Seven Rings

Annatar and the seven rings by Liz Danforth

The Seven Dwarf-rings were the Rings of Power given to seven Dwarf Lords by Sauron in the guise of Annatar.

History

Apparently the Lords were the Kings of the Seven Houses, as Gandalf mentions that the Rings were given to the "Dwarf-kings".

The most famous was the Ring of Thrór: in Dwarven tradition it was said Celebrimbor gave the Ring to Durin III king of Durin's Folk before the Downfall of Eregion, but this seems unlikely as Celebrimbor was said to have yielded the Seven - all the Seven - to Sauron after torture.

The Dwarf Lords proved resistant to the malevolent magic of the rings, as they are hard to tame, and the thoughts of their hearts are hidden. The rings, used only for the gaining of wealth, amplified their wearer's natural skills and desire for dominion which as a consequence, made them greedy and exceedingly rich; the Rings gave them the power to multiply whatever they mined. It is said that thanks to them the Seven Hoards were made. But also the Rings kindled greed and wrath in the Dwarves, bringing evils that in the long-term benefitted Sauron.

Four were consumed and destroyed by Dragons, but Sauron succeeded in finding two. The last one was worn by Thráin II, but in T.A. 2845 he was imprisoned by Sauron in the dungeons of Dol Guldur, and the ring was taken from him.

Portrayals in adaptations

• 

  The Seven Rings in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

• 

  A Dwarf-ring as conceived by The Noble Collection

• 

  The Ring of Artifice in The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game

• 

  "Dwarven Ring of Durin's Tribe" by Dan Frazier

• 

  "Dwarven Ring of Barin's Tribe" by Ron Chironna

• 

  "Dwarven Ring of Druin's Tribe" by Ron Chironna

• 

  The Seven Rings in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

Each of the seven rings has its own card, released in two versions. The first in Middle-earth: The Wizards and then the second in Middle-earth: The Lidless Eye or Middle-earth: Against the Shadow):

• Dwarven Ring of Dwálin's Tribe
• Dwarven Ring of Barin's Tribe
• Dwarven Ring of Bávor's Tribe
• Dwarven Ring of Thélor's Tribe
• Dwarven Ring of Durin's Tribe
• Dwarven Ring of Thrár's Tribe
• Dwarven Ring of Drúin's Tribe.

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

The Seven appear in the introduction of the movie, worn by Dwarf kings. They are designed consistently to the general 'Dwarven' aesthetics of the movie, with angular, crystalline shapes. However nowhere in Tolkien's books is mentioned that the Seven were designed or made for the Dwarves.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game:

Several rings are named:

• Ring of Accretion
• Ring of Fury
• Ring of Guile
• Ring of Retribution
• Ring of Artifice

2012: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:

During a meeting of the White Council, Gandalf mentions that of the Seven Rings, four were consumed by Dragons, two were taken by Sauron and the last had vanished with Thráin.

2013: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug:

When Gandalf encounters Thráin in Dol Guldur, he grabs Thrains hand and discovers his ring finger has been cut off. A flashback reveals Azog the Defiler cut off Thráin's finger and took his ring during the Battle of Azanulbizar.

2017: The Lord of the Rings Online:

The Dwarf-rings consumed by dragons were not destroyed, but Sauron had those dragons imprisoned and tortured in an attempt to recover the Rings. The "Ring-drakes", as they were called, were "Hrímil Frost-heart", who consumed "Tínya" and the king of the Eastern "Zhélruka" dwarves who bore it; "Thostír the Rank", who consumed "Tulcya", the ring of another House in Rhûn; and "Fingar the Greedy", a Great Worm of Angband who consumed "Úrya" and "Vanya", the Rings of the Ered Luin kingdoms.

Two other rings of the eastern Houses were reclaimed by Sauron: "Taurya" and "Sindya", the Ring of "Drása's Folk" (later dubbed "Stout-axes"), who called it "Manthríf". "Angya" was the name of the Ring of Durin, which was called "Handórm" by the Dwarves.

External links

• Why Did Sauron Take Back the Dwarven Rings of Power? & How Did Sauron Give the Seven Rings to the Dwarven Kings? by Michael Martinez