Ring Verse
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[[Image:Tim Baker - The One Ring.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''The One Ring'' by Tim Baker]] | [[Image:Tim Baker - The One Ring.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''The One Ring'' by Tim Baker]] | ||
| − | The '''Ring-inscription''' is a [[Black Speech]] inscription in [[Tengwar]] upon the [[One Ring]], symbolising the Ring's power to control the other [[Rings of Power]]. | + | The '''Ring-inscription''' is a [[Black Speech]] inscription in [[Tengwar]] upon the [[One Ring]], symbolising the Ring's power to control the other [[Rings of Power]], and perhaps being part of the ''spell'' that give it its powers. |
| + | ==Description== | ||
| + | Normally the One Ring appears perfectly plain and featureless, but when heated in a fire the inscription appears in fiery letters inside the Ring. | ||
| − | + | It seems that the inscription uses Elvish lettering because the other Rings of Power were made by the Elves. [[Isildur]] was the first to notice the letters, and described them to be of a style "used in [[Eregion]]". The mode of writing was the one used also in [[Westron]]. | |
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| + | The inscription read: | ||
<blockquote>''Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh [[Burzum-ishi|burzum-ishi]] krimpatul''</blockquote> | <blockquote>''Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh [[Burzum-ishi|burzum-ishi]] krimpatul''</blockquote> | ||
| − | These words | + | These words, are physically painful to any [[Elves|Elf]] who hears them (as well as any other words of that language), most probably because of the power and the shadow they bring (the Shadow being the more harmful to the elves). |
Roughly translated, they mean: | Roughly translated, they mean: | ||
<blockquote>''One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them''</blockquote> | <blockquote>''One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them''</blockquote> | ||
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The entire poem reads: | The entire poem reads: | ||
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When Gandalf subsequently heated the ring that [[Bilbo Baggins]] had found and passed on to [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] the inscription appeared, leaving him in no doubt that it was the One Ring. | When Gandalf subsequently heated the ring that [[Bilbo Baggins]] had found and passed on to [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] the inscription appeared, leaving him in no doubt that it was the One Ring. | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | *A drawing of the Inscription appears in Book I, Chapter 2 of ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "The Shadow of the Past". | ||
| + | *The Black Speech phrase appears in Book II, Chapter 2, "The [[Council of Elrond]]", | ||
| + | '''Note:''' some recent editions of ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' accidentally omit the first two clauses of this phrase from Chapter 2. | ||
[[Category:Rings and Jewels]] | [[Category:Rings and Jewels]] | ||
[[Category:Black Speech words]] | [[Category:Black Speech words]] | ||
Revision as of 08:47, 13 September 2008
| This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality. |
The Ring-inscription is a Black Speech inscription in Tengwar upon the One Ring, symbolising the Ring's power to control the other Rings of Power, and perhaps being part of the spell that give it its powers.
Description
Normally the One Ring appears perfectly plain and featureless, but when heated in a fire the inscription appears in fiery letters inside the Ring.
It seems that the inscription uses Elvish lettering because the other Rings of Power were made by the Elves. Isildur was the first to notice the letters, and described them to be of a style "used in Eregion". The mode of writing was the one used also in Westron.
The inscription read:
Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul
These words, are physically painful to any Elf who hears them (as well as any other words of that language), most probably because of the power and the shadow they bring (the Shadow being the more harmful to the elves).
Roughly translated, they mean:
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them
The entire poem reads:
- Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them,
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
Gandalf first learned of the Ring-inscription when he read the account that Isildur had written before marching north to his death and the loss of the Ring. When Isildur had cut the ring from Sauron's hand, it was burning hot, and so Isildur was able to transcribe the inscription before it faded.
When Gandalf subsequently heated the ring that Bilbo Baggins had found and passed on to Frodo the inscription appeared, leaving him in no doubt that it was the One Ring.
References
- A drawing of the Inscription appears in Book I, Chapter 2 of The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Shadow of the Past".
- The Black Speech phrase appears in Book II, Chapter 2, "The Council of Elrond",
Note: some recent editions of The Fellowship of the Ring accidentally omit the first two clauses of this phrase from Chapter 2.