Why a Ring?
 

why did sauron want rings of power?why not swords or daggers?

Er...maybe I'm just stupid but I don't think there was a reason, why not cheeses of power?

Easier to keep track, less threatening...who'd think a piece of jewelry had the power to destroy Middle-earth?

i think it was becuase he needed something handy and comfortable. you can loose a sword and eat cheese but a ring was always on your finger.

Easier to keep track of? That would explain why Sauron couldn't figure that it was in Mordor when Frodo and Sam had it. [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Just kidding. I say cheeses of power wouldn't work, someone would eat it and never figure out.

Nevermind.
Aylwen [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Yummmmmmmmmmm...cheeses of power...oh i get it now [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

wait if someone ate the cheese would you have to cast them into mount doom, and how would saulron use that person for power, would he have to eat him?

Would cheese be fermented in mount doom instead of forged.

WOW the the cheese of power brings up alot of interesting questions!

were would saulron get evil milk to make this evil cheese, from evil cows?

Who would milk these evil cows, the Nazgul?

Why cheese why not just straight milk? you would not need to ferment it like cheese so you could use it right away!

AHHHHH! So many questions need answers! Maybe the magic cheese fairy can help uS!!

I think is was because the rings were things of beauty. Easier to deceive people with than weapons or food.

Someone should make a "The Cheese of Power" thread in Middle-earth Mayhem...this is too funny.

the cheese fairy that turns milk into cheese like in the kraft cheese commmericials!

Yep! Thats the one ^.^ Oooooo Evil cheese fairy! ><

We'd better calm this down and try to get back on topic before one of the mods locks this for becoming a chat room....

Rings were easier to make, not to mention it fit with the people who were making them. The Noldor elves of Eregion were skilled at smithing, but if Annatar had asked them to make him some "magic" swords, they might become a little suspiscious of some impending war. With a ring, it's just a useful little trinket.

Besides, how could Frodo sneak (or even carry) the One Tower Shield or the One Longsword into Mordor?

My opinion about this is here.

--Belin Ibaimendi

[ December 11, 2002: Message edited by: Belin ]

On a more serious point he really wasn,t the one who chose the shape. When the rings were being made by the elves he was pretending to be there just to help them with their labours. Sauron would of sounnded kinda supicous if he suggestd to the elves that they should make their peacefull magical artifacts in the shape of weapons. When he made the one ring he decieded that a ring should be used to control all the other rings. Sounds logical right.

Good points. But I think the ring was chosen because yes it is smaller and it does signify power. Where as a sword or another weapon, well, is just a weapon. And it wouldn'r make sense either. It would be esier to have sword knocked out of your hands then to have a ring knocked off your finger. Rings go around forever and don't end, just like power, and the one ring looked plain. But actually it was more fine and perfect and universal, since it looked the same on any given part of it. And think of wedding rings. When a couple walks around with it on, it shows that they belong to each other and its kind of saying 'hands off' to others. The one ring was saying 'hands off' to others concerning power. Rings to me seem much more simpler and complex at the same time, so all in all, to me rings seem special. And rings are more of an accesory. It adds special attributes to the possesor. If you've ever played Diablo I or II, you'll know what I'm talking about. The ring will give you special effects and attributes depending on what it is. A weapon will mainly increase your offense. And if its a ruling ring, then its has to be better and more universal to your attributes. I'm getting confused myself so I'll stop.

In the thread Belin showed, someone said it was because the dwarves, elves, and humans were making rings. True. Without the other rings, the title wouldn't work. Actually, it might be Lord of the Ring (instead of rings). But that's not the point (about the other rings). If tolkien were to choose a sword instea of the ruling ring, then he would have written that the dwarves, elves, and men were making swords also. And why did he keep the one ring a ring just like the other rings? Because it shows that the one ring is so powerful. Its the one ring and the others are called the lesser rings. Also, if the dwarves, elves, and men were making swords, while sauron made the one ring, then the ring wouldn't be the ruling ring. There would be no other rings for it 'rule' and wouldn't it be called The lord of the swords or the ring: the lord of the swords? It wouldn't work and it would sound stupid. Without the other rings, the one ring wasn't as special. I think that tolkien was trying to emphasize the importance and power of the one ring.

Two threads with exactly the same title - that could be confusing! The link which Belin gave is to a discussion on the Books forum; please continue with serious contributions there. If you want to go on with the funny side of the topic, the Middle-earth Mayhem forum is the perfect place to do it. This thread is closed.

[ December 12, 2002: Message edited by: Estelyn Telcontar ]