What was the power the ELESSAR had?

[Adanadhel]

The two stories about the origin of the Elessar:

1. Gandalf broguht it back from the West.
2. Celebrimbor made another Elessar for Galadriel, simialr to the one Earendil brought to the West.

Either way, the Elessar is described in UT (*) as being an extraordinarily powerful artifact - just behind the three elven rings in potency. Specifically, Celebrimbor says that it was his greatest work "save the three rings only". This would make it greater than the seven or the nine. Not only did Earnedil use it to heal the many men and elves in Sirion, it also made the entire region "green and fair".

In one of the stories of the Elessar, Galadriel uses it to sustain Lorien when she can't use her elven ring.

A further analysis of LoTR shows that Tolkien indeed kept subtle hints to the power of the Elessar. Any time Aragorn wears it in the open he is transformed. In the seen where the fellowship splits in RoTK, "Many Partings", as the party turns for one last look at Aragorn, he holds the Elessar aloft "and there came a green fire from his hand".

It may even have been the source of his healing powers in Minas Tirith. He ssems to have the power to heal wounds that once were beyond him.

The Elessar is no trinket.

*please see Unfinished Tales, "History of Galadriel and Celeborn", sub-chapter "The Elessar".

[ March 09, 2003: Message edited by: Adanadhel ]