The Rings of Power are woven into the foundation of Middle-earth’s Second and Third Ages, tools of preservation and domination crafted under shifting intentions. Amazon’s The Rings of Power begins to chart their emergence, but much remains shaped by Tolkien’s deeper texts. Here is a complete account of the known Rings of Power, their intended roles, and their bearers, according to both lore and adaptation.
The Origins of the Rings
Crafted by the Elven-smiths of Eregion with the guidance of Sauron in his fair guise as Annatar, the Rings were designed to enhance and preserve. But the deception at their heart would change everything.
“And the Elves made many rings; but secretly Sauron made One Ring to rule all the others, and their power was bound up with it, to be subject wholly to it and to the power that wielded it.”
— The Silmarillion
Twenty Rings were made:
- Three for the Elves
- Seven for the Dwarves
- Nine for Mortal Men
- One for the Dark Lord
The Three Elven Rings
Made without Sauron’s direct touch, the Three retained their purity but remained tied to the fate of the One Ring. They were used to preserve beauty, protect memory, and resist decay.
- Narya (Ring of Fire)
Bearer: Círdan the Shipwright, then Gandalf
Symbolising fire and resistance, Narya was eventually entrusted to Gandalf. “Take now this Ring,” he said; “for thy labours and thy cares will be heavy; but in all it will support thee and defend thee from weariness.”
— Appendix B, The Lord of the Rings - Nenya (Ring of Water)
Bearer: Galadriel
A silver ring bearing a white stone, it preserved Lothlórien in timeless beauty. “You see here but the land of Lothlórien and the Lady Galadriel… Yet if you had seen with the eyes of Elves, then you would have seen the long years of her protection.”
— The Fellowship of the Ring - Vilya (Ring of Air)
Bearer: Gil-galad, then Elrond
The greatest of the Three, Vilya enhanced Elrond’s healing and protection in Rivendell. “The might of Gil-galad was in it; and Elrond, mighty among Elves, was its keeper.”
— The Silmarillion
In the series, the forging of the Three takes place at the end of Season 1. Their future bearers remain unnamed, but the trajectory of Galadriel, Elrond, and the arrival of Gandalf-like figures suggests the series is aligning with lore.
The Seven Rings for the Dwarves
Given to the lords of the seven Dwarf clans, these rings fed avarice and delved deep into the hearts of the mountains. Though Sauron could not enslave the Dwarves directly, he stirred their greed.
“They were not deceived, but they desired gold and silver and the things made by craft, and they accepted Sauron’s gifts.”
— Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age
- Known Bearers in Lore:
The Seven were distributed among the houses of Durin, the Broadbeams, Firebeards, Ironfists, Stiffbeards, Blacklocks, and Stonefoots. The ring of Durin’s line is the most significant, eventually passed to Thrain II before being captured by Sauron. “The Dwarves indeed proved tough and hard to tame. They ill endure the domination of others, and the thoughts of their hearts are hard to fathom.”
— The Silmarillion
In the show, Khazad-dûm’s inner workings and its rulers’ desire for mithril lay fertile ground for this story to unfold.
The Nine Rings for Mortal Men
The Nine proved easiest to corrupt. Gifted to kings, sorcerers, and warriors among Men, they extended life but consumed identity. Over time, their wearers became the Nazgûl—undead shadows of will.
“Those who used the Nine Rings became mighty in their day, kings, sorcerers, and warriors of old. They obtained glory and great wealth… but they who used the Nine Rings became enslaved to it.”
— The Silmarillion
- Known Bearers in Lore:
Only one is named: Khamûl, the Easterling. The rest remain anonymous, though speculation places them as rulers from the East and South. - In the Show:
The Nine have yet to surface. Candidates such as Pharazôn, or lesser Men seduced by power, may emerge in future seasons.
The One Ring
The master Ring, forged in the fires of Mount Doom, was Sauron’s greatest work and the vessel of his essence. It dominated the others and bent their wielders to his will.
“One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.”
— Inscription of the One Ring
- Bearer: Sauron
The Ring gave Sauron power over the others and over those who bore them. Yet when he lost it, he lost the bulk of his strength. “While he wore it, his power on earth was actually enhanced… but when he lost it that power was diminished.”
— Letter 131, The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
In the show, Halbrand is revealed to be Sauron in disguise, guiding the forging of the Rings. The One Ring has not yet been forged, but the narrative is clearly building toward it.
Lesser or Unseen Rings
Tolkien hints at the existence of lesser rings—early experiments or trials before the major sets. These may appear in the show as narrative tools or to flesh out smaller arcs.
“There were many lesser rings, magic rings of various kinds, made for practice, essay, or mere mirth. The Great Rings were very rare and dangerous.”
— The Shadow of the Past, The Fellowship of the Ring
Seven Swords takeaway
The Rings of Power are not merely devices of enchantment. They are tied to desire, to preservation, to dominion, and to the decay that follows unchecked ambition. As Tolkien wrote, they reflect the peril of holding power that seeks to master rather than serve.
Amazon’s The Rings of Power takes liberties with the timeline but remains rooted in this underlying tension. The forging of each ring carries not just political weight, but moral consequence. And every bearer, from Galadriel to the future Nazgûl, carries that burden in their own way.
