View source for Silmaril

{{other uses}}
{{in-universe|date=August 2011}}
{{refimprove|date=August 2011}}
The '''Silmarils''' ([[Quenya]] pl. '''Silmarilli''', ''radiance of pure light''<ref>{{cite book|title=[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]| last = Tolkien | first = Christopher | authorlink=Christopher Tolkien| publisher=[[Allen & Unwin]] | year= 1981 | isbn = 0-04-826005-3}}</ref>) are three fictional brilliant jewels composed of the unmarred light of the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees]] in [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s [[legendarium]].  The Silmarils were made out of the crystalline substance ''silima'' by [[Fëanor]], a [[Noldor]]in [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elf]], in [[Valinor]] during the [[Years of the Trees]]. The Silmarils play a central role in [[J. R. R. Tolkien|Tolkien's]] book ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', which tells of the creation of [[Eä]] (the Universe) and the beginning of Elves, Men, and [[Dwarf (Middle-earth)|Dwarves]].

== Appearance ==
The Silmarils are not mere jewels which shine with a great light. The three Silmarils are in some sense both ''alive'' and ''sacred''. How [[Fëanor]], admittedly the greatest of the [[Noldor]], was able to create these objects is not fully explained. Even the Valar, including [[Aulë]], the master in handskills indeed, could not copy them. In fact, even Fëanor may not have been able to copy them as part of his essence went into their making. Their worth, in Tolkien's universe, was close to infinite, even to the Valar, as they were unique and irreplaceable. The Silmarils themselves are said to produce their own light, which comes from the Two Trees, but also to reflect the light of any other lights that come near them.

== Internal history ==

[[Fëanor]], son of [[Finwë]], one of the first Elves (Eldar) in Eä, created the Silmarils from the light of the Two Trees. The Silmarils were hallowed by [[Varda]], so that they would burn the hands of any evil creature or mortal who touched them (with the exception of [[Beren]]).

Together with [[Ungoliant]], the rebellious [[Ainu (Middle-earth)|Vala]] [[Morgoth|Melkor]] destroyed the Two Trees. The Silmarils then contained all the remaining unmarred light of them. Therefore the [[Vala (Middle-earth)|Valar]] entreated Fëanor to give them up so they could restore the Trees, but he refused. Then news came that Melkor had killed Fëanor's father [[Finwë]], the High King of the [[Noldor]], and stolen the Silmarils. After this deed, Melkor fled from Valinor to his fortress [[Angband (Middle-earth)|Angband]] in the north of [[Middle-earth]]. Thereafter he wore the Silmarils in his iron crown.

Fëanor was furious at Melkor, whom he named ''[[Morgoth]]'', "Dark Enemy of the World", and at the Valar's perceived desire to take the gems for their own purposes. Together with his [[Sons of Fëanor|sons]] he swore the [[Oath of Fëanor]], which bound them to fight anyone who withheld the Silmarils from them. This terrible oath resulted in much future trouble including mass-murder and the war of Elf against Elf. 

Fëanor led many of the Noldor back to Middle-earth. His flight, which occurred during the [[First Age]] of Middle-earth, led to no end of grief for the Elves and eventually for the [[Man (Middle-earth)|Men]] of Middle-earth. Five major [[Battles of Beleriand|battles]] were fought in [[Beleriand]], but ultimately the Noldor and all the people who took the oath failed in their attempt to regain the Silmarils from Morgoth.

One of the Silmarils was recovered by [[Beren and Lúthien]] through great peril and loss. It was later taken to the Valar in the West by [[Eärendil]], son of [[Tuor]] and [[Idril]] and husband of [[Elwing]]: heir of [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], as a token of repentance. The Valar then set this Silmaril as a star in the sky. The other two gems remained in Morgoth's hands, and were taken from him by a servant of [[Manwë]] at the end of the [[War of Wrath]]. However, soon afterwards, they were stolen by Fëanor's two remaining sons, [[Maedhros]] and [[Maglor]], as they tried to fulfill the oath they had sworn so many years ago. But the jewels burned their hands, in denial of their rights of possession, as they had burned Morgoth's hands before. In agony, Maedhros threw himself and his Silmaril into a fiery pit, and Maglor threw his Silmaril into the sea.<ref>[http://www.tednasmith.com/silmarillion/TN-Maglor_Casts_a_Silmaril_into_the_Sea.html ''Maglor Casts a Silmaril into the Sea''] as illustrated by [[Ted Nasmith]]</ref> Thus the Silmarils remained in all three elements — in the sky, earth and water - and would never be recovered except by the reforming of the earth.

According to a prophecy of [[Mandos]] following Melkor's final return and defeat in the [[Dagor Dagorath]] (Battle of Battles), the world will be changed and the Silmarils will be recovered by the [[Vala (Middle-earth)|Valar]]. Then Fëanor will be released from the Halls of Mandos and give [[Yavanna]] the Silmarils and she will break them and with their light she will revive the Two Trees, the [[Pelóri]] Mountains will be flattened and the light of the Two Trees will fill the world in eternal bliss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/s/secondprophecyofmandos.html |title=Second Prophecy of Mandos |work=Encyclopedia of Arda |publisher=Mark Fisher |date=30 June 2010}}</ref> This concept appears in Tolkien's manuscripts that were published by his son [[Christopher Tolkien|Christopher]] in ''[[The Shaping of Middle-earth]]''<ref>{{ME-ref|SM}}</ref> but was not implemented in the published ''Silmarillion''.

==See also==
{{Portal|Middle-earth}}
*''[[The Silmarillion]]'', the book which tells the story of the Silmarils
*[[Arkenstone]]
*[[Rings of Power]]
*[[One Ring]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Middle-earth}}
{{Wikipedia}}
[[Category:Middle-earth rings and jewels]]
[[Category:Fictional jewels]]