Rings of Power: The three Elven rings explained

Rings of Power Season 2 will pick up where we left off: with Celebrimbor forging the three Elven rings, some of the most powerful items in Middle-earth.

“Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, nine for Mortal Men, doomed to die, one for the Dark Lord on his dark throne, in the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

“One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.”

J.R.R. Tolkien’s poem is the foundation of The Lord of the Rings, and Season 1 ended with the creation of the first of their kind: the three Elven rings. Before Rings of Power Season 2 premieres, here’s what you need to know.

Narya, Vilya & Nenya explained

Season 1 Episode 8 ended with Celebrimbor using mithril, gold, and silver to forge the first three rings of power: Narya, the Ring of Fire; Vilya, the Ring of Air; and Nenya, the Ring of Adamant.

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There’s a sound reason to make three rings instead of one (we all know how that goes) or two. “One will always corrupt. Two will divide… with three, there is balance,” the Elves explained.

These are extraordinary pieces of jewelry, granting immense “power over flesh” – but each one is slightly different.

Narya

Narya, designed as a ruby ring, is said to have the power to inspire hope, combat the weariness of time, and allow its wearer other magical powers – such as the Flame of Anor.

Vilya

Vilya, designed as a sapphire ring, is considered to be the strongest of the three elven rings. While its exact powers haven’t been specified in the books, there’s plot points to suggest it allows its wearer to wield the elements, like Elrond summoning a torrent of water against the Nazgûl.

Nenya

Nenya, made of mithril, has the power of “preservation and concealment from evil”, though the beauty of anything it preserves is prone to fade when distanced from the ring.

Who wears the rings?

We can expect Vilya to be worn by Gil-galad (and likely Elrond in the future), Narya to be worn by Círdan (the Elven lord of Mithlond, who will appear in Season 2), and Nenya to be worn by Galadriel. These are the Keepers of the Three Rings.

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In J.R.R. Tolkien’s writing, Círdan gives Narya to Gandalf shortly after he arrives in Middle-earth on TA 1000, recognizing his power, wisdom and responsibility as a Maiar.

In Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings, which takes place in the Third Age of Middle-earth, we see Galadriel still wearing Nenya.

In The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf tells Durin’s Bane he’s a servant of the Secret Fire and wielder of the Flame of Anor, and we see him wearing Narya at the end of The Return of the King.

Make sure you’ve read our Rings of Power Season 2 release schedule, and check out our other guides on Celeborn, Rhûn, and what book Rings of Power is based on.