ring of Barahir in association with Aragorn in LOTR. By the time the story starts, Arwen is already in possession of it. This is proof positive that Peter Jackson was taking a great deal of creative license (not to mention that it makes no sense if Aragorn was disguising his true identity) by having him wear the Ring of Barahir in the movies!

Now for a level 1.5 question. Can you find a passage in the Rivendell section of the LOTR story that probably gave Peter Jackson the slimmest thread of an excuse for creating the "Evenstar" jewel that Arwen gives to Aragorn in the movies?

[Lindariel]

Hmmm . . . shall I help narrow down the search? Look in the portion of the stay in Rivendell that takes place in the Hall of Fire . . .

[Merry]

Begging your pardon for our tardiness, Lindariel: I think we're all trying to be courteous and let others have a chance.

I had to look this up: "Elrond was in his chair and the fire was on his face like summer-light upon the trees. Near him sat the Lady Arwen. To his surprise Frodo saw that Aragorn stood beside her; his dark cloak was thrown back, and he seemed to be clad in elven-mail, and a star shone on his breast."

This is really the Star of the Dunedain, I'm guessing. Now that I think about it, Aragorn really wore a lot of jewelry in the movies: the Ring of Barahir, the Evenstar, and the Lothlorien brooch. A nice set of earrings and the outfit would have been complete!

[Airwin]

Merry,

[Lindariel]

That's the passage I was thinking of Merry! I believe the Star of the North/Star of the Dunedain/Star of Elendil (another thing with many names!) was a circlet bound upon Aragorn's brow, however.

Here is the entry from The Encyclopedia of Arda for the Star of Elendil:

The name given to either of two noble gems, both of which were also known by the Elvish name Elendilmir. The first dated back to the early centuries of Númenor, and belonged to Silmariën, the daughter of King Tar-Elendil. From her, it passed to her descendants the Lords of Andúnië. The last Lord was Elendil, who escaped the Downfall of Númenor and became High King of the Dúnedain in Middle-earth. He wore the Star of Elendil on his brow in place of a crown, as did his son Isildur after him.

Isildur had only been King for two years before he was waylaid by Orcs and lost in the Great River. The original Elendilmir was lost with him, and so another was made for his descendants the Kings of Arnor. This second Star of Elendil became the royal symbol of the North-kingdom, and after that kingdom's fall it remained an heirloom of the Heirs of Isildur. It remained in Isildur's line down to the time of Aragorn, who wore it during the Battle of the Pelennor.

At the time Aragorn became King of Gondor, it was thought that the first Star of Elendil had been lost for more than three thousand years. However, it was later found that the searchers sent by Saruman, though they had failed in their mission to find the Ring, had uncovered other things, and the original Star of Elendil was rediscovered in a secret chamber in Saruman's Tower of Orthanc.

Also, note this passage from The Battle of the Pelennor Fields: "But before all went Aragorn with the Flame of the West, Anduril like a new fire kindled, Narsil re-forged as deadly as of old; and upon his brow was the Star of Elendil." Later, before going to the Houses of Healing, Aragorn removes the Star of the North and gives it back into the keeping of Elrond's sons.

The mention in Rivendell of Aragorn wearing a star on his breast is quite different. Recall that at this point in the story, Elrond had only given the Ring of Barahir and the shards of Narsil into Aragorn's keeping. He would not have in his possession the Star of Elendil/Star of the North. I think the reference above to Aragorn returning the Star of the North to the keeping of Elrond's sons indicates that Elrond sent the Star of the North with his sons when they were summoned to Aragorn's aid in Rohan. How encouraging that must have been to receive this gift from Elrond -- essentially to be given the crown of the North Kingdom -- a powerful token to assist Aragorn in establishing his claim as the Heir of Isildur and Elendil and the rightful King of Gondor and Arnor. Recall what Faramir says at Aragorn's coronation:

Men of Gondor, hear now the Steward of this Realm! Behold! One has come to claim the kingship again at last. Here is Aragorn son of Arathorn, chieftain of the Dunedain of Arnor, Captain of the Host of the West, bearer of the Star of the North, wielder of the Sword Reforged, victorious in battle, whose hands fring healing, the Elfstone, Elessar of the line of Valandil, Isildur's son, Elendil's son of Numenor. Shall he be king and enter into the City and dwell there?

Beyond that, it also implies an acceptance by Elrond of Aragorn's engagement to Arwen, in that Elrond is actively assisting Aragorn to fulfill the terms Elrond had set for their marriage. Elrond later brings the final heirloom of the House of Elendil -- the Sceptre of Annuminas -- to their wedding in Minas Tirith.

So what is this mysterious star on Aragorn's breast in Rivendell? We'll probably never know, but I think this was Peter Jackson's inspiration/excuse for creating the Evenstar pendant. At least, it's the only one I can find in the books!

Your turn, Merry!

[Merry]

I thought about the brow placement, too, Lindariel. But having a star brooch in addition to the Dunadain star is just too much for me. (My friends have a private joke about never dating a man who wears more jewelry than you do!) But I do realize that Middle-earth customs in regard to men and jewelry were different. (I think somewhere here or at WRoR we've already talked about Tolkien's thing for green jewels and how that was kind of atypical for a man of his time.)

In any case, didn't all the North Kingdom Dunadain have star brooches? I think that is mentioned when they catch up with Aragorn in Rohan. So it seems at least possible that Aragorn could have had this star, which was not the Star of Elendil, right?

I probably won't have a new question until Sunday.

[Lindariel]

Merry, I found a reference to the brooch you are talking about in The Passing of the Grey Company. Tolkien describes the clothing and gear of the Dunedain thusly, "There was no gleam of stone or gold, nor any fair thing in all their gear and harness; nor did their riders bear any badge or token, save only that each cloak was pinned upon the left shoulder by a brooch of silver shaped like a rayed star." This is a plain silver cloak pin, not a jewel of any kind. Somehow this just does not match up in my imagination with "a star shown on his breast." That sounds like a jewel of some sort, so I don't think that's what Aragorn is wearing in Rivendell.

There is no mention of Aragorn wearing this silver brooch that I can find. He doesn't appear to wear any jewelry until he reaches Rivendell -- the elven mail and the star on his breast -- both of which he apparently leaves behind when he undertakes the quest of the Fellowship. He receives the Elessar in Lothlorien along with the green leaf pin that came with his Lothlorien cloak, and the Star of Elendil from the sons of Elrond and Arwen's standard from Halbarad (it isn't jewelry per se, but it is jewel encrusted) when they join him in Rohan.

Also, I think this silver cloak pin signifies the allegiance of the Dunedain to the House of Elendil, and hence their allegiance to Aragorn as the last scion of that House. It would be inappropriate for Aragorn to wear this pin, since he bears far more significant tokens of the House of Elendil, namely the shards of Narsil, later Andruil, the Sword Reforged, and ultimately the Star of Elendil.

I did remember another passage from LOTR in which Tolkien refers obliquely to Aragorn and the Star of Elendil. It occurs in Fog on the Barrow-Downs. After Bombadil rescues the hobbits from the barrow-wight, he outfits them with swords made by the Men of Westernesse that had been part of the barrow-wights trove.

'Few now remember then,' Tom murmured, 'yet still some go wandering, sons of forgotten kings walking in loneliness, guarding from evil things folk that are heedless.' The hobbits did not understand his words, but as he spoke they had a vision as it were of a great expanse of years behind them, like a vast shadowy plain over which there strode shapes of Men, tall and grim with bright swords, and last came one with a star on his brow.

Its nice the way these symbols weave their way through the story.

I look forward to your question, Merry!

[Merry]

I don't know, Lindariel. I don't think it would have been "inappropriate" for Aragorn to wear the Star of the Dunedain at that part of the story. He was a Dunedain, after all, and functioned as a Ranger, not a king. Until the sword was reforged, there did not seem to be much hope for kingship at all.

And a silver brooch would shine, especially in the Hall of Fire! It seems that it might have been a good night for a little bling. In any case, Tolkien tells us that it was a star and, as you said, stars were the symbol of the men of the West. I don't suppose that this was a coincidence.