Talk:Palantíri

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Latest comment: 1 August 2014 by Shadrak in topic References

After I edited this article, I discovered that, in the Category:Palantíri, five of the seven (and the "Masterstone") have already been given articles, under different names than I gave. I know Tolkien has a writing somewhere specifically about the palantíri, but I can't remember where it is. My question is this: what does Tolkien call the individual stones in the texts? --Narfil Palùrfalas 17:10, 14 January 2008 (EST)

I don't know the answer to your question, but the writing is found at the end of Unfinished Tales Ælfwine228 16:42, 22 July 2008 (EDT)


References[edit source]

This is a pretty strong article, but it's badly in need of some references.--Theoden1 14:03, 1 August 2008 (EDT)

I agree. I think references are needed for one point in particular: the article notes that there were originally 28 palantiri made, but I've never found any such number indicated in canon text. While I believe that it has been stated in some of Tolkien's (earlier) writings that smiths other than Feanor could make palantiri, I believe we're only introduced to the seven granted to Amandil by the Eldar, and the Masterstone at Tol Eressea. I've never seen a reference to the other twenty mentioned here. It's entirely possible I just haven't come across the reference in Tolkien's writings, but if there were a citation here, I'd feel more confident in the information as presented. Does anyone know anything about this? Corsair Caruso 03:50, 14 October 2013 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Thanks for spotting this, Corsair. Looking at the page history, the number was added by a User:Noldor2. This user made a couple of other questionable edits -- I'll have a look at what escaped attention.--Morgan 16:44, 14 October 2013 (UTC)Reply[reply]
No worries, glad I could help. Corsair Caruso 22:53, 14 October 2013 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Just wanted to make one more suggestion. There might have been other Palantiri given to the Numenoreans, but the only ones I've encountered in canon were those given directly to Amandil by the Eldar. "The stones were gifts of the Eldar to Amandil, father of Elendil, for the comfort of the Faithful of Numenor in their dark days, when the Elves might come no longer to that land under the shadow of Sauron." (The Silmarillion: Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age.) This seems to indicate that only Amandil, and subsequently his descendants, had palantiri, rather than a number of them being given as gifts to the Numenoreans in general. Corsair Caruso 00:00, 15 October 2013 (UTC)Reply[reply]
One more issue I've spotted. In this article it is stated that Aragorn took control of the Orthanc stone "upon the downfall of Sauron". I believe that happened before his downfall (Return of the King, The Passing of the Grey Company), so I changed it to "in the last weeks of the War". Also, it states Aragorn thereby broke the stone's connection to the one in Sauron's possession, implying there was a connection in the first place. I believe Tolkien suggests that those with very strong will can control the stones and exert some kind of influence over those with weaker will who attempt to use the stones, and that is why ordinary people who looked into the Orthanc stone would be ensnared, and not because there was an intrinsic connection between the two stones. --Shadrak 13:55, 1 August 2014 (UTC)Reply[reply]