The Ring of Barahir is a jeweled silver ring that was gifted to Barahir from Finrod Felagund, the Elven King. This was Barahir's reward for saving the King's life during the Dagor Bragollach. The ring is a symbol of the eternal friendship between the House of Barahir and Finrod. The ring became a valuable heirloom to the House of Barahir.
Description
The design of the Ring of Barahir was that of two serpents that were intertwined to form a ring. The eyes of the snakes were made out of green jewels. The serpents meet under a crown made out of gold flowers. One snake held the crown while the other devoured it. The ring's design was inspired by the symbol of the House of Finarfin. The jewel was crafted in Valinor, and it is said that the green gemstones would sometimes burn with a greenish fire. The Ring of Barahir does not come with any power or magic, but it is important as it is one of the oldest crafted objects that you can find in Middle-earth since it was created before the First Age. This makes the Ring of Barahir older than the Rings of Power. Therefore, the Ring of Barahir has a high value.
History
The Noldor created the Ring of Barahir in Valinor before the First Age began. The Elven King Finrod Felagund brought it along to Middle-earth because it was a birthright of the House of Finarfin. When Finrod came to Middle-earth, he built his kingdom. This kingdom was known to be the great underground citadel named Nargothrond. Finrod was able to rule over his kingdom for centuries. The elves assisted in holding the Siege of Angband, which helped contain the Dark Lord Morgoth in the North. However, the Siege of Angband was broken due to the catastrophe brought on by the Dagor Bragollach.
Finrod and his forces marched northward, but somehow, he got separated from his men in the Fen of Serech. Finrod was about to lose all hope until Barahir, an Edain, rescued Finrod. To show his appreciation, Finrod gave his ring to Barahir. This was considered to be a sign of the friendship between their houses from then on. The ring was passed on to Barahir on FA 455 Barahir's country, Ladros, which was taken by Morgoth.
As a result, Barahir was forced to live like an outlaw. Five years after the Dagor Bragollach, Barahir and his companions were attacked and slaughtered by a group of Orcs led by Gorgol. Gorgol noticed the ring gleaming with greenish fire on Barahir's finger. Because of this, he cut off Barahir's hand and took it as a trophy. The Orcs did not know that there was one survivor. This was Beren, the son of Barahir. Beren was away from camp when the Orcs attacked. When Beren saw the slaughter, he tracked the Orcs down to avenge his father. Gorgol was slain, and Beren was able to recover his father's hand and the Ring of Barahir. Beren kept the ring and wore it after that. Beren is mostly known as the man who fell in love with the Elf Luthien.
Their story was considered to be one of the greatest love stories ever written in Middle-Earth. If you have seen the Peter Jackson movie The Lord of the Rings, Aragorn sings about the couple while keeping watch at the Weathertop. Beren was able to use the Ring of Barahir to prove his lineage twice. First was when he arrived in Doriath, and he had to identify himself to Thingol. The second was when he asked for Finrod's help in his quest for the Silmaril. From Beren, the Ring of Barahir was passed on to his son, Dior. It was then passed to Dior's daughter, Elwing.
Elwing then gave the Ring of Barahir to her son, Elros. In the Second Age, it was Elros who brought the ring to Númenor. From then on, the Ring of Barahir was passed down the line of the Kings of Númenor as an heirloom. This ended when Tar-Elendil passed the Ring of Barahir to Silmariën, his eldest daughter who was not permitted to claim the throne. From Silmariën, the ring was passed on to her son, Valandil. Valandil was the first Lord of Andúnië.
From then on, the Ring of Barahir was passed down the line of Lords of Andúnië, until it came to the hands of Elendil. In the Third Age, Elendil passed on the Ring of Barahir to his son, Isildur. From Isildur, the ring was passed down to the Kings of Arnor. And then, it was passed down to the Kings of Arthedain. Arvedui, the last King of Arthedain [1] who had the ring, gave it to the Lossoth of Forochel. This was a reward for the help the Lossoth gave them.
However, the ring did not stay long with the Lossoth. It was ransomed by the Dunedain of the North. From that time on, the Ring of Barahir was hidden and kept safe at Rivendell. Eventually, Elrond gave the Ring of Barahir to Aragorn, the son of Arathorn. This was when Elrond revealed to Aragorn his real name and lineage. Elrond also gave Aragorn the shards of Narsil. In TA 2980, Aragorn gave the ring to Arwen Undómiel at their wedding ceremony held in Lórien. From there, nothing more was said about the fate of the Ring of Barahir. It was speculated that it was either passed on to the Kings of Gondor and Arnor. If not, it is also possible that it was buried with Arwen in her grave in Cerin Amroth.
Finrod and his forces marched northward, but somehow, he got separated from his men in the Fen of Serech. Finrod was about to lose all hope until Barahir, an Edain, rescued Finrod. To show his appreciation, Finrod gave his ring to Barahir. This was considered to be a sign of the friendship between their houses from then on. The ring was passed on to Barahir on FA 455 Barahir's country, Ladros, which was taken by Morgoth.
As a result, Barahir was forced to live like an outlaw. Five years after the Dagor Bragollach, Barahir and his companions were attacked and slaughtered by a group of Orcs led by Gorgol. Gorgol noticed the ring gleaming with greenish fire on Barahir's finger. Because of this, he cut off Barahir's hand and took it as a trophy. The Orcs did not know that there was one survivor. This was Beren, the son of Barahir. Beren was away from camp when the Orcs attacked. When Beren saw the slaughter, he tracked the Orcs down to avenge his father. Gorgol was slain, and Beren was able to recover his father's hand and the Ring of Barahir. Beren kept the ring and wore it after that. Beren is mostly known as the man who fell in love with the Elf Luthien.
Their story was considered to be one of the greatest love stories ever written in Middle-Earth. If you have seen the Peter Jackson movie The Lord of the Rings, Aragorn sings about the couple while keeping watch at the Weathertop. Beren was able to use the Ring of Barahir to prove his lineage twice. First was when he arrived in Doriath, and he had to identify himself to Thingol. The second was when he asked for Finrod's help in his quest for the Silmaril. From Beren, the Ring of Barahir was passed on to his son, Dior. It was then passed to Dior's daughter, Elwing.
Elwing then gave the Ring of Barahir to her son, Elros. In the Second Age, it was Elros who brought the ring to Númenor. From then on, the Ring of Barahir was passed down the line of the Kings of Númenor as an heirloom. This ended when Tar-Elendil passed the Ring of Barahir to Silmariën, his eldest daughter who was not permitted to claim the throne. From Silmariën, the ring was passed on to her son, Valandil. Valandil was the first Lord of Andúnië.
From then on, the Ring of Barahir was passed down the line of Lords of Andúnië, until it came to the hands of Elendil. In the Third Age, Elendil passed on the Ring of Barahir to his son, Isildur. From Isildur, the ring was passed down to the Kings of Arnor. And then, it was passed down to the Kings of Arthedain. Arvedui, the last King of Arthedain [1] who had the ring, gave it to the Lossoth of Forochel. This was a reward for the help the Lossoth gave them.
However, the ring did not stay long with the Lossoth. It was ransomed by the Dunedain of the North. From that time on, the Ring of Barahir was hidden and kept safe at Rivendell. Eventually, Elrond gave the Ring of Barahir to Aragorn, the son of Arathorn. This was when Elrond revealed to Aragorn his real name and lineage. Elrond also gave Aragorn the shards of Narsil. In TA 2980, Aragorn gave the ring to Arwen Undómiel at their wedding ceremony held in Lórien. From there, nothing more was said about the fate of the Ring of Barahir. It was speculated that it was either passed on to the Kings of Gondor and Arnor. If not, it is also possible that it was buried with Arwen in her grave in Cerin Amroth.
Adaptations
Lord of the Rings Movie
In Peter Jackson's movie, Aragorn can be seen wearing the Ring of Barahir.
The Two Towers Extended DVD Edition
In this extended edition of the Peter Jackson movie, Saruman was able to identify Aragorn because he was wearing the Ring of Barahir. [2]
References
Categories:
Heirlooms
Objects
Rings and Jewels
