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John Howe - Mithril

Mithril was a precious silvery metal, stronger than steel but much lighter in weight, which was mined by the Dwarves in the mines of Khazad-dûm and could be beaten and polished without being weakened or tarnished. Mithril, also known as silver-steel and Moria-silver, was admired and treasured by all the races. The Men called it "true-silver" while the Dwarves, who loved it above all things, had their own, secret name for it.

Mithril was rare and was found in Númenor and perhaps also in Aman.


[edit] History

The sole mithril-vein of the Misty Mountains made the Longbeards wealthy. The Gwaith-i-Mírdain settled Eregion because of it and created objects of mithril, thanks to trade with the Dwarves of Moria; one of the Three Rings of Power, Nenya, was made of mithril. The Noldor of Eregion made an alloy out of it called ithildin ("star moon"), which was used to decorate gateways and portals. It is visible only by starlight or moonlight. The Doors of Durin bore inlaid ithildin designs.

The Star of Elendil was a gem set on mithril fillet that was a heirloom of the Lords of Andúnië of Númenor.[2]

After the Downfall of Númenor, the only source of mithril was Moria. In Gondor, the Guards of the Citadel of Minas Tirith wore helmets of mithril. The smiths of Rivendell also created a second "Star of Elendil" of mithril, after the first one was lost with Isildur.[2]

Even before Moria was abandoned by the Dwarves mithril was worth ten times its own weight in gold.

The mithril-vein reached Barazinbar[3], where the Dwarves mined and by T.A. 1980 they released the Balrog from the Elder Days which destroyed the Dwarven Kingdom. Middle-earth's only source of new mithril ore was cut off. Production of new mithril ore stopped entirely, and it became priceless. The only mithril-objects at the end of the Age were only heirlooms, or new weapons forged out of existing ones. The mithril helmets worn by the Guards of the Citadel were considered "heirlooms from the glory of old days".

During the War of the Ring Arwen prepared for Aragorn a banner with the Livery of Elendil in mithril, gems, and gold. Aragorn used this during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields to herald the Return of the King.[4]

After Gimli became lord of Aglarond, he and his Dwarves forged great gates of mithril to replace the Great Gate of Minas Tirith which were broken by the Witch-king of Angmar.

[edit] The Mithril Coat

The coat as depicted in the movies


A kingly gift, the mithril-coat was actually worth more than the entire worth of the Shire (Bilbo probably knew this, but he didn't care). Bilbo had it decorated on a stand in Bag End until he donated it to Mathom-house[5] but he took it back before leaving the Shire for Rivendell. Years later, he gave it to his nephew Frodo, who wore it during the Quest to Mount Doom. It saved Frodo's life when he was nearly skewered by an Orc in the Mines of Moria. It was later taken by the Orcs who captured him in the pass above Cirith Ungol, and passed on to the Dark Lord's servants at Barad-dûr. When the coat was displayed before the hosts of Aragorn at the Gates of Mordor, many despaired, thinking Frodo had been captured or killed, and the Ring taken. Gandalf reclaimed it from Sauron's lieutenant, and was later able to return it to Frodo after the battles were won.

[edit] Etymology


[edit] Inspiration





[edit] See also

[edit] External links


  7. Re: Mithril and Orichalcum, Titanium on Wikipedia