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Rings of Power

The Rings of Power, fictional artifacts from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth universe, were forged in Eregion in the Second Age by the Elves, who reached the pinnacle of their skills with the aid of Sauron. The Elves made nineteen Rings in all, and Sauron forged the One Ring, the Ruling Ring, secretly in the Fires of Mount Doom. Sauron created the One Ring to rule over all the others, and he put a great part of his power into the One. The Elves realized that Sauron wished to control them, and refused to use the Three Rings. Sauron took possession of the Nine Rings and the Elves fled Eregion with the Seven and the Three Elven-Rings, the greatest of all the Elven-Rings forged. The Elves gave the Seven Rings to the Dwarf-Kings. Sauron gave the Nine Rings to Mortal Men. Although the Dwarves used their rings to establish their Treasure Hoards, they did not submit to Sauron, however Dragons destroyed three of the Seven Rings, and after Sauron's return he recaptured the remaining four. Men came came quickly under the power of the One Ring and became the Nazgul, the Ringwraiths.

The Three Rings of the Elves of Eregion were forged by Celebrimbor alone, and were never touched by Sauron. They were called Narya, Nenya, and Vilya. They remained hidden and their whereabouts were not revealed until the end of the Third Age, after Frodo Baggins destroyed the One Ring, and the Dark Lord Sauron was completely overthrown.

A verse that summarizes the Rings and their ownership is an important part of the lore of Middle-earth. It translates as follows:

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.