Celebrimbor
| Celebrimbor | |
|---|---|
| Noldo | |
 | |
| "Celebrimbor" by Jenny Dolfen | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | Telperinquar (Q, fn) |
| Titles | Lord of Eregion |
| Location | Valinor Nargothrond Eregion |
| Affiliation | Gwaith-i-Mírdain |
| Language | Quenya Sindarin |
| Birth | during the Years of the Trees[1] Valinor |
| Death | S.A. 1697 Ost-in-Edhil |
| Family | |
| House | House of Fëanor |
| Parentage | Curufin (father) |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Celebrimbor |
- "Celebrimbor was the son of Curufin, but though inheriting his skills he was an Elf of wholly different temper; his mother had refused to take part in the rebellion of Fëanor and remained in Aman with the people of Finarfin. During their dwelling in Nargothrond as refugees he had grown to love Finrod, and was aghast at the behaviour of his father and would not go with him. He later became a great friend of Celeborn and Galadriel."
- ― The Peoples of Middle-earth, Of Dwarves and Men
Celebrimbor (S, pron. [ˌkeleˈbrimbor]) was the son of Curufin,[1] fourth son of Fëanor. Aside from his grandfather, Celebrimbor was the greatest craftsman in the history of Middle-earth, and his forging of the Rings of Power led to the dominion and eventual downfall of Sauron in the War of the Ring.
History
Early life
The early years of Celebrimbor are not known, and his mother is unnamed.[1]
He probably fled to Nargothrond after the Dagor Bragollach. However, he took no part in the deeds of Curufin and Celegorm regarding Lúthien, Beren, and Finrod. He even repudiated his father's deeds and did not follow him when the two brothers were cast out from Nargothrond by Arothir, Finrod's nephew.
A legend says that during the Second Age Celebrimbor was in love with Galadriel who was pained at the state of Middle-earth. Celebrimbor remade another version of the Elessar at her behest, with less power than the original.[2]
During the Second Age, he was lord of the Elves of Ost-in-Edhil in Eregion. He was also the head of the Gwaith-i-Mírdain, a guild of Elven craftsmen. Their skill was so renowned that they gained the admiration and friendship of the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm. Together with the dwarf Narvi, Celebrimbor crafted the Doors of Durin that guarded the West-gate of the Dwarven kingdom.[3]
The Rings of Power
Around S.A. 1200[4] a Maia craftsman called Annatar (the "Lord of Gifts") arrived at Ost-in-Edhil as an emissary of the Valar, offering his knowledge to the Gwaith-i-Mírdain. This was Sauron, who had come to subvert the Elves.
Under the guidance and instruction of Annatar, Celebrimbor and the Gwaith-i-Mírdain made several lesser and 16 more powerful rings. A legend says that Celebrimbor gave one of those rings to the King Durin III who reigned in Khazad-dûm at that time.[5]
Based on knowledge gained from Annatar, Celebrimbor also created by himself the Three Rings, the greatest and fairest of the Rings of Power. These rings were thus free of Sauron's corrupting influence, for only Celebrimbor himself touched them. Celebrimbor named the rings Vilya, Narya, and Nenya after the principal Middle-earth elements of air, fire, and water, respectively.
Around S.A. 1600, Sauron secretly forged the One Ring in Orodruin, which would enable him to rule Middle-earth by claiming dominance over all the Rings of Power and their bearers. Celebrimbor and the Elves felt betrayed when they wore the Rings and defied Sauron by withholding the other rings from him. Celebrimbor then sent the three rings away for safekeeping: Vilya and Narya to Gil-galad in Lindon, and Nenya to Galadriel. He then prepared for war.
The War of the Elves and Sauron
Sauron retaliated by attacking Eregion in S.A. 1695, laying waste to the realm. Celebrimbor was captured in the Sack of Eregion, and was forced under torture to disclose where the sixteen were held, but he would not reveal the whereabouts of the three elvish rings. Sauron captured the other rings and used them as instruments of evil in later years, particularly against Men.
Celebrimbor died from his torment in S.A. 1697,[4] the last direct descendant of the line of Fëanor. His body, shot with arrows, was hung upon a pole and carried by the forces of Sauron as a banner as they assaulted the Elves.[2]
Etymology
The name Celebrimbor is the Sindarin translation of his Quenya father-name Telperinquar (pron. [ˌtelpeˈriŋʷkʷar]). His mother-name is unknown. Celebrimbor consists of celebrin ("silver-like") + baur ("fist").[6]
Renowned Works
- The Elessar of Eärendil?
- Doors of Durin (with Narvi)
- The Rings of Power
- The Nine Rings of Men (with Annatar)
- The Seven Rings of the Dwarves (with Annatar)
- The Three Rings of the Elves
Genealogy
Portrayal in Adaptations
2014: Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
- Celebrimbor plays a major role in the video game, serving as a wraith who is bound to an undead Gondorian Ranger, Talion, by the will of Sauron. He is voiced by Alister Duncan.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "Notes", p. 318 (note 7)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Journey in the Dark"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 42
