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01-06-2004, 04:28 AM | #1 |
Pile O'Bones
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 25
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Why were the Silmarils so important?
I don't understand why the Elves would wage terrible wars and risk thousands of lives just so they could look at shiny jewels. Didn't these jewels do anything? Didn't they have any magical powers (other than allowing Earendil to get to the Undying Lands)? If not, then they just wanted them to look at?
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01-06-2004, 06:35 AM | #2 |
Auspicious Wraith
Join Date: May 2002
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 4,859
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Pride and vengeance. Some of them were also tired of the Valar bossing them about.
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01-06-2004, 10:21 AM | #3 |
Haunting Spirit
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Norway
Posts: 69
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The jewels wasn't the only reason (and not the most important, IMO). Among other we have the murder of their king, Finwë, the unrest among them (caused by Melkor's lies) and the wish to see Middle-earth again.
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Auta i lomë! Aurë entuluva! "Take no heed! We speak as is right, and as King Finwë himself did before he was led astray. We are his heirs by right and the elder house. Let them sá-sí, if they can speak no better." -Son of the Therindë |
01-06-2004, 10:44 AM | #4 |
Pile O'Bones
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They were also the last reminders of the 2 trees. Melkor's crime was complete with the stealing of the Silmarils. I also heard from a friend that they did have a power of a sort, but it was only the desire to possess them. Is this true?
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01-06-2004, 02:58 PM | #5 |
Wight
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: England
Posts: 201
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Yes, lusting for a Silmaril was a dangerous thing (Thingol). The Silmarils, like Rider said, contained the last of the two trees, that had created bliss in Valinor. Plus, just the belief that they belonged to the Elves, specifically the Sons of Feanor.
I don't really think the Silmarils had a particular power, but they shone of their own light and only through them could the Two Trees be rekindled.
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01-06-2004, 09:48 PM | #6 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
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Yes, I'd say the pride of the sons of Feanor played a large part. They were a token of his works, and his sons were jealous to keep it in the family. Just another way Melkor marred the original harmony of the original Creation.
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04-27-2004, 04:21 PM | #7 |
Animated Skeleton
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Lothlorien
Posts: 48
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I agree
I agree with those that say that the pride of the sons of Feanor and Feanor himslef are the main cause for the war. But when you think about it, these jewels are beyond price. The obviousley can't be made agin or else Feanor would have just made more. These things represent everything that Feanor worked for and his pride so when they were stolen from him he went nuts, and his sons followed him.
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04-27-2004, 04:49 PM | #8 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: what are you doing here? did you come here to eat my popcorn?
Posts: 1,031
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The story of the elves' dealing with the Silmarils show us that elves had some of the same basic flaws as men. Elves tended to disdain men for their lust for power (which some men certainly had, but not all). Yet, the story of the Silmarils show us that elves also had a problem with lust (again, some elves, not all).
It is interesting to note that the Valar suffered the same loss as the elves, yet didn't react in such a manner as to bring sorrow and grief to the world.
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04-27-2004, 09:20 PM | #9 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Sharkey's End
Posts: 267
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As to the silmarils having any power, it is said that the elf colony at Tol Sirion where Earendil left from was made green by the power of the Silmaril of Elwing that brought healing. Although this was attributed to the Elessar in another version of the story, the silmaril did have healing powers.
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His sword was long his lance was keen His shining helm afar was seen The countless stars of heavens field Were mirrored in his silver shield |
04-28-2004, 12:08 PM | #10 |
Pile O'Bones
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I think it was a combination of the killing of Finwe, the pride of Feanor, and the fact that the light of the jewels was all that was left of the Trees
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04-28-2004, 01:25 PM | #11 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
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Maybe not so much the loss of the light of the Trees...
Weren't the Trees detroyed and then the Valar made an appeal to Feanor to give of his Silmarilli to return life to the trees? Feanor turned them down and returned home, only to find that his precious jewels had been lost. Then Feanor went a rampage of vengeance and retrieval. Feanor cared only for his creation, and he was the main instigator of vengeful thoughts among the Elves of Tol Sirion. That's just my thoughts,
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05-01-2004, 10:51 AM | #12 | |
Haunting Spirit
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Dagor Dagorath
it is true that the Elves cherished the jewels for the fact that they hold the last light of the two trees, but Fate also must have played a huge role in it...The way I see it, everything that happens 'in any world' is for a reason. I do believe that Arda once existed, and that Iluvatar must have had a plan for the Silmarils. It's not just the physical power that they beheld that is amazing, but also the spiritual aspect of it. Let us go to the second prophecy of Mandos...
Quote:
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