A Condensed History of the Palantíri

from the Silmarillion and the

Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien

This history has been compiled as a detailed supplement to Peter Jackson’s film trilogy. Due to the time constrains of a film presentation, Jackson’s treatment of the Lord of the Rings gives minimal attention to the palantíri, which is forgivable but unfortunate. Although these seeing stones were not as important as the One Ring, as you will see below, they were a critical motivating factor leading to the War of the Ring. Their history deserves some notice, at least by those who wish to understand more about their place in Tolkien’s epic story.

This information has been culled from the Silmarillion, a few passages from the Lord of the Rings, and Appendices A, B, and F from that work. Where contradictions exist in the time line I have followed the chronology given in Appendix B. Information about the Elves, Númenóreans and their entwined history is necessary to render the ultimate fate of the palantíri comprehensible. I have attempted to be as brief as possible in documenting events in the First and Second Ages – but please be patient as it is a real challenge to condense a detailed history into a few short pages. Important names are highlighted.

THE FIRST AGE

The world is created; the First Born, the Elves, are made and awakened. The gods of Middle Earth, called the Valar, desired the company of the Elves (or Quendi) and invited them to live near their realm of Aman. Some Elves crossed the sea to the West. These are called the Eldar, and include three groups: the Vanyar, the Noldor, and the Teleri. Some chose to remain in Middle Earth, and are called the Moriquendi, the Elves of Darkness. These include five groups: the Sindar, the Noldor, and Laiquendi, the Avari, and some of the Teleri. The invitation of the Valar caused a schism, and resulted in tribal rivalries and language differences. It also led to problems later on when the Second Born, the race of men, came into being. It was an unfortunate mistake made with the best of intentions.

Of the Elves who went to live near the Valar on Tol Eressëa (the Lonely Isle) in the Bay of Eldamar near the coast of Aman, the Noldor were the most skillful and interested in learning crafts. One of the great Elf Kings, Finwë, had a son, Fëanor (Spirit of Fire). Fëanor was the most skilled of all the elves in craftsmanship. He developed a technique for making gems and crystals, and one of his early achievements was the making of the palantíri – the far seeing stones. In his later years of mastery, he fashioned the Silmarils, gems that captured the light of the holy trees of the Valar.

Meanwhile, the sole dissenting member of the Valar, Melkor, was released from his term of imprisonment. He made promises of repentance, but hated and envied the Eldar because he was imprisoned for damaging Middle Earth, the land the First Born were going to inhabit. Quietly and cunningly, he spread seeds of discontent and distrust among the Eldar in order to sunder the Elves from the Valar. Fëanor loathed Melkor, and gave him the name of Morgoth (the Black Foe of the World), yet he too was insidiously poisoned by the rumors and insinuations about the preferences of the Second Born.

Morgoth carefully plotted the destruction of Valinor, and joined forces with Ungoliant, the horrible forbearer of Shelob the spider. With Ungoliant, he descended in a dark cloud to the Valar’s grove-ring of power and killed the trees of light. Swiftly he escaped to his stronghold in Middle Earth, in the far north of the world.

The Valar asked Fëanor to yield the Silmarils so light could be returned to the blessed lands and Middle Earth. Yet his suspicions against the gods were great – that they coveted his jewels, and were holding the Eldar hostage in Eressëa so that the Second Born could occupy Middle Earth. He was reluctantly moving to the point of assent when news arrived that Morgoth in his escape had stolen the Silmarils and murdered his father, Finwë.

Hot tempered Fëanor then made a terrible oath – that nothing would stop him (and his sons and brothers) from finding and retrieving the Silmarils. He led a contingent of Elves back to Middle Earth on this quest. The Valar pronounced the “Doom of the Noldor” – a curse upon all those that had taken the oath, dooming them to sorrow and betrayals.

The Noldor returned to Middle Earth where the western lands, called Beleriand, had been established into realms by various groups of the Moriquendi. Fëanor, his sons and brothers set up neighboring realms that bordered the northern realm of Morgoth, and pursued the Silmarils. From the beginning the oath was a source of disaster, and three tribes of the Second Born with close ties to the Elves, collectively called the Edain, were also caught up in this doom.

While the relationship between the Eldar and the Edain was close, only twice were elves and men intermarried until the end of the Third Age. The first of these was between Luthíen Tinuvíel (daughter of King Thingol and Melian the Maia) and Beren (son of Barahir). This couple retrieved a single Silmaril. The second marriage was between Idril Celebrindal and Tuor, son of Huor, a man fostered by the Grey Elves.

Both were critical unions. The son of Idril and Tuor was Eärendil the Mariner, who married Elwing, the granddaughter of Beren and Luthíen. Eärendil and Elwing had two sons, Elrond and Elros, who were given the choice of kindred. Elrond chose to live as the First Born, and gained fame as a lore master; Elros chose to become one of the Edain, and was the first king of Númenor.

The First Age ended when, at the plea of Eärendil, the Valar took pity on the inhabitants of Middle Earth, ended the curse of the Noldor, and utterly destroyed Morgoth and his realm. Beleriand was swallowed by the sea, and the Isle of Elenna (Westernesse) was created as a reward for the Edain who had supported the Valar and Eldar in the final battle against Morgoth. Although Morgoth was forever imprisoned by the Valar, the seeds of his evil remained scattered throughout Middle Earth, as were his nasty little minions and foul creatures.

THE SECOND AGE

The Elves established new kingdoms in Middle Earth. Elros guided his people across the sea to the island of Westernesse, and built the kingdom of Númenor. The Noldor, still more interested in metal work and crafts than other branches of elves, settled in Eregion, on the western side of the Misty Mountains near the entrance to Kazad-Dûm (Moria). Here a great friendship grew between Elves and Dwarves. The Lord of this land was Celebrimbor, the grandson of Fëanor. He was another master craftsman.

Sauron, the chief minion of Morgoth, rose from the ruins of Angband and despised the growing power of the Númenóreans. He built a stronghold in Mordor. Like Morgoth, he initially worked through cunning and stealth to influence the Elves. He assumed a fair and friendly appearance, and under the name of Annatar (lord of gifts) was able to infiltrate the Noldor. He shared his arts with the Elven smiths, and circa 1500 SA (Second Age) the Rings of Power were forged. Celebrimbor alone forges the three high rings - Narya, Nenya, and Vilya (circa 1590 SA). They are never touched by Sauron. In 1600 SA, Sauron forges the One Ring. When he wore it, he could see all that was done by the wearers of the lesser rings, and could even govern their thoughts.

The Elves were not deceived, and hid the three rings. Sauron’s strength grew and he made war on the Elves (1693 SA). Eregion was destroyed, Celebrimbor was slain, and the gates of Moria were shut. The remnants of the Noldor retreat to the north with Elrond and established Imladris (Rivendell) in 1697 SA.

The Númenórean kings respond to requests for help, and send a force to drive Sauron out of Eriador (1701). Within 100 years, the Númenóreans establish bases on Middle Earth, and Sauron is contained in Mordor. The rings Sauron reclaimed from the elves are distributed to other peoples – seven to the Dwarves and nine to Men (three of whom were Black Númenóreans, men of the Edain seduced by the black arts). Men were the race most easily swayed by the Rings of Power.

The kingdom of Númenor grew wealthy and powerful. The people were mariners of great skill, but were held to the Ban of the Valar – they were not permitted to sail west to Eressëa. The Elves of Eressëa, however, were free to sail to Númenor, and share their accumulated wisdom and skill. The Edain are blessed with an extremely long life, great skill, wisdom and foresight. But by the middle of the Second Age, dissention arises, out of greed and fear. The Númenóreans became obsessed with death, and were angry to be denied the immortality of the First Born.

Sauron’s power increases in the East, and his ambitions climb. He conspires to be the master of all Middle Earth. Further, he wants to destroy the Elves and bring about the downfall of Númenor. The Númenóreans established bases at Pelargir, at the mouth of the Anduin, and along the coast of Harad, both near Mordor. The Nazgûl appear in 2251 SA.

A breach begins between the kings and the Lords of Andúnië (a city in Westernesse ruled by a branch of the royal line). The kings became increasingly greedy, seeking immortality and turning from the Valar and Eldar out of resentment. The Lords of Andúnië were the leaders of “The Faithful” (also called the Elendili) and retain the friendship of the elves and love for the Valar. By 3175 SA, this breach escalates to civil war. King Ar-Palantir the Far-Seeing attempts to restore a relationship with the Elves and the Valar, but it is too late. When he dies his nephew Ar-Pharazôn seizes the throne and forces the old king’s daughter to wed him.

Tolkien is not specific about the who’s and when’s, but Amandil, who was the Lord of Andúnië during the reign of Ar-Pharazôn, possesses treasures given to his family by the Eldar of Eressëa: a seedling from the tree Nimloth the Fair, and the Seven Seeing Stones – the Palantíri.

Ar-Pharazôn becomes aware that Sauron is threatening to take over Middle Earth and sails with an expeditionary force to Umbar. Sauron is captured (3261) and taken as a prisoner to Númenor. Over a fifty year period, Sauron grows in the king’s favor and becomes his closest advisor. He is able to convince Ar-Pharazôn that the Ban of the Valar is a fake, and the king prepares a fleet to assault Eressëa. In 3319 his plans are complete, and he leads his fleet west. The moment he sets foot on the shores of the Blessed Realm, the wrath of the Valar is loosed. The island of Westernesse is cracked and crumbles into the sea. Sauron’s body is destroyed but his spirit escapes and hides in Middle Earth.

Elendil, son of Amandil, and his sons, Isildur and Anárion, have prepared for catastrophe, and have seven ships loaded with the family treasures and the Faithful people. They safely escape the ruin of Númenor and sail to Middle Earth. There they establish the “realms in exile” – Gondor and Arnor. The seeing stones are split between the father and sons. Elendil is the high king of the northern realm of Arnor. He places the chief stone at Amon Sûl (Weathertop) at Lake Nenuial; the second in a high tower, Elostirion, on the coastal city of Emyn Beraid. The third stone is at Annúminas, a city built on the shores of Lake Evendin, the source of the Brandywine River, due north of the Shire.

Isildur and Anárion each have two stones. These are kept in the fortified cities of the southern realm of Gondor: Minas Anor (Tower of the Sun), Minas Ithil (Tower of the Moon), at the Dome of Osgiliath, and at the Tower of Orthanc at Isengard (Angrenost).

At this point, Tolkien is a bit more forthcoming about how the stones function. The seeing stones allow the viewer to perceive things and events in distant places or in time. However, they were especially attuned to one another, and were able to call each other, thus revealing the things occurring in the stone or stones that were geographically the closest. A person of great strength of mind and will was able to direct the stone to reveal visions of wider scope.

Tolkien never reveals how many palantíri were made by Fëanor. But there were evidently more than seven. An overlooked yet tasty nugget of information is provided in “Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age” (Silmarillion p. 362) regarding the Palantír at Emyn Beraid: it was used to gaze over the seas to the Tower of Avallónë at Tol Eressëa where the Master Stone was kept “and still abides.” None of the maps in the Silmarillion show the exact locations of all the cities built by the Dúnedain during the early history of the Realms in Exile. The maps given in the Lord of the Rings depict Middle Earth at the end of the Third Age, after the Arnor was effectively destroyed. Only the palantíri towers of Gondor remained.

Emyn Beraid is not shown on any map. It is reasonable to suspect, however, that Emyn Beraid was located on or near the Gulf of Lhûn, where Elendil’s ships landed. The Gulf of Lhûn was part of Lindon, the one area of Beleriand that survived destruction and subsequently became waterfront property. This realm was ruled by Gil-Galad, a high king of the Noldor. It was he who built Emyn Beraid for Elendil as a mark of their close friendship. It is possible that this city was near (or the same as) the Grey Havens, home of Círdan the Shipwright and most of the Eldar who remained in Middle Earth during the Third Age.

In 3429 SA, Sauron attacks Gondor. An alliance of Númenóreans and Elves is formed to repel Sauron, and Barad-Dûr is under siege for seven years (3434-3440). Anárion is slain; Sauron kills both Gil-Galad and Elendil; Isildur cuts off the One Ring with the shards of Narsil and takes it. This is the end of the Second Age.

THE THIRD AGE

To review, Fëanor was the maker of the Palantíri, and his grandson Celebrimbor and the Elves of Eregion forged all of the Rings of Power except for the One Ring forged by Sauron at Orodrim (Mount Doom). During the Third Age, the doom of the line of Finwë continued to rear its ugly head through the items made by Fëanor and Celebrimbor. This age culminates in the events told in The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The contents of these four books reveal the final fate of each of the Palantíri. The passages concerning the disposition of the Stones are underlined, and the Stones are numbered one through seven (in chronological order).

The remnants of the Númenóreans and Elves are left to pick up the pieces of their damaged realms after the Battle of Dagorlad (the Dead Marshes, 3341 SA). Because the One Ring was lost, the Eldar were able to wield the 3 Elven Rings of Power, thus lending magical protection to Lothlorien, Imladris, and the Grey Havens.

The Third Age begins when Isildur and his three elder sons are slain at Gladden Fields along the Anduin by Orcs. The One Ring is lost in the river (2 TA – Third Age). Isildur’s youngest son, Valandil, became the King of Arnor. Anárion’s son Meneldil became King of Gondor. The kingdom of Arnor in the north deteriorated after the death of Eärandur (861 TA) and the kingdom was subdivided by his sons. The line of Elros was preserved by the Kings of Arthedain at Fornost, whose first king was Amlaith, eldest son of Eärandur.

By 1300 TA, evil things had begun to spread yet again, and Angmar the Witch King became a power in the north (probably a Black Númenórean; he became the chief of the Ringwraiths, and plays a critical part in the trilogy). Angmar invaded Arnor, and in 1409 TA the Tower at Amon Sûl was destroyed, but its palantír was removed to Fornost (Norbury of the Kings).

Gondor remained unified and fairly strong until 1432 TA, when the Kin-Strife starts between the kings of the northern realms and Gondor. A civil war is unleashed between the Númenórean Realms in Exile. This further weakened and depleted the Dúnedain (men of the west, i.e. Westernesse). In 1437 TA, Osgiliath is burned and the Palantír located there is lost, sunk as the tower collapses into the Anduin (1). By the 1600’s the lands of Harad and Umbar are lost to Gondor, and in 1636 TA a plague further decimates the Númenóreans of Middle Earth. The King of Gondor (Telemnar) and his children die, and he was succeeded by his nephew. The chief city of Gondor becomes Minas Anor, and Mordor is left unguarded.

The Dúnedain are diminished by intermarriage with non-Edain peoples, and their life spans grow shorter. However, in 1940 TA, relations between Arthedain and Gondor improve when King Arvedui of Arthedain marries Firiel, daughter of Ordohor, King of Gondor. In 1944 TA Ordohor falls in battle, and Arvedui claims the crown of Gondor through his wife. This is contested, and a captain of Gondor, Eärnil II (descendant of an earlier king) takes the throne in 1945 TA.

Angmar rises again in the north, and destroys Arthedain in 1974 TA. Angmar pursues King Arvedui, who manages to escape to the far north, to the Bay of Forochel. Círdan sends a ship to rescue him, but it is deep winter and its arrival is delayed. Desperate to leave, and against good advice, Arvedui boards the ship. But the cold weather prevails, and the ship is crushed by ice and sinks. The palantíri of Annúminas (2) and Amon Sûl/Fornost (3) are both lost in this disaster (1975 TA).

The remnants of Arnor are demolished, and the kingship is lost. The Dúnedain of the north become a hidden, wandering people. Aranath, son of Arvedui, takes the title of Chieftain, and the treasures of the house – the ring of Barahir, the scepter of Annúminas, the Star of Elendil, and the shards of Narsil – are given to Elrond for safekeeping. Please recall, Elrond was the brother of Elros, the progenitor of the line of kings, and a great uncle to the children of this line. Sixteen descendants of the chieftains of the north were fostered by Elrond at Imladris.

Angmar was defeated in the Battle of Fornost by King Eärnur of Gondor (1975 TA). The Witch-King retreats to Mordor where he becomes the chief of the Nazgûl (1980 TA). In 2000 TA the Nazgûl besiege Minas Ithil, which is captured in 2002. Minas Ithil becomes Minas Morgul, the Tower of Sorcery (or, of the Black Arts). The Ithil Stone is captured, eventually coming under the control of Sauron and relocated to Barad-Dûr (4). Angmar challenges King Eärnur to single combat. Eärnur stupidly accepts, rides to Minas Morgul and is captured. This ends the line of kings in Gondor. Control is assumed by Mardil the Good, thus beginning the line of Stewards.

Sauron hides in Dol Guldur, a tower at the southern part of the Greenwood (a.k.a. Mirkwood). The wizards, who arrived in Middle Earth circa 1100 TA, suspect that Sauron is taking shape again. In 2063 Gandalf drives Sauron out of Dol Guldur, and Sauron flees to the east. In 2463 TA, the White Council is formed. Members include the High Elves: Galadriel, Celeborn, Elrond, and Círdan; King Thranduil of Green Elves of Mirkwood (father of Legolas); and the wizards Gandalf and Saruman. During this same year, the One Ring is found by Déagol the Stoor, who is murdered by Sméagol. He takes the ring and hides in the Misty Mountains.

Saruman the White obsessively studies the lore of the Rings and the Palantíri. The 19^th Steward of Gondor, Beren, struggles with wars in Umbar and Harad, and additional assaults on Gondor and Rohan. In 2759 TA, Beren gives the keys of Orthanc to Saruman to hold as an outpost of Gondor. However, by this time Saruman is secretly a traitor to the White Council and takes possession of the tower with full knowledge that it contains the Orthanc Stone (5). His intentions are suspected by Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel.

Once again, Sauron re-inhabits Dol Guldur and begins to gather the Rings of the Dwarves (sometimes the Dwarves are still attached). He seeks both the One Ring and Isildur’s heir. This is discovered by Gandalf in 2850 TA. Aragorn II is born on March 1, 2931 TA. Soon after, Saruman finds out that Sauron’s servants are searching for the One Ring near Gladden Fields. He finally agrees to an attack on Dol Guldur (which he previously stalled) in order to prevent Sauron from continuing his search for the Ring. During the same year (2941) Bilbo finds the Ring, the Battle of Five Armies takes place in Dale; Sauron abandons Dol Guldur and secretly returns to Mordor. By 2951 Sauron declares himself openly and begins to gather forces in Mordor, and sends three Nazgûl to occupy Dol Guldur. Aragorn meets Arwen, and goes out into the wilds to begin his quest.

The final meeting of the White Council occurs in 2953 TA. Saruman withdraws to Isengard and fortifies it. He sets spies on Gandalf and discovers his interest in the Shire. Around 3000 TA Saruman begins to use the Orthanc Stone (5), and becomes ensnared by Sauron through the Ithil Stone (4). Frodo is given the Ring in 3001 TA.

The main action of Lord of the Rings takes place in 3018 TA, almost twenty years after Bilbo gives the Ring to Frodo. [Reference note: Frodo is 50 years of age; Bilbo is 128 yrs; Aragorn is 87 yrs; Arwen is 2,777 yrs; Boromir is 40 yrs; and Faramir and Samwise are 35 yrs.] Frodo leaves the Shire on September 23, 3018, and the Council of Elrond takes place on October 25.

On March 5, 3019 TA, King Theoden of the Rohirrim, in company with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, fresh from the Battle of Helm’s Deep, reach Isengard. Grima Wormtongue throws the Orthanc Stone (5) out of a window and it is picked up by Peregrin Took. Gandalf gives it to Aragorn, who takes it to Dunharrow. He uses it for the first time on the night of March 8^th and wrests it from Sauron’s control.

On March 15^th the Witch King-Chief Nazgûl Angmar breaks the gates at Minas Tirith. Denethor is the first of the Stewards who has dared to use the Anor Stone (6). He is made mad by Sauron who possesses the closely attuned Ithil Stone (4). Denethor is burned alive while holding the Anor Stone (6) in the Halls of the Dead. The Anor Stone is forever tainted, and is left with Denethor’s remains, as it is unusable.

On March 25^th, Frodo and Samwise reach the Sammath Naur; Gollum and the Ring fall into the Crack of Doom. The Ithil Stone is destroyed in the ruin of Barad-Dûr (4) along with Sauron. Aragorn is crowned King Elessar Telcontar on May 1^st and marries Arwen Undomíel on 1 Lithe (approximately July 1^st). This is the third and final marriage between the First and Second Born. November 3d is the Battle of Bywater in the Shire, and the death of Saruman.

The Third Age is drawing toward a close. Here is a quick recap of the final fate of the Palantíri:

1. Osgiliath Stone – lost in the Anduin River (1437 TA – Third Age)

2. The Stone of Amon Sûl/Fornost, and

3. The Annúminas Stone are both sunk with King Arvedui in the Bay of Forochel (1975 TA)

4. The Ithil Stone is captured (2002 TA), comes into the possession of Sauron (circa 3000) and is destroyed in the wreck of Barad-Dûr (March 25, 3019 TA)

5. The Orthanc Stone comes into the possession of Sauron (2759 TA), who begins to use it (circa 3000). It comes to the hands of Aragorn after the Ents destroy Isengard (March 5, 3019) and he first uses it on March 8.

6. The Anor Stone (kept in Minas Anor, renamed Minas Tirith) was long guarded by the Stewards of Gondor. It is first used by Denethor (no exact date found); and is spoiled for further use when Denethor dies holding it (March 15, 3019). It is left with his remains in the Hall of the Dead in Minas Tirith.

The only Stone unaccounted for is the one placed at Emyn Beraid (7). This stone was guarded by the Elves. Whether it was taken from Emyn Beraid to the Grey Havens, or whether Emyn Beraid actually became the Grey Havens, it was under the control of Círdan the Shipwright. The final disposition of this stone: it was given by Círdan to Elrond on September 21, 3021 when the three Bearers of the Elven Rings of Power (Elrond, Galadriel, and Gandalf) along with the bearers of the One Ring (Bilbo and Frodo) depart from Middle Earth and sail into the West. Elrond’s departure is considered the “official” ending of the Third Age.

Since the Stone of Emyn Beraid was attuned to the Master Stone on the Isle of Eressëa over the seas, sending it with Elrond effectively ended communications between Middle Earth and the Blessed Lands. Although it was rightfully the property of King Elessar as the heir of Isildur, apparently it was not offered to him or he agreed to relinquish it.

So, as the Third Age ends, four of the Palantíri were completely destroyed or lost. Two remained in Middle Earth (the Anor and Orthanc Stones), but the Anor Stone was unusable. The final Stone was returned by Elrond the Half-Elven to the place where it was made.