Elfstone Printable version

Elfstone was one of the two green gems, one created in the First Age and the other in the Second Age. The first was made in Gondolin and carried to the West by Earendil while the other Elfstone was made in Eregion and existed in Middle Earth. When the Third Age ended, the Elfstone was handed to Aragorn by Galadriel and his surname Elessar originated from it. Elfstone is the translation of Elessar in Westron and they were green like leaves with the light of the Sun trapped into them. Anybody looking through the gems could see all the aged and withered as young and complete again. It was even known to give healing power to the one wearing it. [1]​

The first of the Elfstone came into existence in the First Age in Gondolin. While some believe it was made by the jewelsmith Enerdhil, others say it was his student Celebrimbor. During the Fall of Gondolin, the Elfstone was rescued by Idril as he gave it to her son Earendil who carried it to the Undying Lands crossing the sea. According to some legends, Celebrimbor, Galadriel’s lover, created another version of this jewel possessing lesser power than the original one in the Second Age. Another legend claims that when the Wizards came to Middle Earth from Valinor in the Third Age, the Elfstone was brought by Olorin as a sign from Yavanna that the Valar did not forsake them. He handed it to Galadriel and told her that she would hold it for a little time before passing it to somebody else who would be called Elessar. [2] Though the origins of the Elfstone are unclear and controversial, it is clear that Galadriel gave it to her daughter Celebrian who further passed it to Arwen. But when the Fellowship had visited Lothlorien, it again came to Galadriel. During the departure of the Fellowship, the Elfstone was a gift to Aragorn by Galadriel. This gift marked the wedding gifting from the bride’s family to the groom and symbolized his marriage to Arwen. After he received the jewel, Aragorn wore it forever and he got the name ‘King Elessar’ by the residents of Minas Tirith. He took this name as his royal name as advised by Gandalf. During the stay in Rivendell, Bilbo Baggins was asked by Aragorn to refer to the Elfstone in the Song of Earendil to exhibit the importance of the stone in his life. Baggins did not know the story of the jewel and included an incorrect reference to emerald in the song.​

In Jackson’s film trilogy of ‘The Lord of the Rings’, Elfstone is substituted by Evenstar, a silver neckpiece with white stone, given by Arwen to Aragorn in Rivendell. This gem got its inspiration from a stone that Frodo got from Arwen when the One Ring was destroyed.​