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{{disambig-two|the precious metal of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s [[legendarium]]|the real-world producers of metal mintiatures|[[Mithril Miniatures]]}}
[[Image:John Howe - Mithril.jpg|thumb|''Mithril'' by [[John Howe]]]]
[[Image:John Howe - Mithril.jpg|thumb|''Mithril'' by [[John Howe]]]]
'''''Mithril''''' is a precious silvery metal, stronger than steel but much lighter in weight, which was mined by the [[Dwarves]] in the mines of [[Khazad-dûm]].  The name ''mithril'' comes from two words in [[Sindarin]] — ''[[mith]]'' meaning "grey", and ''[[ril]]'' meaning "glitter". ''Mithril'' was also called "true-silver" by [[Men]], while the [[Dwarves]] had their own, secret name for it.
{{quote| ''Mithril!'' All folk desired it. It could be beaten like copper, and polished like glass; and the Dwarves could make of it a metal, light and yet harder than tempered steel. Its beauty was like to that of common silver, but the beauty of ''mithril'' did not tarnish or grow dim.|[[Gandalf]] in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Journey in the Dark]]"}}
 
'''''Mithril''''' was a precious metal<ref name=South>{{FR|South}}, p. 277</ref> highly prized for its strength, light weight, and malleability. The [[Elves]] called this substance ''mithril'', but the [[Dwarves]] had their own, secret name for it. It was also known as '''Moria-silver''' or '''true-silver''' (though unlike silver, over time it did not tarnish or grow dim) and desired by all races.<ref name=Journey>{{FR|Journey}}, p. 317</ref>.


The wizard [[Gandalf]] explained ''mithril'' to the Company, passing through Khazad-dûm, the Mines of Moria:
==History==
{{quote|The wealth of Moria was not in gold and jewels, the toys of the Dwarves; nor in iron, their servant... Its worth was ten times that of gold, and now it is beyond price; for little is left above ground, and even the [[Orcs]] dare not delve here for it.<p>''Mithril!'' All folk desired it. It could be beaten like copper, and polished like glass; and the Dwarves could make of it a metal, light and yet harder than tempered steel. Its beauty was like to that of common silver, but the beauty of ''mithril'' did not tarnish or grow dim.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Journey in the Dark]]")}}
Mithril was found in the [[Misty Mountains]], in lodes leading north from the underground dwarven city of [[Moria]] towards [[Caradhras]] and down to darkness.<ref name=Journey/> It was also found on the island of [[Númenor]]<ref>{{UT|7a}}, note 31</ref> and probably in [[Aman]] as well.<ref name=Earendil>{{FR|Earendil}}, p. 236</ref>


For the literal-minded reader, it is unclear whether or not ''mithril'' is a real metal; many have thought it to be platinum, however, platinum is far too heavy to qualify as a candidate. It is possible that this legendary material was modelled after titanium, as this metal, while actually quite abundant as ore, was very expensive to produce in its metallic form (especially by medieval technology), and has some of ''mithril's'' properties of strength, bright silvery color, corrosion resistance, and light weight. Other possibilities are aluminium or magnesium; these metals are even lighter than titanium, but not as strong or as silvery shiny. (Famously, Napoleon III of France once bought dinnerware made out of aluminium because it was more expensive than gold at the time.) Certainly Tolkien, being highly educated, would have had knowledge of these three metals and the difficulty in preparing them. However, probably because nobody is known to have asked Tolkien about "''mithril''", it will never be known with certainty whether ''mithril'' is based on any real metal.
The sole mithril-vein of the [[Misty Mountains]] made the [[Durin's Folk|Longbeards]] of [[Moria]] wealthy.<ref name=Journey/> Some [[Noldor]] settled in [[Eregion]] near the West-gate of [[Moria]], because they had heard that mithril had been found<ref>{{App|SA}}, p. 1082</ref> and desired to use it in their crafts. Thanks to trade with the [[Dwarves of Khazad-dûm|Dwarves of Moria]], the [[Elves]] created objects of mithril, perhaps the most notable being [[Nenya]], one of the [[Three Rings|Three Elven Rings]] [[Rings of Power|of Power]].<ref>{{RK|Havens}} p. 1028</ref> The [[Noldor]] of [[Eregion]] also made an alloy out of mithril called ''[[ithildin]]'' ("star moon"),<ref name=Journey/> which was visible only by starlight or moonlight. This was used by the elven mastersmith [[Celebrimbor]] for the inlaid decorative designs and writings on the [[Doors of Durin]] on the West-gate of Moria.<ref>{{FR|Journey}}, p. 304</ref>
[[File:Lída Holubová - Expensive.jpg|thumb|''Expensive'' by [[Lída Holubová]]]]
King [[Tar-Telemmaitë]] of [[Númenor]] received his name, which means silver-handed,<ref>{{UT|Index}}, entry ''Tar-Telemmaitë''</ref> because he loved silver and always commanded his servants to search for mithril.<ref>{{UT|Kings}}, XV ''Tar-Telemmaitë''</ref>


''Mithril'' is extremely rare by the end of the [[Third Age]], as it was found only in [[Khazad-dûm]]. Once the [[Balrogs|Balrog]] destroyed the Dwarven Kingdom of Khazad-dum, Middle-earth's only source of new ''mithril'' ore was cut off. Before Moria was abandoned by the Dwarves ''mithril'' was worth ten times its own weight in gold.  After the Dwarves abandoned Moria and production of new mithril ore stopped entirely, it became priceless.  The only way to obtain a ''mithril''-object at the end of the Third Age was to either use heirloom ''mithril'' weapons and armour that were produced before the fall of Moria, or to melt down these existing weapons to forge new ones.  The [[Noldor]] of [[Eregion]] made an alloy out of it called ''[[ithildin]]'' ("star moon"), which was used to decorate gateways and portals. It is visible only by starlight or moonlight. The [[West-gate of Moria]] bore inlaid ''ithildin'' designs and runes.
After the [[Downfall of Númenor]] and the removal of physical [[Aman]] from the world near the end of the [[Second Age]], the mines of [[Moria]] were the only source of Mithril in the world. Mithril was worth ten times its weight in gold when it could still be mined by the Dwarves.<ref name=Journey/>


While Moria is the only known source of ''mithril'', there are indications that it was also found in [[Númenor]] and in [[Aman]] in smaller quantities.
Over time, the Dwarves of [[Moria]] continued to delve deep into the darkness below [[Caradhras]] and in {{TA|1980}}<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 1980, p. 1089</ref> they released a [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]] from the [[Elder Days]]. The [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]] destroyed the kingdom<ref name=Durin>{{App|Durin}}, fourth paragraph, p. 954</ref> and caused the mining of mithril to stop when the surviving Dwarves<ref name=Durin/> fled in {{TA|1981}},<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 1981, p. 1089</ref> after which mithril became priceless. The [[Orcs]] that inhabited [[Moria]] after the release of the [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]] did not dare to delve for mithril and gave all the mithril that the dwarves had already mined as tribute to [[Sauron]], who desired it.<ref name=Journey/>


== The Mithril Coat ==
After [[Gimli]] became [[Lord of the Glittering Caves]], he and his Dwarves forged great gates of ''mithril'' and steel to replace the [[Great Gate of Minas Tirith|Great Gate]] of [[Minas Tirith]] which was broken by the [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]].<ref>{{App|Durin}}, p. 986</ref>
Of all items made of ''mithril'', the most famous is the "small shirt of mail" retrieved from the hoard of the dragon [[Smaug]], and given to [[Bilbo Baggins]] by [[Thorin Oakenshield]].  "It was close-woven of many rings, as supple almost as linen, cold as ice, and harder than steel..."
{{quote|'It's a pretty thing isn't it,' said Bilbo, moving it in the light.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Ring goes South]]"}}


A kingly gift, the ''mithril''-coat was actually worth more than the entire worth of the Shire (Bilbo probably knew this, but he didn't care).  Bilbo later gave the coat to his nephew [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], who wore it during the Quest to [[Mount Doom]].  It saved Frodo's life when he was nearly skewered by an [[Orc]] in the Mines of Moria. (In the film adaptation of ''[[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring|The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', the attack was by a [[Cave-trolls|Cave-troll]].) It was later taken by the Orcs who captured him in the pass above [[Cirith Ungol]], and passed on to the Dark Lord's servants at [[Barad-dûr]].  When the coat was displayed before the hosts of [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]] at the Gates of Mordor, many despaired, thinking Frodo had been captured or killed, and the Ring taken. Gandalf reclaimed it from Sauron's lieutenant, and was later able to return it to Frodo after the battles were won.
==Other mithril creations==
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* [[Vingilótë]]: The ship of [[Eärendil]], which he sailed into the sky, making the gleam of truesilver visible to the world as the Evening and Morning Star, was, according to legend, built for him from mithril and from elven-glass.<ref name=Earendil/>
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* The [[Star of Elendil]]: A gem set on mithril fillet that was an heirloom of the [[Lords of Andúnië]] of Númenor.<ref name=Gladden>{{UT|Gladden}}, ''The sources of the legend of Isildur's death'', fourth paragraph</ref>
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** The second Star of Elendil was created by the smiths of [[Rivendell]] after the first one was lost with Isildur in the [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields]].<ref name=Gladden/>
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* The helmets of the [[Guards of the Citadel]] of [[Minas Tirith]],  considered "heirlooms from the glory of old days".<ref name=MT>{{RK|MT}}, p. 753</ref>
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* The [[mithril coat]] made by Dwarves and given to [[Bilbo Baggins]] as a gift by [[Thorin]].<ref>{{H|Home}}</ref>
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* The embroidered [[Crown of Gondor|crown]] in the [[Standard of Elendil]], made by [[Arwen]] for [[Aragorn]] during the [[War of the Ring]], contained mithril.<ref>{{RK|Battle}}, p. 847</ref>
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== Other ''Mithril'' Objects in the Lord of the Rings Novels ==
==Etymology==
* [[Galadriel]] possesses one of the three [[Three Rings|Elven Rings]], [[Nenya]]. It is wrought of ''mithril'' with a white stone.
The name ''mithril'' consists of the two [[Sindarin]] words ''[[mith]]'' ("grey, light grey") + ''[[ril]]'' ("brilliance").<ref>{{PE|17}}, entry '''mithril''', p. 47</ref>
* Poking through the closets of [[Orthanc]], King [[Elessar]] and his aides found the long lost ''[[Star of Elendil|Elendilmir]]'', a white star of Elvish crystal affixed to a fillet of ''mithril''. Once owned by [[Elendil]], the first King of [[Arnor]], it is an emblem of royalty in the North Kingdom.
* The Dwarves' beloved metal appears in [[Gondor]] too, the Kingdom of the South. The Guards of the Citadel of [[Minas Tirith]] wear helmets of ''mithril'', "heirlooms from the glory of old days."
* As Aragorn's ships sail up the [[Anduin]] to relieve the besieged Minas Tirith during the [[War of the Ring]], the standard flying on his ship shows a crown made of ''mithril'' and gold.
* After [[Gimli]] became lord of [[Aglarond]], he and his Dwarves forged great gates of ''mithril'' to replace the gates of Minas Tirith which were broken by the [[Witch-king of Angmar]].


== Other Contexts ==
==See also==
''Mithril'', or similarly spelled names, has been used in other fictional contexts as a strong and semi-magical metal. Examples include:
* [[:Category:Images of Mithril|Images of Mithril]]
* Within ''[[Bored of the Rings]]'' (a ''Lord of the Rings'' parody), objects are made of cheap "''mithral'' plate" rather than solid ''mithral''.
* In the role-playing game ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', ''mithral'' is one of the special materials used to make high-quality or magical items.
* In the computer game ''HeXen II'', there is a ''mithril'' wall underwater that must be transformed into wood via a spell in order to proceed in the game.
* In the video game RPG series ''Final Fantasy'', ''Mythril'' is a material for shields, weapons, armour, helmets and so on.
* In the computer game ''ADOM'', ''mithril'' is a type of metal, one of the strongest.
* The computer game ''Princess Maker 2'' has a character who wears ''mithril'' armor when she fences.
* The computer game ''Simon the Sorcerer'' features ''milrith''.
* In the computer game ''Age of Mythology'', ''mithril'' is a special armor type.
* In the MMORPG ''Kings of Chaos'', ''mithril'' is a defence weapon for humans.
* In the MMORPG ''EverQuest'', ''mithril'' is a metal that can make weapons, armor, and other equipment.
* In the MMORPG ''RuneScape'', ''mithril'' is a dark blue metal that can be mined, made into bars, and then forged into various weapons and armor. While it is one of the weaker metals in the game, it is stronger than steel.
* The MMORPG ''The Realm Online'' features ''Mythril'' as a strong, light-weight metal green in color used to make quality weapons and armor.
* In the MMORPG ''World of Warcraft'', ''mithril'' is used to make weapons, armor, and gadgets.
* In the video game ''Kingdom Hearts'', ''mithril'' is a rare material used for "synthesis" in high-level items.
* In the sci-fi/fantasy anime series ''Hyper Police'', it is possible to buy or make "mithril-tip" bullets.
* In the anime series ''Full Metal Panic!'', ''Mithril'' is a mercenary organization. In the Full Metal Panic!: The Second Raid, the origin of the name is explained as a reference to ''The Lord of the Rings''.
* In the roguelike IVAN, ''mithril'' is a rather strong and valuable metal.
* In the GBA game ''Shining Soul'', ''mithril'' can be forged with other materials to make valuable weapons, accessories, and armor.
* In the Playstation game ''Star Ocean: The Second Story'', ''mithril'' is a rare metal that can be used for blacksmithing and for customization of weapons.
* In the video game ''Breath of Fire IV'', some armors are made out of the legendary metal ''mithril''.
* In the video game ''Chrono Cross'', ''Mythril'' is a component that can be used in forging new weapons, armor and accessories.
* The name of a Celtic/World music quartet - [[Mithril (band)]].
* In the video game ''Tales of Symphonia'', ''mythril'' is used to customize many late game weapons, shields, and other items to equip to characters.


== Tolkien's Inspiration ==
==External links==
In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hervarar_Saga Hervarar saga], which was a cycle dealing with the magic sword ''Tyrfing'' (and from which Tolkien borrowed, for instance, the names [[Dwalin]] and [[Durin]]), the hero Orvar-Odd wore a ''silken mailcoat'' which nothing could pierce (''Oddr svarar: "ek vil berjask við Angantýr, hann mun gefa stór högg með Tyrfingi, en ek trúi betr skyrtu minni, enn brynju þinni, til hlífðar"'').
*"[http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2013/03/06/where-did-all-the-mithril-go/ Where Did All the Mithril Go?]" by [[Michael Martinez]]


{{references}}
[[Category:Materials]]
[[Category:Materials]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[de:Mithril]]
[[fr:encyclo/biologie/metaux/mithril]]
[[fi:Mithril]]

Latest revision as of 12:03, 13 January 2023

This article is about the precious metal of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. For the the real-world producers of metal mintiatures, see Mithril Miniatures.
Mithril by John Howe
" Mithril! All folk desired it. It could be beaten like copper, and polished like glass; and the Dwarves could make of it a metal, light and yet harder than tempered steel. Its beauty was like to that of common silver, but the beauty of mithril did not tarnish or grow dim."
― Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Journey in the Dark"

Mithril was a precious metal[1] highly prized for its strength, light weight, and malleability. The Elves called this substance mithril, but the Dwarves had their own, secret name for it. It was also known as Moria-silver or true-silver (though unlike silver, over time it did not tarnish or grow dim) and desired by all races.[2].

History[edit | edit source]

Mithril was found in the Misty Mountains, in lodes leading north from the underground dwarven city of Moria towards Caradhras and down to darkness.[2] It was also found on the island of Númenor[3] and probably in Aman as well.[4]

The sole mithril-vein of the Misty Mountains made the Longbeards of Moria wealthy.[2] Some Noldor settled in Eregion near the West-gate of Moria, because they had heard that mithril had been found[5] and desired to use it in their crafts. Thanks to trade with the Dwarves of Moria, the Elves created objects of mithril, perhaps the most notable being Nenya, one of the Three Elven Rings of Power.[6] The Noldor of Eregion also made an alloy out of mithril called ithildin ("star moon"),[2] which was visible only by starlight or moonlight. This was used by the elven mastersmith Celebrimbor for the inlaid decorative designs and writings on the Doors of Durin on the West-gate of Moria.[7]

Expensive by Lída Holubová

King Tar-Telemmaitë of Númenor received his name, which means silver-handed,[8] because he loved silver and always commanded his servants to search for mithril.[9]

After the Downfall of Númenor and the removal of physical Aman from the world near the end of the Second Age, the mines of Moria were the only source of Mithril in the world. Mithril was worth ten times its weight in gold when it could still be mined by the Dwarves.[2]

Over time, the Dwarves of Moria continued to delve deep into the darkness below Caradhras and in T.A. 1980[10] they released a Balrog from the Elder Days. The Balrog destroyed the kingdom[11] and caused the mining of mithril to stop when the surviving Dwarves[11] fled in T.A. 1981,[12] after which mithril became priceless. The Orcs that inhabited Moria after the release of the Balrog did not dare to delve for mithril and gave all the mithril that the dwarves had already mined as tribute to Sauron, who desired it.[2]

After Gimli became Lord of the Glittering Caves, he and his Dwarves forged great gates of mithril and steel to replace the Great Gate of Minas Tirith which was broken by the Witch-king of Angmar.[13]

Other mithril creations[edit | edit source]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The name mithril consists of the two Sindarin words mith ("grey, light grey") + ril ("brilliance").[18]

See also[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Ring Goes South", p. 277
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Journey in the Dark", p. 317
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields", "Notes", note 31
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings", Song of Eärendil, p. 236
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age", p. 1082
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Grey Havens" p. 1028
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Journey in the Dark", p. 304
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, Index, entry Tar-Telemmaitë
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", XV Tar-Telemmaitë
  10. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 1980, p. 1089
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk", fourth paragraph, p. 954
  12. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 1981, p. 1089
  13. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk", p. 986
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields", The sources of the legend of Isildur's death, fourth paragraph
  15. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", p. 753
  16. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Not at Home"
  17. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields", p. 847
  18. ↑ 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), entry mithril, p. 47
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