Elendil's Stone,[1] the Elendil Stone,[2] or the Stone of Elendil,[3] was one of the palantíri brought by the Faithful from Númenor to Middle-earth.[4]
The stone was aligned westwards towards the Master-stone in the Tower of Avallonë, along the length of the Straight Road; because of this, it could not communicate with the other six of Middle-earth. Elendil was able to use it to look west across the Sea and see the Undying Lands;[4] but he could not see Númenor for it was covered by the bent seas for ever.[5]
It was stored in the tower of Elostirion in the Emyn Beraid, and after Elendil's death the High Elves took it under their care and no Man used it again.[3]
Even after the fall of Arnor, Wandering Companies of High Elves made pilgrimages to visit the Towers and see the Stone, in order to look at Tol Eressëa and the Shores of Valinor and sometimes to be rewarded by a vision of Varda standing on the mountain Oiolossë.[3] One such company, led by Gildor Inglorion, just returning from Elostirion,[3] was encountered by Frodo, Sam and Pippin on September 24, T.A. 3018.[6]
It remained in its tower until the end of the Third Age; it was then removed by Círdan, placed on the White Ship and taken back into the West.[5]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Palantír", p. 598
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Palantíri", "Notes", Note 16, pp. 413-4
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Notes and Translations", in The Road Goes Ever On (J.R.R. Tolkien, Donald Swann), pp. 65-6
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur", The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain, entry for King Arvedue, footnote about the palantíri, p. 1042
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Three is Company", pp. 78-80
| Palantíri | |
| Stones of Arnor | † Annúminas-stone (Annúminas) · Elendil's Stone (Elostirion - Valinor) · † Amon Sûl-stone (Amon Sûl - Fornost) |
|---|---|
| Stones of Gondor | † Master Stone of Osgiliath (Osgiliath) · † Ithil-stone (Minas Ithil - Barad-dûr) · Anor-stone (Minas Tirith) · Orthanc-stone (Orthanc - Minas Tirith) |
| Other | Master-stone (Tower of Avallonë) |