Celebrimbor

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Celebrimbor
Noldo
Jenny Dolfen - Celebrimbor.jpg
"Celebrimbor" by Jenny Dolfen
Biographical Information
Other namesTelperinquar (Q, fn)
TitlesLord of Eregion
LocationTirion, Nargothrond, Eregion
AffiliationGwaith-i-Mírdain
LanguageQuenya and Sindarin
BirthBefore Y.T. 1495[1]
Tirion
RuleS.A. 750 - S.A. 1697 (ruled 947 years)
DeathS.A. 1697 (aged 2334+)
Ost-in-Edhil, War of the Elves and Sauron
Notable forCreating the Rings of Power
Family
HouseHouse of Fëanor
ParentageCurufin
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Celebrimbor

Celebrimbor (S, pron. [ˌkɛlɛˈbrɪmbɔr]) was the son of Curufin,[1] fifth 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

Marya Filatova - Celebrimbor

The early years of Celebrimbor are not known, but he was born in Valinor (and followed his father and grandfather into the Exile of the Noldor in Middle-earth. His mother stayed behind.[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 Orodreth.

After the Sack of Nargothrond, Celebrimbor lived for a time in Gondolin, where he was a great jewel smith for King Turgon. He may have created the Elessar of Eärendil, though other accounts name Enerdhil as the Master Jewelsmith and creator of the Elfstone, who perhaps taught Celebrimbor this art.[2] He survived the Fall of Gondolin.

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

At around S.A. 1200[4] Sauron, calling himself Annatar (the "Lord of Gifts") and claiming to be an emissary of the Valar, arrived in Ost-in-Edhil, and offered his knowledge to the Gwaith-i-Mírdain.

Under the guidance and instruction of Annatar, Celebrimbor and the Gwaith-i-Mírdain made several lesser rings of power. A legend says that Celebrimbor gave one of those rings to King Durin III who reigned in Khazad-dûm[5]

Using the knowledge gained from Annatar, Celebrimbor also created Three Rings by himself, 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 elements of air, fire, and water, respectively. Vilya and Narya were sent by Celebrimbor to Gil-galad and Círdan, respectively, in Lindon, and Nenya to Galadriel in Lothlórien.

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. However, when Sauron put on the One Ring with the intention of dominating the wills of those wearing the lesser rings, the elves who bore the Three instantly became aware of Sauron's deceit and his plan. He then prepared for war.

Fight against Sauron and death

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.

Abe Papakhian - Death of Celebrimbor

Celebrimbor died from his torment in S.A. 1697,[4] the last direct descendant of the line of Fëanor, with the possible exception of Maglor. 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.[6]

Renowned works

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").[7]

Other versions of the legendarium

Celebrimbor was invented for the back-story of the Lord of the Rings with no background in the first edition (before 1966); afterwards Tolkien attempted to write a background to link him with the Elder Days: in a passage concerning Galadriel and Celeborn he was described as a Noldo survivor of Gondolin, who had been one of Turgon's greatest artificers. He was prideful and had an almost "dwarvish" obsession with crafts, survived the Fall and later became a follower of Celeborn and Galadriel. However, in a note Tolkien put next to the text, he wrote, "it would be better 'to make him a descendant of Fëanor'."

Thus, an appropriate line is added in the Appendix B of the second edition. Tolkien then proceeded to decide which of Fëanor's sons would result to Celebrimbor; a note describes their wives and children, stating that, Maglor, Caranthir and Curufin were wedded, concluding that "Curufin, dearest to his father and chief inheritor of his father's skills, [...] had a son who came with him into exile, though his wife (unnamed) did not."[1] Christopher Tolkien used this note as a basis for The Silmarillion, where Celebrimbor is the son of Curufin who remained in Nargothrond when his father was expelled.[8]

However, apparently forgetting the published statement, Tolkien explored other ideas; in an essay dated 1968 Celebrimbor is referred as a Telerin silver-smith who followed Celeborn to Middle-earth, and ended up to Eregion being fascinated by the silver-like mithril.[1] In Of Dwarves and Men (1969 or later) he mentions that he was a Sinda and descendant of Daeron of Doriath who continued to use his runic script in Eregion.[9]:297[1]

Genealogy

Mahtan
b. Y.T.
 
Míriel
d. Y.T. 1170
 
Finwë
d. Y.T. 1495
 
Indis
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nerdanel
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
Fëanor
Y.T. 1169 - 1497
 
Findis
b. Y.T.
 
Fingolfin
Y.T. 1190 - F.A. 456
 
Írimë
b. Y.T.
 
Finarfin
b. Y.T. 1230
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maedhros
d. F.A. 587
 
Maglor
b. Y.T.
 
Celegorm
d. F.A. 506
 
Caranthir
d. F.A. 506
 
Curufin
d. F.A. 506
 
Amrod
d. F.A. 538
 
Amras
d. F.A. 538
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CELEBRIMBOR
d. S.A. 1697
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Portrayal in adaptations

2014: Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

Celebrimbor as portrayed in 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. He is also the main protagonist of the Bright Lord expansion, where he is revealed to have stolen the One Ring from Sauron at some point in the Second Age, and intended to use it to turn the Dark Lord's own weapons against him. However, he is corrupted by the power of the Ring and doomed to never see the Undying Lands. Though he defeats Sauron in battle, Sauron still managed to reclaim the Ring and banish Celebrimbor's spirit to an eternity as a wraith in the Unseen world.

2017: Middle-earth: Shadow of War

Celebrimbor uses Talion to create a new ring of power so they can dominate the orc forces of Sauron's army to create one in their own service. With their army amassed they travel Sauron's Road to destroy the Dark Lord. On their way, Talion comes up against the Nazgûl Isildur. After a vision of Isildur's transformation to a Nazgûl, Talion shows mercy decides to destroy him and free him from life as a servant to Sauron. Celebrimbor, angry that Talion vanquished Isildur rather than adding his power to their army, reveals that he intends to dominate Sauron instead of destroying him and in turn become the new ruler of Mordor as the Bright Lord. Talion refuses to help him in his quest for power, so Celebrimbor removes the new ring from him. With their bond lost, Talion begins to bleed profusely and die. Celebrimbor convinces Eltariel, an Elven assassin of Galadriel, to wield the new ring and continue on to defeat Sauron. During their battle, Sauron is able to overpower them and cut Eltariel's fingers off along with the new ring. Sauron then absorbs Celebrimbor and together they become the flaming Eye of Sauron atop Barad-dûr.

See also

References