Ring-bearers: Difference between revisions

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The title used for those three [[Hobbits]] ([[Bilbo Baggins]], [[Frodo Baggins]] and [[Samwise Gamgee]]) who had at one time borne [[the One Ring]], and aided in its destruction. Because of their status as Ring-bearers, they were granted the passage of the [[Straight Road]], and each eventually went to the [[Blessed Realm]] to live out their lives.
'''Ring-bearers''' was a title used for those three [[Hobbits]] ([[Bilbo Baggins]], [[Frodo Baggins]] and [[Samwise Gamgee]]) who had at one time borne [[the One Ring]], and aided in its destruction. Because of their status as Ring-bearers, they were granted the passage of the [[Straight Road]], and each eventually went to the [[Blessed Realm]] to live out their lives.


Though only these three Hobbits are strictly counted as Ring-bearers, in fact the Ring was borne by other hands besides. Those who actually wore the Ring, as opposed to picking it up or holding it, are shown in bold.
Though only these three Hobbits are strictly counted as Ring-bearers, in fact the Ring was borne by other hands besides; and over its history of about 4.8 millennia only a very few individuals had ever touched it.
==List of persons who touched the Ring==
Those who actually wore the Ring, as opposed to picking it up or holding it, are shown in bold.


* '''[[Sauron]]''' - He forged the One Ring for himself around [[Second Age 1600]] and bore it for approximately 1840 years until his defeat in the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] in [[Second Age 3441|S.A. 3441]].
* '''[[Sauron]]''' - He forged the One Ring for himself around {{SA|1600}} and bore it for approximately 1840 years until his defeat in the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] in {{SA|3441}}.
* '''[[Isildur]]''' - Against the advice of [[Elrond]] and [[Círdan]], he took the Ring for himself. He did not bear it long - two years later, Isildur was ambushed by [[Orcs]] and the One Ring was lost in the [[Anduin]] on [[4 October|October 4]], [[Third Age 2]], where it lay hidden for most of the [[Third Age]].  
* '''[[Isildur]]''' - Against the advice of [[Elrond]] and [[Círdan]], he took the Ring for himself. He did not bear it long - two years later, Isildur was ambushed by [[Orcs]] and the One Ring was lost in the [[Anduin]] on [[4 October]], {{TA|2}}, where it lay hidden for most of the [[Third Age]].  
* [[Déagol]] - He discovered the Ring while fishing the [[Gladden Fields]] in about [[Third Age 2463|T.A. 2463]]. He held it for only a short time before he was murdered by his friend [[Sméagol]], who stole the Ring for himself.  
* [[Déagol]] - He discovered the Ring while fishing the [[Gladden Fields]] in about {{TA|2463}}. He held it for only a short time before he was murdered by his friend [[Sméagol]], who stole the Ring for himself.  
* '''[[Gollum]]''' - He took the Ring from [[Déagol]], and soon hid with it in the roots of the [[Misty Mountains]]. He bore it in the dark for almost five hundred years.
* '''[[Gollum]]''' - He took the Ring from [[Déagol]], and soon hid with it in the roots of the [[Misty Mountains]]. He bore it in the dark for almost five hundred years.
* '''[[Bilbo Baggins]]''' - He discovered the Ring 'by accident' while imprisoned beneath the Misty Mountains in July [[Third Age 2941|T.A. 2941]], and claimed it from Gollum by defeating him in a [[Riddle-game]]. He carried it eastward to [[Erebor]], and then back westward to the Shire, where he kept it. He bore the Ring for almost exactly sixty years.  
* '''[[Bilbo Baggins]]''' - He discovered the Ring 'by accident' while imprisoned beneath the Misty Mountains in July {{TA|2941}}, and claimed it from Gollum by defeating him in a [[Riddle-game]]. He carried it eastward to [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]], and then back westward to the Shire, where he kept it. He bore the Ring for almost exactly sixty years.  
* '''[[Frodo Baggins]]''' - He was given the Ring by Bilbo on the advice of Gandalf. He was the Ring-bearer, who carried the One Ring from the Shire to Orodruin, to the very brink of the Cracks of Doom. Once there, the Ring's power overmastered him, and he named it to himself, but Gollum bit it from his finger and fell into the Fire. Frodo bore the Ring for seventeen years until its destruction.  
* '''[[Frodo Baggins]]''' - He was given the Ring by Bilbo on the advice of Gandalf. He was the Ring-bearer, who carried the One Ring from the Shire to Orodruin, to the very brink of the Cracks of Doom. Once there, the Ring's power overmastered him, and he named it to himself, but Gollum bit it from his finger and fell into the Fire. Frodo bore the Ring for seventeen years until its destruction.  
* [[Gandalf]] - He held it for a matter of moments on the morning of [[April 13]], [[Third Age 3018|T.A. 3018]], before throwing it into Frodo's fire. This was the moment that the Ring's fiery inscription appeared, confirming that it was the One Ring.  
* [[Gandalf]] - He held it for a matter of moments on the morning of [[13 April]], {{TA|3018}}, before throwing it into Frodo's fire. This was the moment that the Ring's fiery inscription appeared, confirming that it was the One Ring.  
* '''[[Tom Bombadil]]''' - He wore it on his finger for a moment on [[September 27]], [[Third Age 3018|T.A. 3018]], but was famously unaffected by it. The reason that Tom was immune was the effects of the Ring remains an abiding mystery.  
* '''[[Tom Bombadil]]''' - He wore it on his finger for a moment on [[27 September]], {{TA|3018}}, but was unaffected by it. The reason that Tom was immune was the effects of the Ring remains an abiding mystery.  
* '''[[Samwise Gamgee]]''' - He bore the Ring for about two days in March [[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]], while Frodo his master was in the clutches of Orcs in the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]].
* '''[[Samwise Gamgee]]''' - He bore the Ring for about two days in March {{TA|3019}}, while Frodo his master was in the clutches of Orcs in the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]].
==A possible Ring-bearer?==
While Frodo was recovering in [[Rivendell]], one morning he found the Ring passed through a chain for him.<ref>{{FR|Meetings}}</ref> It is not known what person or persons did this while he was sleeping. It could be [[Elrond]], [[Gandalf]], or any [[High Elves|High Elf]] of Rivendell, but his identity, the process, and whether he touched it, are unknown.<ref>[http://oakroadsystems.com/genl/ringfaq.htm#Q1-FrodoChain FAQ of the Rings - In Rivendell, who put Frodo’s Ring on a chain?]</ref>


==Etymology==
The [[Quenya]] translation of "Ring-bearers" is given as '''''[[corma|Cormacolindor]]'''''.<ref>{{RK|VI4}}</ref>
==See also==
*[[Ring-finder]]
{{References}}
[[Category:Ring-bearers|*]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers|*]]
[[category:epithets]]

Revision as of 08:37, 1 July 2012

Ring-bearers was a title used for those three Hobbits (Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee) who had at one time borne the One Ring, and aided in its destruction. Because of their status as Ring-bearers, they were granted the passage of the Straight Road, and each eventually went to the Blessed Realm to live out their lives.

Though only these three Hobbits are strictly counted as Ring-bearers, in fact the Ring was borne by other hands besides; and over its history of about 4.8 millennia only a very few individuals had ever touched it.

List of persons who touched the Ring

Those who actually wore the Ring, as opposed to picking it up or holding it, are shown in bold.

  • Sauron - He forged the One Ring for himself around S.A. 1600 and bore it for approximately 1840 years until his defeat in the Siege of Barad-dûr in S.A. 3441.
  • Isildur - Against the advice of Elrond and Círdan, he took the Ring for himself. He did not bear it long - two years later, Isildur was ambushed by Orcs and the One Ring was lost in the Anduin on 4 October, T.A. 2, where it lay hidden for most of the Third Age.
  • Déagol - He discovered the Ring while fishing the Gladden Fields in about T.A. 2463. He held it for only a short time before he was murdered by his friend Sméagol, who stole the Ring for himself.
  • Gollum - He took the Ring from Déagol, and soon hid with it in the roots of the Misty Mountains. He bore it in the dark for almost five hundred years.
  • Bilbo Baggins - He discovered the Ring 'by accident' while imprisoned beneath the Misty Mountains in July T.A. 2941, and claimed it from Gollum by defeating him in a Riddle-game. He carried it eastward to Erebor, and then back westward to the Shire, where he kept it. He bore the Ring for almost exactly sixty years.
  • Frodo Baggins - He was given the Ring by Bilbo on the advice of Gandalf. He was the Ring-bearer, who carried the One Ring from the Shire to Orodruin, to the very brink of the Cracks of Doom. Once there, the Ring's power overmastered him, and he named it to himself, but Gollum bit it from his finger and fell into the Fire. Frodo bore the Ring for seventeen years until its destruction.
  • Gandalf - He held it for a matter of moments on the morning of 13 April, T.A. 3018, before throwing it into Frodo's fire. This was the moment that the Ring's fiery inscription appeared, confirming that it was the One Ring.
  • Tom Bombadil - He wore it on his finger for a moment on 27 September, T.A. 3018, but was unaffected by it. The reason that Tom was immune was the effects of the Ring remains an abiding mystery.
  • Samwise Gamgee - He bore the Ring for about two days in March T.A. 3019, while Frodo his master was in the clutches of Orcs in the Tower of Cirith Ungol.

A possible Ring-bearer?

While Frodo was recovering in Rivendell, one morning he found the Ring passed through a chain for him.[1] It is not known what person or persons did this while he was sleeping. It could be Elrond, Gandalf, or any High Elf of Rivendell, but his identity, the process, and whether he touched it, are unknown.[2]

Etymology

The Quenya translation of "Ring-bearers" is given as Cormacolindor.[3]

See also

References