Relics in Middel-Earth
 

So I was thinking about what kind of relics do we see in middle-earth. Objects that are held in high honor and perhaps even contain powers or inspire those who hold them or are near them. Perhaps the shards of Narsil or the white tree of Gondor, or Gimli strand of Galadriel’s hair. I would love to hear of some examples of ancient cites or objects they in some way resembled relics.

Immediately coming to mind are the Ring of Barahir and the Elendilmir (both the original its erstwhile replacement), possessed, as the shards of Narsil, by the Dunedain of Arnor.

While that ring had no powers, it was revered for its very age. The same can be said for the Elendilmir, especially the original, first worn by Silmarien of Numenor, sister of the fourth king of that realm.

Great stuff thanks.

The Rings of Power, themselves, could be considered relics; in fact the Dwarven Rings were handed down through many generations. One could say the same for the Silmarils.

Every sword with a name (Narsil, Orcrist, Glamdring, Angrist, etc.), and even a few that did not, including the dagger from Gondolin Bilbo named "Sting", and the blades of Westernesse given by Bombadil to the hobbits at the Barrows (having runes and spells cast on them).

The Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin (unaccounted for after the Battle of Tumhalad).

The Palantiri.

The Elessar (Elfstone).

The Arkenstone.

The Nauglamír (the Silmaril is accounted for, the necklace is not).

The Phial of Galadriel (left with Frodo when he sailed into the West).

The Crown of Elendil (royal crown of Gondor).

The Sceptre of Annúminas (said to over 5,000 years old when Aragorn wielded it as king and was accounted the oldest surviving artifact in Middle-earth made by Numenoreans).

Star of the Dúnedain (worn by each Ranger of Arnor).

Necklace of Girion (became the property of Bard after the destruction of Smaug).

The "Star of the Dunedain" was worn as a badge by the Dunedain, but it appears to have been a quartermaster-issue item, not an ancient relic. Elessar much later gives one to Sam, so it must have been akin to an order of knighthood (it also put Sam on a par with Merry and Pippin, knights since Cormallen).

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The Crown of Gondor was made for Atanatar Alcarin.

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One more: the ring-case and chain of Isildur, found in Orthanc with the Elendilmir

What about the horn that Eowyn gave Merry that came from the hoard of Scatha he worm?

Books/ scrolls / writings! Many books in that age are relics by virtue of books not being common. Some collections, eg the Gondor library, are incredibly old and rare. The Book of Mazarbul and the Red Book may yet become old relics, but at the end of LOTR they are relics telling stories of modern heroes.

all great stuff thanks.

Two sets of objects jump to mind (sort of). The first is the heirlooms of Numenor, the ones the Edain brought from Beleriand. They include the Ring of Barahir and Narsil, the sword of unspecified original wielder (I still reckon it's Haleth's), but also the likes of Dramborleg the axe of Tuor, Aranruth the sword of Thingol, and the unnamed Bow of Bregor, Lord of Ladros. (Is it unnamed because the Beorians were so effectively destroyed that their language was lost?) Some of them were brought out of Numenor by Elendil and company; the others were lost in the Downfall.

The other set is the set that doesn't exist: evil relics. Yes, there's the One Ring, but other than that I can't think of anything made by Morgoth's or Sauron's forces which is said to have been passed down. (The Seven Rings could count as this, I suppose; the Nine certainly don't, because they only had one bearer.) That has the feel of a deliberate choice by Tolkien: Sauron in particular represents industrialisation, and mass produced objects taking the place of heirlooms sounds like a very firm message by the author.

hS