Justin Mercer
Is Rings of Power’s Mithril Origin Reveal Canon?
The short answer here is no, mithril’s origin in the Rings of the Power is not based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s work and is entirely unique to the series. In the original novels, mithril is simply a naturally occurring ore that—by the end of the Third Age—is nearly priceless for its rarity. In the Rings of Power, however, High King Gil-galad reveals to Elrond that mithril may instead be the result of a battle between a pure-hearted elf and a Balrog of Morgoth on either side of a tree high in the Misty Mountains. The tree was said to hold the last of the Silmarils, powerful jewels originating from before the First Age. As the elf poured his light into the tree to defend it, the Balrog poured his hatred into it in kind. When lightning struck the tree, the struggle caused a power to run from the roots of the tree and deep into the depths of the Misty Mountains, where Khazad-dûm rests, thus creating mithril. A very important caveat to keep in mind regarding this story is Elrond’s claim that the tale is “regarded by most to be apocryphal,” or questionable in its authenticity. This could mean there’s more than meets the eye regarding the legend. Those familiar with Tolkien’s works will no doubt be familiar with the material for its presence in the form of the mithril coat, originally gifted to Bilbo Baggins by Thorin Oakenshield prior to the Battle of the Five Armies and later bequeathed to Frodo during the events of the Fellowship of the Ring. During the Third Age, the dwarves’ continuous digging for mithril caused the Balrog to awaken, forcing the them to flee Khazad-dûm (or Moria) and abandon the mines. This is particularly relevant given that a Balrog is closely entwined with the Rings of the Power’s new mithril origin story, and it will be interesting to see how much further the show takes this new concept.
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