Editing Silmarils

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{{object infobox
| name=Silmarils
| image=[[File:Felix Sotomayor - Silmarils.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Silmarils" by Felix Sotomayor
| pronun=
| othernames=The Great Jewels, The Three Jewels, Jewels of Fëanor
| location=[[Formenos]], [[Angband]], [[Tol Galen]], [[Doriath]], [[Mouths of Sirion]]
| owner=[[Fëanor]], [[Morgoth]], [[Thingol]], [[Beren]], [[Lúthien]], [[Dior]], [[Elwing]], [[Eärendil]], [[Eönwë]], [[Maedhros]], [[Maglor]]
| type=Three jewels
| appearance=Hard, bright crystals containing the light of the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees]]
| creator=[[Fëanor]]
| created={{YT|1449}}-{{YT|1450|n}}
| createdlocation=[[Tirion]]
| destroyer=
| destroyed=
| destroyedlocation=
| notablefor=
}}
{{quote|...The thrice-enchanted globes of light<br />that shine until the final night|''[[Lay of Leithian]]'', [[Lay of Leithian Canto VI|Canto VI]], vv.1642-1643}}
The '''Silmarils''' ([[Quenya]] '''''Silmarilli''''')<ref name="elements"/><ref>{{App|Numenor}}</ref> were three gems of immense might and beauty. Their theft by [[Morgoth]] is the triggering fact of the events of the [[First Age]], narrated in the ''[[Quenta Silmarillion]]''.

==Description==
The gems were crafted of the hard crystalline substance ''[[silima]]'', which [[Fëanor]] had devised, as their shell, and were named after it. In their heart burned some of the [[Light of Valinor]] from the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees]]. Their exact nature and manner of making the Silmarils were known only to Fëanor, and none other succeeded in making gems of comparable greatness and beauty. Varda hallowed the Silmarils so that no mortal or evil hands were allowed to touch them without being burned and withered.<ref name=unrest>{{S|7}}</ref>

But the Silmarils were tainted by arrogance and lust by anyone who desired them, starting with Morgoth, then Fëanor. As the [[Oath of Fëanor]] proclaimed, it resulted in evil ends, such as the [[Fall of the Noldor]], the [[Doom of Mandos]], [[Kinslaying (disambiguation)|Kinslayings]] and the destruction of [[Doriath]].

==History==
The Silmarils were created by [[Fëanor]] in [[Valinor]] after the un[[chaining of Melkor]]. According to a legend, Fëanor conceived the idea of capturing the light of the trees from the [[hair of Galadriel]], which shone with gold and silver.<ref>{{UT|Galadriel}}, p. 230</ref> Fëanor gave his heart to their making and could not duplicate them.

Fëanor wore the jewels at festivals and the [[Eldar]] admired them. Melkor coveted their light and soon, corrupted by his lies, Fëanor started to lock them away, and became greedy for them. After Fëanor was exiled to [[Formenos]], the Silmarils were stored in a chamber of iron.<ref name=unrest/>

Together with [[Ungoliant]], [[Morgoth|Melkor]] destroyed the Two Trees. The Silmarils now contained all that remained of the light of the Trees. The [[Valar]] entreated Fëanor to give up the Silmarils so they could restore the Trees, but he refused.
===Theft by Morgoth===
[[File:Felix Sotomayor - Throne of Morgoth.jpg|thumb|left|''Throne of Morgoth'' by [[Felix Sotomayor]]]]
Then news came: Melkor had killed Fëanor's father [[Finwë]], the [[King of the Noldor]], and stolen all the gems. He and Ungoliant fled to the northlands of [[Middle-earth]], where his ancient [[Utumno|fortresses]] were, but they quarrelled as the spider had devoured all the gems, and wanted also the Silmarils, something that Melkor, now named ''[[Morgoth]]'' by Fëanor, would not allow, even though their holy light burnt his hands and ceaselessly tormented him. The Silmarils were set on his [[Iron Crown]].

Fëanor was furious at Morgoth and at the Valar's perceived desire to take the gems for their own purposes. Then he and his [[Sons of Fëanor|Sons]] sweared a terrible [[Oath of Fëanor|Oath]]: that they would not rest until the Silmarils were recovered, slaying anyone who stand in their way. Fëanor led the Noldor back to Middle-earth and a centenary war began against Morgoth in [[Beleriand]], called the [[War of the Jewels]]. But their battles led to no end of grief for the Elves and eventually for the [[Men]] of Middle-earth.

The [[Sindar]]in King [[Thingol]] knew of the Silmarils from the Noldor. Wishing to dispose of [[Beren]], he tasked him to [[Quest for the Silmaril|fetch one]] for the hand of his daughter. Impelled by his love for [[Lúthien]], Beren reached [[Angband]] through great peril and loss and recovered one, only for it to be swallowed by [[Carcharoth]]. The hallowed light tormented evil Carcharoth, until he was slain in the [[Hunting of the Wolf]]. The Silmaril thus was delivered to Thingol, fulfilling his Quest.<ref>{{S|Beren}}</ref>

[[File:Jef Murray - Earendil.jpg|thumb|right|''Earendil'' by [[Jef Murray]]]]
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Maedhros Casts Himself into a Chasm.jpg|thumb|''Maedhros Casts Himself into a Chasm'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Maglor Casts a Silmaril into the Sea.jpg|thumb|''Maglor Casts a Silmaril into the Sea'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
Instead of giving it to the [[Sons of Fëanor]], Thingol had the gem stored inside the dwarven pendant [[Nauglamír]] by the [[Dwarves of Nogrod]], who however also coveted the jewel and killed Thingol. Doriath was [[Battle of the Thousand Caves|ruined]] by the Dwarves. The Nauglamír was recovered by Beren in [[Tol Galen]], and Lúthien wore it until her second death, becoming the fairest vision east of the Sea. It was said that their second death came early, because their combined beauty was too bright for mortal lands.

===Doom of the Noldor===
After Lúthien's death, a Lord of the [[Laiquendi]] brought the Nauglamír back to [[Doriath]], and her son [[Dior]] wore it. These news came to the sons of Fëanor, who, stirred by their Oath, came to Doriath and resolved to [[Second Kinslaying|battle]], during which three of the brothers were killed, and [[Menegroth]] was ruined. However the Nauglamír was rescued by [[Elwing]] and Sindarin survivors who fled to the [[Havens of Sirion]].<ref>{{S|Doriath}}</ref>

Years passed and the Silmaril passed to the hands of Elwing's husband, [[Eärendil]], the lord of the Havens of Sirion. His people considered the Silmaril to be a blessing for their houses and ships. But the sons of Fëanor still pursued the Silmaril and when they learned that Elwing escaped there, they made their demand in friendly terms, while Eärendil was absent in one of his voyages. But the people of Sirion refused to surrender it, considering it a rightful prize of Beren and Lúthien. Therefore the Fëanorians resolved to make [[Third Kinslaying|another assault]], but again, Elwing and the Silmaril escaped. With the help of [[Ulmo]], Elwing and the Silmaril ended up in the hands of Eärendil; it was its light that guided him through the [[Shadowy Seas]] and he found his way to Valinor. The Valar then set this Silmaril as a [[Star of Eärendil|Star]] and worn on his brow.<ref name=war>{{S|Earendil}}</ref>

The other two gems remained in Morgoth's hands, and were taken from him only at the end of the [[War of Wrath]].  However, soon afterwards, they were stolen by Fëanor's two surviving sons [[Maedhros]] and [[Maglor]]. But because of their crimes in order to reclaim the jewels, they were unworthy of them, and the jewels burned their hands, in refusal of their rights of possession.  In agony, Maedhros threw himself and his Silmaril into a fiery pit, and Maglor threw his into the sea.<ref name=war/>

Thus the Silmarils remain in all three elements of Arda - in the sky, soil and water - fulfilling the prophecy made by [[Mandos]] shortly after the making of the gems.<ref name=unrest/>

It is said that Fëanor will return only for [[Dagor Dagorath]]. Following Melkor's final return and ultimate defeat, the World [[Arda Unmarred|will be changed]] and the Silmarils recovered. Fëanor will break his jewels and with their fire [[Yavanna]] will revive the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees]]. The [[Pelóri|Pelóri Mountains]] will be flattened and the light of the Two Trees will fill Arda again in a new age of Eternal Bliss.<ref>{{WJ|Last}}, p. 247</ref>

==Etymology==
The word is said to contain ''[[silima]]'', the substance they were made from<Ref name="elements">{{S|Elements}}, entry ''sil-''</ref> as well as an element from brightness, ril.<ref name=Ety/>

They mean "radiance of pure light".<ref>{{L|148}}</ref> It might contain the ending ''rille'' ("brilliance").<ref>{{VT|46a}}, p. 11</ref>

The proper [[Quenya]] plural form is ''Silmarilli'', "Silmarils" being an Anglicised name.

==Other names==
In the [[The Etymologies|''Etymologies'']] appears the [[Noldorin]] name '''''Silevril''''', being related to [[Quenya]] ''Silmaril''.<ref name=Ety>{{LR|Etymologies}}, entries "[[RIL]]", "[[SIL]]"</ref> [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] appears to have retained the Noldorin form in [[Sindarin]], since the name ''Pennas Silevril'' (apparently the Sindarin translation of Quenya ''[[Quenta Silmarillion]]'')<ref>[[Helge Fauskanger]], [http://folk.uib.no/hnohf/sindarin.htm Sindarin, the Noble Tongue: Sindarin Plural Patterns] at [[Ardalambion]] (accessed 10 July 2011)</ref> is used in later manuscripts.<ref>{{MR|P3II1}}, p. 200</ref>

Other Noldorin names from the ''Etymologies'' are ''Golodhvir'' meaning "Noldo-jewel(s)" (cf. ''[[Golodh]]'' meaning "Noldo") and ''Mirion'' pl. ''Miruin'' meaning "Great jewel/s".<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, entry "[[MIR]]"</ref>

In [[Aelfwine]]'s [[Old English]] translations, the name ''Silmaril'' is rendered phonetically as ''Sigelmaerels''. As noted by [[Christopher Tolkien]] it is composed of OE ''sigel'' ("sun, jewel") ''maerels'' ("rope"), actually referring to the Nauglamir.<ref>{{SM|QA1}}, p. 209</ref>
==See also==
*[[Quest for the Silmaril]]
*[[Nauglamír]]
{{references}}
[[Category:Rings and Jewels]]
[[de:Silmaril]]
[[fr:encyclo/artefacts/bijoux/silmarils]]
[[fi:Silmarilit]]

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