Dragon-Fire

[Gorhilion]

Thanks.

[Farael]

We had a discussion about The One Ring a while back and this topic came up... I think it was me who brought it up. If I'm not mistaken, someone brought up a quote from the books which said that PERHAPS it could have been destroyed by one of the greatest dragons, but they were no longer around.

Edit: I Think it was somewhere around here
http://www.forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=12437

[Essex]

Gandalf from the Shadow of the Past to Frodo.

'Your small fire, of course, would not melt even ordinary gold. This Ring has already passed through it unscathed, and even unheated. But there is no smith's forge in this Shire that could change it at all. Not even the anvils and furnaces of the Dwarves could do that. It has been said that dragon-fire could melt and consume the Rings of Power, but there is not now any dragon left on earth in which the old fire is hot enough; nor was there ever any dragon, not even Ancalagon the Black, who could have harmed the One Ring, the Ruling Ring, for that was made by Sauron himself.

As we can see, NO dragon could have harmed, let alone consumed, the One Ring.

[JennyHallu]

what I always wondered is, how did they KNOW dragon-fire could consume the lesser rings (but not the One), if all were accounted for, and none had ever been dragon-fired? It seems like Gandalf went in for idle speculation in the middle of a serious conversation.

[Earendilyon]

Originally Posted by JennyHallu

what I always wondered is, how did they KNOW dragon-fire could consume the lesser rings (but not the One), if all were accounted for, and none had ever been dragon-fired?

A number of Dwarf-Rings were consumed by dragonfire. That's how they knew

[Essex]

Originally Posted by JennyHallu

what I always wondered is, how did they KNOW dragon-fire could consume the lesser rings (but not the One), if all were accounted for, and none had ever been dragon-fired? It seems like Gandalf went in for idle speculation in the middle of a serious conversation.

he had been around in middle earth for good few thousand years before this, collecting information etc. So I'd give him the benefit of the doubt........

[JennyHallu]

Ring-lore was Saruman's cup of tea, though, wasn't it? And just because you've been around doesn't make it any less speculation.

But Earindilyon answered at least the first part of my question. Four of the seven dwarf rings were destroyed by dragons, and I forgot.

[Gurthang]

Originally Posted by JennyHallu

Ring-lore was Saruman's cup of tea, though, wasn't it? And just because you've been around doesn't make it any less speculation.

Yes, you are correct, but that doesn't necessarily mean that Gandalf was not also well versed in Ring-lore. Saruman put much of his thought into Ringmaking history and the actual making (i.e. crafting, materials, or 'spells' used), likely because he wanted to make a ring of his own. On the other hand, Gandalf would have been more interested in just the broad history, and so than any record of their destruction or attempted destruction. I agree that he probably knew what he was talking about.