Lesser rings

From Tolkien Gateway
This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.
A Lesser ring by Larry Forcella for the Middle-earth Collectible Card Game.

The lesser rings were forged by the elves as essays in the craft of ring-making.

History[edit | edit source]

The lesser rings were made sometime between S.A. 1200, when Sauron came in disguise to Eregion, and 1500, when they began crafting the greater Rings of Power.[1] Unlike the greater rings, these were round and unadorned, without gems, much like the One Ring.[2]

During the Third Age, the Hobbits of the Shire had old tales of magic rings that turned people invisible. When Bilbo Baggins found the One Ring in the tunnels near Gollum's lake, he believed that it was one of them.[3]

In the year T.A. 3018, Gandalf mentioned these rings to Frodo when recounting the origins of the Rings of Power.[4] Supposedly, the lesser rings were also mentioned by a messenger of Sauron, who asked Dáin Ironfoot to find and return to Sauron "a little ring, the least of rings", that is, the ring of Bilbo Baggins.[2]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

1995-1997: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game

Several cards describing and depicting lesser rings were released, for example "The Oracle's Ring", "Wizard's Ring", and "Magic Rings" of different power (lore, stealth, courage, etc.).

2007-: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Narchuil was one of the lesser rings forged by the elven-smiths. It was worn by Amarthiel.

External links[edit | edit source]

References