The three Silmarils.
The Silmarils (or Silmarilli), also known as the Jewels of Fëanor, were gems crafted by Fëanor from some essence of the Two Trees of Valinor; Laurelin and Telperion, before the First Age. They were among the most prized of all the wonders crafted by the elves and were coveted by many. It was said that the fate of Arda was woven about the Silmarils.
History
Fëanor and a Silmaril
Fëanor created the Silmarils during the Years of the Trees during the Noontide of Valinor.[1] They were named after and crafted of a crystalline substance named Silima, and contained some of the light from the Two Trees of Valinor themselves (made by Yavanna and Nienna, and named Telperion the Silver and Laurelin the Gold). While it was said that no violence within the kingdom of Arda could mar or harm the Silmarils, they could still evidently be destroyed; Ungoliant was implied to have the abilities to consume them, and the Valar were implied to have the ability to break them open to release the light within. Recognizing their immense beauty, they were hallowed by Varda, Queen of Arda so that no mortal flesh, hands unclean, or anything evil could touch them. Before Melkor began stirring up trouble amongst the Ñoldor, Fëanor would often wear them blazing on his brow at feasts and would allow others to see them, but as he began to suspect his kin he no longer displayed them openly allowing only his father and sons to view them. After Fëanor was exiled to Formenos, the Silmarils were stored in a chamber of iron.
Together with Ungoliant, Melkor destroyed the Two Trees. The Silmarils now contained all the remaining light of the Two Trees. Therefore, the Valar entreated Fëanor to give up the Silmarils so they could restore the Trees, but he refused. Then news came: Melkor had killed Fëanor's father Finwë, the High King of the Ñoldor, and stolen all the gems, including the Silmarils. After this deed, Melkor fled to the northlands of Middle-earth, where his ancient fortress was. Melkor, now named Morgoth by Fëanor, set the Silmarils in his crown.
Fëanor was furious at Melkor and at the Valar's perceived desire to take the gems for their own purposes. He and his seven sons swore that they would wage war against any being that withheld a Silmaril from them. Fëanor, as well as the greater part of the Ñoldor, traveled back to Middle-earth in pursuit of Morgoth. His flight, which began the First Age of Middle-earth, led to no end of grief for the Elves and eventually for the Men of Middle-earth. Five major battles were fought in Beleriand, but ultimately the Ñoldor failed.
Beren and a Silmaril
One of the Silmarils was recovered by Beren (son of Barahir and Emeldir) and Lúthien (daughter of Thingol and Melian the Maiar Queen of Doriath) through great peril and loss. This stone was later taken by Eärendil, the husband of their granddaughter Elwing, to the Valar in the West as a token of repentance. The Valar then set this Silmaril as a star. The other two gems remained in Morgoth's hands, and were taken from him only at the end of the War of Wrath. However, soon afterwards, they were stolen by Fëanor's two sons Maedhros and Maglor. The jewels burned their hands, in refusal of their rights of possession, as they had burned Morgoth's hands many years before. In agony, Maedhros threw himself and his Silmaril into a fiery pit, and Maglor threw his into the sea. Thus, the Silmarils remained in all three realms of Arda — in the sky, beneath the earth, and within the sea.[2][3]
Prophecy
In most versions of the texts, following Melkor's final return and defeat in the Dagor Dagorath, the world (Arda) will be changed and the Three Silmarils will be recovered by the Valar. Fёanor will break them open and with their light Yavanna will revive the Two Trees, the Pelóri Mountains will be flattened and the light of the Two Trees will fill Arda again in a new age of eternal bliss.
Translations around the world
| Foreign Language | Translated name |
|---|---|
| Amharic | ጺልማሪል |
| Arabic | سيلماريل |
| Armenian | Սիլմարիլ |
| Belarusian Cyrillic | Сільмарил (Singular) Сільмарылы (Plural) |
| Bengali | ষিল্মারিল |
| Bulgarian Cyrillic | Силмарил |
| Chinese (Hong Kong) | 精靈寶鑽 |
| Finnish | Silmarilit (Plural) |
| Georgian | სილმარილი |
| Greek | Σιλμαρίλ |
| Gujarati | ષિલ્મરિલ |
| Hebrew | סילמריל (Singular) סילמרילים (Plural) |
| Hindi | षिल्मरिल |
| Hungarian | Szilmarilok |
| Japanese | シルマリル |
| Kannada | ಸಿಲ್ಮರಿಲ್ |
| Kazakh | Сілмаріл (Cyrillic) Silmaril (Latin) |
| Korean | 실마릴 |
| Kyrgyz Cyrillic | Силмарил |
| Lithuanian | Fėanoro brangakmeniai/Silmarilai |
| Macedonian Cyrillic | Силмарил |
| Marathi | सिलमारल |
| Mongolian Cyrillic | Силмарил |
| Nepalese | षिल्मरिल |
| Norwegian | Silmarill |
| Persian | صیلماریل ? |
| Polish | Silmarile (Plural) |
| Punjabi | ਸਿਲਮਰਿਲ |
| Russian | Сильмарили (Plural) Сильмариль (Singular) |
| Sanskrit | षिल्मरिल् |
| Sinhalese | ෂිල්මරිල් |
| Serbian | Силмарил (Cyrillic) Silmaril (Latin) |
| Tajik Cyrillic | Силмарил |
| Tamil | ஷில்மரில் |
| Telugu | షిల్మరిల |
| Thai | ซิลมาริล |
| Turkish | Silmariller |
| Ukrainian Cyrillic | Сильмарили |
| Urdu | سالمآرال |
| Uzbek | Силмарил (Cyrillic) Silmaril (Latin) |
| Yiddish | סילמאַריל |