It is always so pleasant to see how much personal analasys and deep thought lies behind your videos. And I can't but mention that your choise of artworks is exceptional, most of them are my favourites. Huge thank you for such unique content!
Hello, a good opportunity to say thanks for supporting the channel :D . And, you have no idea how long it takes me to pick the artwork. I've sat for hours picking artwork for some videos because I have to really like it myself to put it in the video!
@@TheRedBook At the moment, your channel is my favourite one among the ones developing the subject of Tolkien's works: every video immerses me in thought for the whole day if not more. So, I am definetely glad to support it! Regarding the artworks - that's noticeable :) I've spent years collecting them and still find new ones in your videos. I really appriciate how much effort you put into it.
It never struck me as strange. The leader of the Istari was Saruman, knowledgeable in ring-lore and himself a Maia of Aulë, and Aulë would certainly have a few hot (ha) tips on how to deal with Sauron's skills and sorceries, which in part came from him. And, as you said, there was Celebrimbor and possibly other Noldor remnants with incredible knowledge of smithcraft and ring-making. The destruction of the ring follows a simple principle to grasp: you need a destructive power of a nature surpassing Sauron's; Ancalagon may have been a humongous monster capable of toppling mountains, but he's still a secondary creation of Melkor, which would make him a far lesser being than one of the Ainur. It's possible that this is a generally known fact about this category of artifact, and all the Wise needed was to sit down and figure out where primeval or "Valar-level" destructive power remained. A very short list, to be sure.
Another insightful roam among Maggot's mushrooms! Again, floored by your knowledge and understanding of the substance of Tolkien's works and with none of the "modernity" that has seemingly crept into other deep dives of the Lore. I, personally, appreciate the respect you give to the material as well as the time and care you obviously put into these.
Hi Lucius, thanks for the positive response to the video. The One Ring is something I have been fascinated with almost as much as the figures of Sauron, Melkor, or even the Valar. A lot of people just gloss over the so-called 'mechanics' of it and I like exploring it a bit more. There will be more One Ring content to come. The time and care is worth it. Even if it restricts some other pursuits. I think it's fun to make these, despite a few comments here and there saying I have no life. I enjoy discussing Tolkien daily, so it's enjoyable despite being time consuming!
@@TheRedBook I could, as well. Not with the "Who's power level is over 9000", but real, substantive discussions of the the type Tolkien wished us to have. The nature of corruption, how Evil causes it's own end, how Good is quantifiable in it's measures of Mercy. You're a serious person with serious insights. Not that Tolkien isn't equally, if not greater, in his love for Joy, simplicity, family, mirth, hearth and Home, but even joyful, simple subjects can be taken with a measure of grounding which your videos represent and it is appreciated!
I can't stand that stuff either Though I always say that every type of content has its audience. I just personally don't get the "Who would win?" stuff or talks of power levels. There's a lot to discuss, more than just what happened and who it happened to...
@@TheRedBook Absolutely. Tolkien casts a wide enough net so that even discussions of that sort have their audience and that's ok. To each his own with zero judgment. It's just nice to have discussions that appeal to these aspects with these parameters. Gosh, I do believe that Tolkien would be far more fascinated with the conversational landmines of modern internet warfare that breeds societal consequences into the act of commenting on public forums than with the longevity of his works.
@@Looshmal - You're not kidding. The longest comment chains on my videos are all about everything except Tolkien. There's one going on now about "cultural marxism" whatever that is. What does a man need to do to just get some Tolkien discussions going
Thanks :D and I like the use of the word mythology as well there. I'd much rather be called that than a lore channel...I don't know why that bothers me so much
@@TheRedBook I think it might bother you because lore generally refers to actual events or people. Like Babylonian lore, or Greek lore. Mythology refers to fictional events and characters, such as what your excellent channel is about. Best I can come up with man lol
Interesting, I never understood it that way. The way magic works in Tolkien's work, a person puts part of his or her soul, his or her will, into the object to give it strength. It's a very personal bond, obtained while forging it or creating it. Elven items are not magic because someone put a spell on it, they are magic because they are elven. Elves create a bond with the object while creating it and that bond implies part of their selfs. Sauron did the same thing. He put all his will, his self, into the ring while creating it, that way he created a powerful bond. However, there are three parts in that process: The object, the person who puts his or her will, and the place where he or she does it. The place is very important, when you do something so personal, so powerful, the place where you do it is a very important part of it. So, destroying the ring was impossible because it had too much of Sauron and he couldn't be actually destroyed. However, you could break the bond between the ring and Sauron, and the way to do it was to bring it back to the place where it was created and go backwards: Instead of forging it, melt it. That way you are effectively unmaking the bond, and then the ring would could be destroyed. I always thought it made sense but now it seems that Tolkien didn't notice T.T
Great comment Alfonso. I don't really disagree with you, even if I didn't cover some of these points. Your first point about a person putting a part of his or hell will into an object is an idea I completely agree with. It certainly explains how certain works of art cannot be replicated even upon their destruction. I first thought of this idea with the Silmarils but later attributed it also to the One Ring and other Rings of Power. So, I still think all your ideas there make sense and I agree with you.
Not at all. I'm always interested in discussions. I have never considered my word the final say or anything, these are my interpretations and thoughts a lot of the time. It's always good to read other peoples as well.
It never occurred to me before that Elven smiths did the same (or a similar) thing when creating their "magical" artifacts. Does that imply that swords like Sting and Glamdring might contain part of someone's soul? And would they have been more powerful in or near Gondolin?
@@Disgruntled_Dave I may be wrong but to me it seems like Tolkien tries to not use the word "soul" too much in this context, he prefers "will". Call it like you want, but yes, I always thought that those swords contain part of the people who created them. I am not sure if their power would be stronger in Gondolin. It seems to make sense but I fail to remember some moment in the books where Tolkien mentioned items that lost their powers out of age or distance. Maybe. We know that the one ring didn't lost any power, but then again, Sauron was alive, the creators of those items would probably be with Mandos.
I would love to see a video exploring magical places in Middle Earth. The locations that seem to have a power of their own; like valley of Imladris, the lake in Dorthonion where Beren resided for a while, the Old Forest and maybe even the Shire itself.
@@TheRedBook there's also the places elves lived for long periods,Ike Hollin and Gondolin, Nargothrond etc. In the Fellowship of the Ring Gandalf talks about Hollin as does Legolas.
The first of many videos focused completely on the One Ring (they won't all be posted in a row). Have you ever wondered how it was known where to unmake the ring? Do you have any questions you have thought about over the years related to the One Ring? I hope you enjoyed this video! As always, check out the community posts in the next few days for updates about what is coming next on the channel. If you want to get involved in helping to decide on interesting topics to cover or if you want early access to videos, consider joining the channel - ua-cam.com/play/UUMOPOz2P0OxWp0ij0K4BsLsRw.html
I’d love to watch a video that explores your thoughts on HOW the rings of power are made. Would like to hear your metaphysical / philosophical / spiritual thoughts on the topic. And is there a parallel to this in the “real” world in your opinion?
@@spencerarnot - One user has asked me to do something similar for the Three Rings specifically. I've thought about it before and it would involve talking about other objects, such as the Silmarils. I'll add this to the big "Rings of Power ideas" list
I've always just assumed Celebrimbor knew how and that he shared the knowledge with other Elves before being captured, which you stated as well in this video. What I am still curious about is whether the Ring could have been destroyed by a different volcano (if another one had been accessible) or if it had to be Orodruin even if there was an equivalent source of heat elsewhere. I'm leaning toward Orodruin alone due to its connection to the Ring's creation, but when Gandalf mentions dragons being able to melt the other rings of power, that kind of makes it sound like it was simply a matter of their fire not being hot enough.
@@Disgruntled_Dave - Another user brought up this point too. I still put it down to the close link between Mount Doom. Sauron, Melkor, and the ring. Mount Doom is THE place. It was made there and will be unmade there. How many other fire mountains do we know of in Middle-earth? I think with the Dragon comment, it speaks of the vast difference between the Great Rings of Power and the Ruling Ring. They can be unmade in these other ways but the One is special, unique, and it stands alone. It can't be unmade in that way.
Is there a certain tier you have to be in order to get the video early or just be a member? Also do you believe its a bit strange that Sauron believed the one ring was destroyed after the war of the last alliance but in the third age he clearly believes that no one would actually be able to destroy the ring and have the strength to overcome the rings power and cast in the fire, or maybe the fact that they didn't destroy earlier just reinforced his belief that no one was strong enough to destroy it? Have a great day
Thank you so much for your wonderful erudite commentaries on Tolkien’s brilliant imaginings - your 3-part demolition of the Sauron’s confusing character have been my absolute favourites! This was a wonderful addition. The warm voice and accent don’t hurt either!
Thanks Michele, I'm surprised that the Sauron series is someone's favourite. It's certainly my least favourite! But knowing people do enjoy it makes it worthwhile.
Great stuff as usual. And in true Tolkienian fashion you slipped in hints of other fascinating stuff (the nature of “the Wise”) without going into too much detail. ;)
Thanks, man. And yes, I'm always worried ill get side tracked and talk for 10 minutes about something unrelated. I always make a note to cover it in its own video. The wise and their nature deserves its own video imo.
I've wondered before if there weren't any other Volcano, the wise knew about, really it would have to be a constantly "open" volcano which I suppose is pretty rare. The real reason seemed clear enough - narratively speaking (and particularly as Tolkien's Catholic) - ultimate evil can only be unmade by confronting it right into it's home, and resisting it at great personal sacrifice. Maybe Gandalf understood that intuitively, but it's good there is some foundation for practical reason within the Lore - but generally, I think we all take Gandalf at his word. :)
Good point Magus. There is certainly a magical & mythical aspect when it comes to unmaking evil where it was made. The idea of other Fire Mountains being places where it could be unmade is interesting but Middle-earth was also severely lacking in such places. What if it wouldn't work? The unmaking in the place of making solution just seems to make much more sense.
This is a very good insight and such is true poetry when weaved into lines of poetry. This helped give me greater perspective on things I am confronting in my own life of late. Thank you and God bless you, through Our Blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
@@TheRedBook True, it'd likely be a lot safer to try it, but could they even retrieve it again if it was just sitting in there? Not unless someone has power equivalent to "the force", or Gandalf (with his fire ring) can do something. No, it'd probably be the same deal as tossing it into the ocean, there would always be a Sauron to contend with, even if you could beat him back again and again. So either Mt. Doom was literally "the Hottest place on Earth", or it's more about the journey, the sacrifice and the will to complete the task that's instrumental to success.
Funnily enough I think it's probably both. I do think Mount Doom would be the hottest accessible place in the world but also that it is a place of special significance. I side more with the latter though. I think it fits more in with the idea of myth and legend that mechanics!
One of the best Tolkien Lore channels. I’ll never find this universe not fascinating. Would love to see a video on the races of evil, especially the Olag Hai
Thanks! And I have quite a few videos on the evil beings - they probably outnumber the good characters in my video! But there will be plenty more about Orcs, Trolls, Ringwraiths, etc.
The prefix "Of" is a masterstroke of titular gravitas for this sub-series. Your channel's rapidly expanding viewership is testimony to your establishment as one of YT's most original and engaging Tolkien scholars.
Nice to have you back once again :) . Thanks a lot, and I'm glad the video titles appeal in this way. I'm always worried that it won't actually get across what I'm talking about. I could offer far more direct video titles or even clickbait ones (like someone accused me of with the Ancalagon video :D ) but I like the Legendarium series being reminiscent of The Silmarillion chapters.
I'm really begin to love this channel, and the deeper questions it addresses about Tolkien's work. I don't need another video about "WHO WERE THE NINE?" Keep it up!
Can I just give you my highest compliments, you have very quickly become my favourite youtuber on this topic and that is because when I watch your videos I feel the closest I can to what tolkien imagined and what brought on those imaginations etc... it's an angle I've not seen on the topic before to this degree and can see the main youtubers of this topic are already following your good work and reproducing it themselves to a degree. Well done for bringing up the standard!
Kind words Elendil. It's always flattering to hear that my own thoughts on Tolkien can spark thought and discussion in this way. Thanks! As for others following and reproducing it. If you mean they are choosing to look a bit deeper than the surface and offer their own thoughts instead of just facts, then that is of course great and I welcome that. If you are talking about style/look/ideas, I know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but I hate it to be honest. I don't want any others to imitate at all. I want every channel to be unique in their own way with their own identity. I've taken time to work out what style I'd like, with some trial and error. It's too easy for others to come along and just use it themselves. But those are just my thoughts on the matter!
Have you considered doing a video discussing the differences between Sauron and Melkor? Their different tactics, their different end goals for Arda? Also do you think any part of Sauron's end game was to retrieve Melkor from the void and release him, or do you think he was happy with doing things his way? I think the fact that they have different styles and goals is very interesting. Thank you and have a good day
I don't have a plan for a direct comparison video but I think their motives will come out over other videos. My Morgoth's Ring video covered a lot of Melkor's motives, as will my upcoming video. I have a few planned for Sauron, what he wanted, his vision for Middle-earth, etc. I will always have plenty of Morgoth and Sauron content :)
Your videos are fantastically researched and created with the art and disciple of an elf. Did Tolkien say anything in the lore about whether Sauron regretted releasing Gollum?
Excellent analysis & explanation as always. Yup I think it's important to remember that Mount Doom, while volcano-like, isn't a volcano as understood today. Likewise the mountains of Arda and the mechanics behind their creation, in fact it might be an interesting topic to explore the geography & physics of Arda & Middle Earth, maybe. A decent forge could easily meet and exceed to temperatures inside a volcano at the surface; it was more about the "type" of fire within Mt Doom. On a side-note, it could be argued that the "Nameless Things" were a necessary part of the geographic processes of Arda, created at the beginning as a by-product of the music, seeing as there were no tectonics etc esp on a flat plane before the fall of Numenor. Anyway cheers for the vid, keep em coming :)
Yes, it is always called a Fire Mountain or Mountain of Fire, not synonymous with a volcano! Interesting thought about the Nameless Things. Despite their unsettling nature, they could be as valid a part of the world as other beings of evil. Some purpose we can't understand. I'd like to explore the geography a bit more. I think Mordor is a good place to start with that as well. Or Tolkien's later thoughts about the Changing of the World as a myth.
I have always understood the process (and you said it twice) was that the ring could not be destroyed, it could only be "unmade". Sauron put his essence into the ring as it was being forged within Mt Doom. Therefore, it could only be unmade at the source of its creation. Because of the ring's power, Sauron could not imagine anyone intentionally destroying it, but rather claiming it and using it to fight him. He knew that would lead to their downfall and his getting the ring back.
It's really interesting that Sauron originally thought the elves destroyed the ring. Shows that not even Sauron knew that destroying the ring would destroy him. Makes even more sense why he didn't guard mount doom like "plot hole" people say. (Even though the fact that the ring is a force of absolute corruption was reason enough to presume no one would think of destroying it)
suggestion for a Halloween video: two worlds, the Seen and the Unseen -- the Spirit world of the Fea, where Ringbearer's Hroa go when they vanish. Beings physically in the Spirit world (Frodo wearing the Ring, and the Ringwraiths, for instance) can perceive the Material world dimly if at all ("our shapes throw shadows on their minds, " Gandalf said of the wraiths). Elves of Valinor (Glorfindel, for instance) exist physically in both worlds at once ("against both the Seen and the Unseen he has great power"), and so might potentially be able to clearly see Frodo when he's wearing the Ring. When Frodo's physical body is transported to the Spirit world, the Ringwraiths can also see him clearly "and might have seized him", implying that they normally might not have been able to do so. Speculation about enchanted weapons and clothing which allow the Ringwraiths to interact with things in the Material world (their black raiment, the Morgul dagger, etc), While in the Spirit world Frodo can see Glorfindel's true form, his Fea, a shining figure of light, while the figures of others of his Company are barely-seen shadows.
I really like your talks and find them well paced, thoughtful and insightful. First time I’ve posted though, so be gentle. I can’t really accept that Sauron didn’t know if the ring had been destroyed , or assumed it had been. Surely , he would have known instinctively if it had? It is an inate part of him and he of it.
Thanks, Derek. I appreciate that. And don't worry about about leaving comments, even if they are disagreeing or questioning what I have said. If people voice opinions or thoughts without being aggressive then it's all good. Your point about Sauron is valid. It's something that Tolkien didn't explain beyond Gandalf's comment and it's a strange comment for him to make. But I think the problem here is that we attribute certain knowledge to Sauron in hindsight. We suspect he'd know the ring was destroyed when it was because it's a part of him. The thing is, he does experience this when it is actually destroyed. So you are right but...how do we know what he'd think before that happened? As he was taking shape again, he'd perhaps suspect it was gone and think he was fully capable of returning to shape without it. It's only when it finally happens that he realises just how wrong he was and just how much of his power he placed in it. All his questions were answered when it was destroyed. So, I agree that he would instinctively know when it was unmade but he (like many others do) made mistakes. He assumed it had been destroyed without knowing just how bad it would go for him if it really had been destroyed. The folly of evil thinking it's the greatest thing in the world. Sauron believing that even with the ring gone he was still as great. Only realising that would never be the case once it was really gone... It's something I'll maybe clear up (or hope to) in a future inconsistencies video on the channel. I agree that Tolkien should have cleared this up as it is quite confusing. He even has Gandalf later say that Sauron would not dream of anyone destroying it...which I can kind of explain...
This channel is criminally undersubscribed! While it is nice to have a small community of fine people and easier access to the creator, it will help to have more subs so even more content can be made. Here's to even more success in the future! 😎 Btw, I think a discussion about whether or not Orcs could possibly be redeemed and live honest and honorable lives would be very interesting! Take care, sir! 🙂
Thanks. Well, only a few weeks ago I had about 1500 subs and it crossed 7000 today, so there has been some good growth lately. Still a way off being any sort of big channel though! And yes, I like the Orc idea. I have several videos I want to do about redeemability. I've had Feanor covered and have ideas about Morgoth and Sauron. The Orcs deserve a video too.
8:14 This is the most clear contradiction of the LOTR movies. The ring was perceived as "the weapon of the enemy", not "His life force was bound to the ring and the ring survived." So Gandalf thinks that Sauron could have returned even if the ring would have been destroyed. It's not clear if Sauron returning knew the ring was not unmade. The part in the book in the council of Elrond where they say they don't know what will happen if the ring is destroyed is directed mostly to what will happen to the 3 elven rings. It's not explicit that Sauron would not be affected by the destruction of the one ring, but it's implied that his life is not bound to the ring. This is the most important difference between the movies and the books, since the journey was done to destroy the weapon of the enemy, and not Sauron himself.
That's a good point. In the books they do talk about Sauron becoming maimed, unable to do further harm. It's never about destroying Sauron. I do get that impression from the movies that it's about killing the Dark Lord and not just defeating him. Hadn't thought about that before...
@@TheRedBook Yes, it's from the movie Gandalf's line : "The spirit of Sauron endured. His life force was bound to the ring and the ring survived." This was put in the movie to make the journey seem more impactful for the viewers. But this is understood by the fellowship only at the end of the plot.
Red, I've been gobbling up your posts all weekend. Frankly, they're great. And I apologize for taking the piss about your accent. It takes a Scot to pronounce LOTR names and places with some verisimilitude and I take my hat off to you.
Something arises here that I had not noticed before: IF Sauron believed that the Elves had destroyed the Ring after the Battle of the Last Alliance, there is a strong reason to believe that destruction of the One Ring would not have any meaningful longevity/mortality impact on Sauron himself. If it was destroyed and he yet lived, what would that mean in Sauron's view and mind? Another thing that crossed my mind: maybe the fires of Mt. Doom don't even destroy the ring but send it to someplace from whence it can never be recovered...
I wouldn't say that Dane. I think Sauron's view that it had been destroyed when it hadn't speaks of Sauron's own ego and naivety. He would think he was still great enough to take shape and to enforce his will on the world. He was unaware just how broken he'd be if the ring was taken from him. This is why I say that when the ring was unmade, he would have suffered a tremendous shock, finally realising his folly and just how much of his spirit he placed into this object, never able to recover it again.
@@TheRedBook I thought Sauron couldn't conceive of anyone wanting to destroy the ring of power rather use it, but Gandalf's earlier statement seems to conflict with what he says later. Is it that Isuldur's inaction helped formulate that notion that kept Sauron blind to his own lands, or was it easier to think the Elves and Men would destroy the ring after he was defeated - they were already there at Mt. Doom after all, with no opposition - but it was unthinkable when he was near the height of his power?
@@MagusMarquillin - Yes, I believe so. I think Gandalf is saying that even when Sauron's enemies had the free opportunity to destroy it, they couldn't. Since they couldn't destroy it even when he wasn't around, it must mean they are incapable of destroying it. It fits with Sauron's growing ego about himself. He wouldn't destroy it, why would anyone else? He convinces himself.
@@TheRedBook Also - bear in mind that it takes Sauron "with the Ring" only a year to rebuild himself a physical body and gather a huge army following the Akallabêth. It takes Sauron "without the Ring" over a millennium to rebuild a 'visible' presence in Dol Guldur, and he is weak enough at that point that he is mistaken as one of the Nazgûl to start with. Sauron could have misunderstood his initial weakness in the Third Age as due to the destruction of the Ring, and only later come to realise that it had survived.
@@dlevi67 Númenór fell in S.A. 3319 but Sauron didn't attack Minas Ithil until S.A. 3429 so I suspect it took him longer than that to create a body and certainly longer than that to rebuild his forces.
Thank you, Steven, superb content as always! Very insightful and well thought out. Incidentally, if you think Feanor in his prime would be able to destroy the Ring, do you think Gandalf could have mentioned him, if only as "heroes of old", at some point when he was enumerating the things or beings that could destroy the Ring? That's what I like about Tolkien: you can draw on fact where you know it and speculate based on fact. And there is always some bit of mystery in the end.
If it were the case that these figures could unmake the ring, then absolutely, it could have been added in at the Council of Elrond or in Bag End when Gandalf was speaking of the history of the ring and Frodo's naïve attempts to 'destroy it'. But we can say that about a lot of things. It would have saved many people many headaches if Tolkien also added one line at the Council of Elrond saying Eagles couldn't fly them to Mordor :D
@@TheRedBook Well I suppose Eagles weren't mentioned just because the Wise knew it was out of the question. Another amazing thing about the Legendarium: there is inner logic, structure, and everything has to be consistent with it. The case of Eagles is like Tolkien's magic: it's not traditional hocus-pocus but an innate ability, physical, spiritual or artistic, and like any other ability it has its limits.
@@TheRedBook Maybe you shouldn't make it the principal subject of your video? Discuss the role of the Eagles in the Legendarium in general (birds of Manwe) and address the "plot hole" part on an inter alia basis. In other words, just slip in a sentence or two about the birds of Manwe being your on-call means of transportation making no sense. Would be a lot more fun for you to make, I guess.)
@@annamnatsakanyan4040 That's a good idea but it also fits into the Inconsistencies series since a lot of people falsely claim it is a plot hole. At least I have a video idea if I run out of other ideas :D
I think the only reason I would perhaps not do a video is I think it may be too short. There's an unused cover for that volume drawn by Tolkien and on it, he has Orthanc and Minas Morgul - which is a combination many don't seem to use. He mentions that in Letter 143. But in an earlier letter Tolkien says - "The Two Towers gets as near as possible to finding a title to cover the widely divergent Books 3 and 4; and can be left ambiguous - it might refer to Isengard and Barad-dûr, or to Minas Tirith and B; or Isengard and Cirith Ungol". So, he seemed to see it as Orthanc and Cirith Ungol but thought that was misleading because of the opposition of the greater towers of Barad-dur and Minas Tirith throughout the whole story.
Another brilliant video.. i never really read into how they knew it could be destroyed in mt Doom ..i Just assumed it could be destroyed there only because it was made there..n just assumed Celebrimbor or Elrond knew about it somehow. Or maybe Sauron told someone n they didnt keep the secret.or maybe all magic rings could only be destroyed where they were created.. it could of just had been common knowlage for those who practiced magic. Thankyou very good choice of theme for the video.
Thanks Ella, and yeah, to us it's no great mystery that the ring could be unmade where it was made. I guess my idea was that it wouldn't be such common knowledge to those unfamiliar with tropes like this. Your average person might believe such an object of power was invulnerable, a divine 'weapon' created by someone beyond their understanding.
Curiously, it can't have been a matter of sheer heat - because volcanic lava is around 1200C and the melting point of gold around 1600C. Dwarven furnaces would have been hotter than Orodruin. That leaves the unique nature of the Ring and its creator. My guess is that we can thank Celebrimbor for this information. Which would be nice pay-back, considering how much the poor guy suffered.
That is something that I've read before but I've always put it down to Tolkien maybe not looking into the physics of it that much? You are right though, of course. I've always guessed that in Middle-earth, according to this text, ordinary gold would melt in Orodruin.
Small correction - melting point of pure gold 1064 °C (~ 1600 *°F* ); typical 18 kt gold is a bit less (930 - 1000 °C depending on alloying), and a good metalsmith like Sauron would probably have alloyed stuff to get a) a bit of hardness and b) _more_ magical properties from the other elements. Arsenic is nicely poisonous and gives gold a lovely red bloom - very appropriate! In any case, totally agreed that a furnace is more than hot enough - otherwise how would they create gold artifacts? - and hotter than typical magma (650 - 1200 °C); lava - as in 'molten rock flowing during an eruption' is usually much hotter (up to 2000 °C), and hotter than a typical goldsmith furnace (1500 - 1600 °C). So, from a "modern physics" standpoint, both a hot magma chamber _and_ a furnace would be enough to melt a gold ring.
@@dlevi67 Interesting! Does the toxic nature of an alloy continue when it is combined with gold? It's just I'm now visualising Gollum suffering five hundred years of heavy metal poisoning .
@@dlevi67 With his fondness for order, if Sauron used an alloy it would likely be of eutectic composition (i.e., all material changes phase at the same temperature, rather than a solidus to liquidus temperature range where solid blobs of metal float in liquid metal). Sauron's craft would also likely create a perfect CCP (cubic close-packed) crystalline structure if pure gold was used that results in much higher strength and hardness than a typical crystalline structure with flaws.
@@danielstride198 Only poisonous from loss of metal into microscopic fragments that can combine with other substances to make ionic compounds. But the way the One Ring is described, no material could be removed from it by abrasion, ablation, or solution processes. Gollum may have suffered from heavy metal noise pollution (what else would an orc band play?). 🤣
Please more on Mount Doom and the fate of it after the ring is destroyed does Morder really collapse into a caldera? Sorry if I'm asking this question 2/3 through the video love it!!
An idea just hit me that I thought might be interesting to explore, but it might be difficult: what did Eru mean during/ after the music of the Ainur when he told Melkor that everything he did was an instrument of Eru's will?
I would like to know where the gold that made the ring was mined and who mined it. That's got to be one of the most important details about the making of the ring. Are there veins of gold within the caverns of mount doom perhaps?
While myriad other Tolkien lore related channels seem repetitive and very similar in content to each other, this one seems to offer completely fresh takes and novel topics. As for the topic in this particular video, i can think of several reasons why Elrond's council would've been confident the fires of Mount Doom could unmake The One Ring: -If the Ring was cast/forged there in the first place, it would be rational for it to be melted there also. -Elrond, Galadriel, Gandalf, Glorfindel all seem to exhibit supernatural foresight. -Elrond, Galadriel, Gandal themselves possessed rings of power so they would understand some of their properties. -As mentioned by others, Celebrimbor could've just told Galadriel. -What choice did they really have...
Thanks Connie! Always cool to be told the channel stands out (at least in a positive way!) I agree with your reasoning. Perhaps I'd maybe be slightly against the idea of the Ring-bearers inherently understanding the full nature of the rings. Though, I could be convinced. I think the best option is that Celebrimbor would reveal some Ring-lore or that he himself would learn of it after taking what he could from Sauron and perfecting his own art in making the Three.
It can't be purchased and he's never had it for sale but there are many websites that host it, archive.org being one. I recommend just doing a google search for links and there will be many available!
I always assumed that it was because that's where the ring was forged. The fires used to forge and shape the ring would also be capable of unmaking it.
You aren't wrong, Coyote. This is an explanation I offer in the video but I have also assumed that your common person in Middle-earth unaware of the creation of such things might not know this.
As good an explanation as any james. It's certainly possible that when Sauron put on the One Ring that the Elves became aware of much more than he wanted them to. After all, they did understand him completely in that moment, his desire to dominate them.
Another, more direct, explanation: Elrond (or some of his scouts) found the forge where Sauron made the One while investigating Mordor after Isildur defeated Sauron.
I suspect one of the Valar could destroy the ring, but you never know, Sauron may have incorporated magic into it, so that it was liken to the earth, hence why only the fires of where it came could destroy in. If Sauron had created the ring, so that it could only be destroyed by mount doom, then it goes to show that Sauron had a deep knowledge of the lore of arda and was indeed practically peerless amongst the race of the maiar when it came to knowledge craft and skill. Sauron’s defection to Morgoth, must have been a dear blow to the Valar. His feats as a dark lord where impressive.
While he could not conceive of any mortal possessing the ring of destroying it, it is interesting that he set a such a watch on the fence of Mordor. Why else would anyone want to go into the black land? The Main Elven Players were all around when the ring was made and taken from Sauron, they would know the most about it and its lore.
A lot of those fortifications used to 'defend' Mordor were built by its enemies and were merely being occupied. I suppose it's more of a perception of ever lasting vigilance. Mordor is always watching and always on guard, restless.
8:17 I think I've found a contradiction regarding Sauron beliefs about the One Ring. Here Gandalf says that Sauron thought that the elves destroyed it but in the letter 131 Tolkien said that Sauron thought it's impossible for anybody to willingly destroy the One: "Also so great was the Ring's power of lust, that anyone who used it became mastered by it; it was beyond the strength of any will (even his own) to injure it, cast it away, or neglect it."
Two points: 1) although Tolkien strove to present a self-consistent universe, he didn't always succeed, and he certainly changed his mind a lot over the course of nearly 70 years of writing about Ëa. On minor and major things. 2) Perhaps the key is in "anyone who _used_ it". Just picking it up - or even taking the whole dead body of Sauron and chucking that into the flames, ring, armour and all, might have been feasible.
Yes, this was (or is) going to be covered in my inconsistencies series. I think there are ways to explain it away. Maybe not the most exciting explanations but I think it's simply a matter of when these statements are relevant. Sauron's mind wasn't set in stone throughout his whole time beyond the forging of the rings. He could have easily have believed no one could destroy it after his enemies had years to freely dispose of it and they didn't. If they can't destroy it when the door to Orodruin is open to them, they must not be able to destroy it. Though, it also ties in with Sauron's ego. He grows to assume anyone with power will act as he would and he would never give up such a gift of power. So, others who are wise and hold power wouldn't either...
@@TheRedBook Well, it could be an explanation but I'm not sure. The letter says Sauron never considered a possibility that the One Ring can be destroyed. There still seems to be an inconsistency. "There was another weakness: if the One Ring was actually unmade, annihilated, then its power would be dissolved, Sauron's own being would be diminished to vanishing point, and he would be reduced to a shadow, a mere memory of malicious will. But that he never contemplated nor feared."
Absolutely and there's also another quote from "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age" where it seems like Orcs are searching the Gladden Fields for the ring at a time when Sauron would have thought it was destroyed. Though, that could be put down to editorial decisions by Christopher. I think I will cover this in an inconsistency video and there's a good chance it is one.
The One Ring was destroyed by the will of Eru, but that may just be a matter of speaking rather than a real contradiction. After all, people would get tired of say things such as, "This is impossible, except if done by Eru", so the qualifying clause is implicitly understood even when not spoken. There is one being per Gandalf who could neglect or cast away the One Ring, that of course being Tom Bombadil. Bombadil could have easily pitched the One Ring into the Fires of Orodruin (neglecting the problems of getting both him and it to Sammath Naur) the same way he might toss an apple core into the compost heap.
I wonder if Gandalf was the source of all The Wises' knowledge of the Ring. Perhaps Manwe received knowledge from Eru Iluvatar concerning the Ring and Gandalf spoke it to the White Council and they all believed. I would be surprised if Saruman had revealed the weakness of the One Ring.
Well, even if Saruman did reveal the weaknesses of the One Ring (which is an interesting idea), he is much the same as Sauron in that he wouldn't think they'd actually destroy it if it was found. Those with power and the mindset of Sauron and Saruman believe that those with wisdom and power will wield the ring and not destroy it.
It does say that Saruman was the “expert” when it came to ring-lore among the wise. He set out originally (like Gandalf) to find as much information as possible in order to stop Sauron, but being (like his opponent) a Maiar of Aulë, he eventually started to respect the craftsmanship and even went as far as to trying to make his own rings. He refers to himself in boast as the “ring maker”. A lot of what Gandalf knew about the rings of power came from Saruman before he was corrupted. Saruman’s ring would be a great topic for a future video! 👍🏻
I believe 'ruin' translates as burning red, or fiery red. So, mountain of burning red or mountain of fiery red. It's certainly a clever play on words though with how it all works out :D
I was quite late to this one but I really enjoyed it personally I like to think it’s something to do with the type of magic used to create the one in mount doom as apposed to it being really hot the hottest place in middle earth but I just like to think that
It can be said that "magical" items, including the One Ring, were objects that contained, channeled and focused willpower. Destroying the ring definitely involved having the will to cast it away into the place of its making. And as the ring came closer to its place of origin, the will of Sauron within it became more powerful, so again, one wishing to destroy it had to have very strong willpower, indeed. I think it's all part of how everyone in these stories had wants and goals and the will to make those things happen. So many times we see people fighting will against will. There were those who had evil desires and great willpower to set things into motion and those who were good who had to bolster their willpower to wrestle against the evil ones. Will against will. Do you have the will to see things through to a better end and to be part of making those things come about? So many times while reading these stories, I've felt the weight of the evil will that the good characters struggled against. It's one of the main reasons I reread these books, I think even more so than just because of the adventure. Even though I know what's going to happen, I still feel the struggle of our heroes within me, almost as if I am urging and helping them to get through the horrible things they are going through.
Anything can be unmade when time is reversed. What could make, must also destroy the same. In other words, creation or destruction depends on your temporal perspective. It's sort of a law of nature, of logic. If you reverse time on matter, you have anti-matter for example. But it also applies to intuition and the "gut feeling" of the wise in Arda, that it's just logically sound to assume if you reverse the creation of something, you facilitate its destruction. That's where they had this information - pure and raw intuition.
I am of the firm believe that Aule could unmake the ring. His "smithcraft" is arguably greater than Sauron's and Tolkien does say that it would take that to unmake it. It could even be argued that someone like Feanor could make a go of it, though he'd probably claim it lol. As for making a greater ring, that's possible too, though Aule wouldn't do that. It's probably a good idea for a video about the One Ring, tying it to Aule.
@@TheRedBook It seems a reasonable assumption that Sauron's first boss would have greater smith craft than his underling, and of course Aulë has greater inherent power.
Objects containing a part of someone existed before The Lord of the Rings but I think she was influenced by it - just as other aspects of the story influenced her. She claimed not to have read it until she was on her 3rd book - but if I remember correctly, all the Horcrux stuff doesn't appear in the first couple of HP books?
I'm pretty sure LOTR states that as it was forged there, that was the only place it could be destroyed. It of course was well known that Sauron was a mighty sorcerer. AND there's a fiery mountain in his land. Not too hard to guess.
I wonder rather why Sauron decided to magically/mystically infuse the “greater part of his essence” into an object that could conceivably be separated from him or even destroyed. I realize, of course, that the One Ring was created to deceive the elves and those others who accepted the various rings of Power from Celebrimbor and Annatar. In this way, Sauron’s master ring would give him control over and knowledge of all who wore the other rings. Yes, by controlling the acts of those who wore the other rings, he could extend his will to dominate the peoples who were governed by the Ring Wearers (elves, dwarves, men). But the elves took their three rings off immediately and the dwarves proved resistant to the rings they were given, so that plan of Sauron’s flopped a bit. Men who wore the rings, of course, proved quite maneuverable (becoming Nazgul and turning their armies toward evil.) Still, that doesn’t explain why he actually infused the greater portion of his being into the One Ring. Did sequestering this predominant essence in a separate talisman he wore actually increase his power? Why would that increase his power if he already possessed that native strength in his own essence? Why split it up, when there was a chance that the ring might, hypothetically, be taken from him (as it was), thus diminishing his personal power, or at least complicating the use of his full native power? It would also appear that Sauron, even as he rose again and began to take shape after the Last Alliance, believed he could still attain great strength (and even a physical form) once again *without* his ring, for it’s clear that he assumed the ring had been destroyed by the elves of the Last Alliance. It seems odd that he was not astonished that he could survive and grow again even with his ring destroyed. Yet he clearly felt compelled to recreate himself while believing the Ring was destroyed, and that the elves presumably knew how to destroy it, until he discerned that the ring had actually survived and he began looking for it. Perhaps there are thematic parallels with Morgoth’s Ring, i.e. the fabric of the very earth, but Sauron’s “Precious” was a talisman, not an entire world. It seems a bit inconsistent for Tolkien to have written in one of his commentaries that Sauron remade himself thinking that his enemies had indeed destroyed the ring after the war of the Last Alliance, and yet in the books, it is made clear that one of the key plot points centers upon the Wise in their belief that Sauron (in his arrogance) could never even imagine anyone actually destroying the ring, thus allowing Frodo and Sam to sneak it into Mount Doom. Sauron did not conceive of this strategy. He thought one of the Wise would use it against him. Perhaps the Wise, collectively, deduced more about Sauron’s ring than Sauron knew himself (which seems unlikely) because it remains a tiny “plot curiosity.” Why store the greater portion of his power in the ring, beyond the need to control other ring-bearers? Why was did he not realize the ring had survived from the start when he began to renew himself? Why did he think no one would dare attempt to destroy the ring when he already assumed it had been destroyed after the Last Alliance. Perhaps all of this tells us that Tolkien believed Sauron *could* eventually find a way to come back even with the one ring destroyed. #RiddlesInTheDark
That always struck me as a bit strange that Sauron thought that the one ring was destroyed, one can wonder if he then knew what would happen if it was destroyed? Gandalf stated that only one power knew everything about the rings of power, i always took for granted he ment Sauron.
It's pretty much what I say in the video, many seem to think Sauron knew everything about the One Ring but why do we assume he would know what would happen if it was unmade? Wouldn't it be possible that some would think the power would return to him? We look in hindsight and wonder why figures acted in certain ways instead of realising none of them are infallible.
@@TheRedBook one mathematic asumtion could realy be that Sauron already lost some of his power making the one ring and would regain it by getting it back but why would he loose himself more by it being destroyed...its not something clearly logic and i agree with you that without hignsight nothing is totaly clear. Even though the wise seemed to pretict the outcome.
@@jimbombadill - His relationship with the ring is not entirely spelt out in LotR but is clearer in Letters. He wasn't diminished through making the ring - actually becoming enhanced if he held the ring. If it wasn't in his possession,he wasn't diminished but didn't benefit from its power. To become diminished, Sauron would need to lose his authority over the ring (someone else mastering it) or the ring would have to be unmade.
@@TheRedBook i always thought Gandalf said something about Sauron putting alot of his power into the ring when making it and that he from that was kind of"half" loosing it?
What confuses me is how Sauron can add his power into a ring and that makes him more powerful? Using Earth physics he would really be more likely to lose a little power by transferring it into a ring and then wielding it.
Anything he put into the ring he had in himself prior, unless his power is instantly regained, which would beg the question of why not make multiple rings.
It's a good question and it is going to be one of my videos in this series on the One Ring. I will answer how the ring works for Sauron and how he can make a ring with his own natural power but somehow gain more power. It will be a video on this channel :)
Considering Ungoliant was able to devour exceptionally powerful and unique creations of the Valar, I think she would have been able to devour the One Ring. Either that or it would have been "within her" unobtainable by anyone else.
Finally someone brings up the fact that magic in the legendarium is mainly just a higher form of craft or understanding of how things work. 🙄🙄 it's like a matter of the knowledge of the essence of something. A lot of people who've only seen the movies and only read a few of the books tend to think that the istari are full on MAGIC USERS like in Harry Potter or other such media. Its referred to as magic in the books because normal everyday humans and hobbits and such dont understand it at all. It's also why I think personally on a magic to magic duel someone like Dumbledore from Harry Potter might actually have a fair chance about magically subduing someone like gandalf. However that doesnt mean hed win. Gandalf again is a way better fighter and strategist.
It's there for all to see in the story itself. Just look at how Gandalf reacts when Legolas asks him to perform what is essentially magic, or how Galadriel reacts to Sam speaking of her magic. The Elves of Lothlorien also get confused when the cloaks are called magic. They don't know what is meant by it. I have always planned a video on magic and sorcery but I held off since another channel made a series out of it. I will do it though.
I would love to know how Tolkien would have responded to questions regarding relative power of figures from different legendarium's, or modern real world items (e.g., would an atomic bomb destroy Sauron?). My suspicion is his answer would have been along the lines of, "How many Angels can dance on the head of a pin?".
A question I’ve had for quite a while: How did Gollum know the Ring could be destroyed in Orodruin? “One mustn’t go that way. One mustn’t hurt the Precious!” He wasn’t one of the Wise, and it makes no sense that Sauron or Gandalf would have told him. Was the Ring itself speaking to him for self-preservation?
Good point Brad but surely this could be down to the mission of his 'master' ? He's been with Frodo and Sam for a while, he will know their quest, they will have talked about it, even in whispers amongst themselves without thinking Gollum would listen. They are going to Mordor and he is their guide. Smeagol isn't stupid, he could probably work out that they were intending to bring harm to it. Just my immediate thoughts on that but I will think on it some more :D
@@istari0 Frodo hearing the occasional almost inaudible footstep behind the company indicates that Gollum followed them part-way through Moria. Gollum entered Moria in August 3018 T.A., while the Fellowship entered on January 13, 2019 T.A. Whether Gollum was attracted by the One Ring, or came across hobbit scent while hunting for food is unknown.
@@tominiowa2513 I could well be wrong but I thought I remembered reading someplace that Gollum entered Moria from the east and made it all the way to the western doors but did not know how to open them. Consequently, he was there when the Fellowship entered Moria.
@@istari0 Correct, but did Gollum hang around at the western entrance hall, or did he leave that area to look for food, then encounter evidence of the Fellowship further to the east? Tolkien does not state either way. The most probable is that Gollum first starts trailing the Fellowship just before Frodo starts hearing his footsteps.
If Sauron took shape again in the 3rd age why would he assume the Ring was destroyed? Did he not know he would be rendered impotent if it was destroyed?
If it's not about physics, then how can magma melt it? I keep thinking about how Feanor created 'Silima', the crystalline(?) substance that contained the light of the Trees. it was said to be the hardest material ever crafted in Arda. To the point where the one Silmaril that ended up buried in a fiery chasm, not unlike what we find in Mordor, the one that Maedhros stole, has been foretold would survive until the end of Arda. I also wonder if Aulë could have been able to unmake the One Ring. He was, after all, superior in essence and lore and skill to his one time servant Mairon. And that is not even considering what we know ourselves nowadays. I'm thinking of nuclear fire, which is far hotter than magma. But you also seem to be inferring that more than just heat was involved; something like particular magnetic conditions prone in locations such as Orodruin...
I said it's "less about the physics" . Something has to be able to physically destroy it but it's not the substance itself that's important. It's the location, the place it was made, the one who made it. That was my point.
@@TheRedBook It doesn't really make sense then. I'm sure you are aware that in in last writings, Tolkien was beginning to revise his earlier conception about his creation myths; such as those about the Sun and Moon, stating (I paraphrase) that 'we can't expect people, in this day and age, and with the knowledge readily available, to believe the Sun and Moon came from fruit and leaf'. And thus he began to rewrite that particular story, where the Sun (Anar) was lit before the Valar came to Arda. In fact, it became the signal for them to move from their great works throughout EA and focus on the Habitation. Granted, this was published by his son only posthumously. But it does show an evolution in his thinking. I guess my point is that Tolkien, through the Valar, established rules that governed that world. And I'm simply trying to understand what those could be. The One Ring ended up being destroyed without Sauron's presence or direct intervention, which seem to indicate his conscious will was not required in the matter - only the location. And said location was remarkable only by the fact that it was a volcano; something of a rare occurrence in Middle Earth one gathers. The closest, geographically, to where Sauron's main enemies were concentrated. No special tools or spells were needed by the hobbits (or Isildur before them); just an object dropped in lava.
@@grallonsphere271 Yes, Tolkien started revising matters but never got that far. Barring yet more unreleased writings, what the final form of these revisions would have been is unknowable. I do think it is quite clear that Mount Doom was much more than your typical volcano. It was created by Morgoth and Sauron chose it as his forge for a reason and then did some mighty works there.
The Wisdom of the Wise. Is this wisdom why no other members of the White Council questioned how Saruman could "know" that the One Ring had been washed out to sea by the Anduin?
@@TheRedBook But not wishing to quarrel with Saruman or incite him to wrath would not prevent the other members of the White Council silently questioning in their own minds. So it appears that they believed that Saruman has the wisdom to see the fate of the One Ring even in the absence of physical evidence.
I think I'll manage to keep doing my Monday videos. I don't want to push for two a week but I'm doing ok if I manage one. Well, maybe if the topics are interesting for people.
If we are forgetting about willingly destroying it and just talking of smithcraft ability, then yes, he'd be one of very very few figures with a smithcraft greater than Sauron's. in fact, he may be only 1 of 2 figures, the other being Aulë. Though, I'd say neither would for different reasons.
Power is EaSy to destroy, all you have to do is not desire power, and not try to use the methods of the powerful to destroy what they desire; "you cannot bring down the Master's house using his tools." Ok, now hop to it you Hobbits.
The Elves would know how the One Ring could be destroyed because the Elves know how and where and by whom it was made. They know these things because it was Celebrimbor who made the three Elven rings, and taught Sauron how to craft the others. This analysis in this video is overly complicated.
You are wrong. The Three Rings were made before the One but after the other 16. Thinking Celebrimbor taught Sauron is 100% incorrect.Celebrimbor was able to craft the Three because of Sauron's knowledge, that's one reason why they are subject to it. It's all there in Tolkien's text. I can see why it may seem overly complicated if the viewer has the wrong information going into it.
I really like your content, but have you considered starting your videos by yelling "what's up youtube, it's your boy" and then telling us about some shitty mobile game? No? Perfect, thank you.
No one has offered me a big sack with a $ on it yet, so I haven't had to consider it. I'd like to think I'd say no though! I have attempted an introduction where I say the same thing each time. I hated it and have never added it to any of my videos. Doesn't seem to be my thing :D
@@TheRedBook If/when you're offered a sponsorship, you take that with both hands. I was just making a joke, but you do excellent work and you ought to be paid for it. If/when you start having sponsorship spots, it wouldn't turn me off a bit. But please, don't yell.
Haha I knew you were joking as well. I hate those shouting ads too. I tend to just turn the video off. I also hate it when someone stops their video 2 minutes in to talk about their sponsor for 3 minutes.
It is always so pleasant to see how much personal analasys and deep thought lies behind your videos. And I can't but mention that your choise of artworks is exceptional, most of them are my favourites. Huge thank you for such unique content!
Hello, a good opportunity to say thanks for supporting the channel :D .
And, you have no idea how long it takes me to pick the artwork. I've sat for hours picking artwork for some videos because I have to really like it myself to put it in the video!
@@TheRedBook At the moment, your channel is my favourite one among the ones developing the subject of Tolkien's works: every video immerses me in thought for the whole day if not more. So, I am definetely glad to support it! Regarding the artworks - that's noticeable :) I've spent years collecting them and still find new ones in your videos. I really appriciate how much effort you put into it.
That's great to hear :D!
And i like collecting as well. I have some of my favourites framed as well and plan on more.
Thanks again for the comment!
It never struck me as strange. The leader of the Istari was Saruman, knowledgeable in ring-lore and himself a Maia of Aulë, and Aulë would certainly have a few hot (ha) tips on how to deal with Sauron's skills and sorceries, which in part came from him. And, as you said, there was Celebrimbor and possibly other Noldor remnants with incredible knowledge of smithcraft and ring-making.
The destruction of the ring follows a simple principle to grasp: you need a destructive power of a nature surpassing Sauron's; Ancalagon may have been a humongous monster capable of toppling mountains, but he's still a secondary creation of Melkor, which would make him a far lesser being than one of the Ainur. It's possible that this is a generally known fact about this category of artifact, and all the Wise needed was to sit down and figure out where primeval or "Valar-level" destructive power remained. A very short list, to be sure.
Another insightful roam among Maggot's mushrooms!
Again, floored by your knowledge and understanding of the substance of Tolkien's works and with none of the "modernity" that has seemingly crept into other deep dives of the Lore.
I, personally, appreciate the respect you give to the material as well as the time and care you obviously put into these.
Hi Lucius, thanks for the positive response to the video. The One Ring is something I have been fascinated with almost as much as the figures of Sauron, Melkor, or even the Valar. A lot of people just gloss over the so-called 'mechanics' of it and I like exploring it a bit more. There will be more One Ring content to come.
The time and care is worth it. Even if it restricts some other pursuits. I think it's fun to make these, despite a few comments here and there saying I have no life. I enjoy discussing Tolkien daily, so it's enjoyable despite being time consuming!
@@TheRedBook I could, as well. Not with the "Who's power level is over 9000", but real, substantive discussions of the the type Tolkien wished us to have. The nature of corruption, how Evil causes it's own end, how Good is quantifiable in it's measures of Mercy.
You're a serious person with serious insights.
Not that Tolkien isn't equally, if not greater, in his love for Joy, simplicity, family, mirth, hearth and Home, but even joyful, simple subjects can be taken with a measure of grounding which your videos represent and it is appreciated!
I can't stand that stuff either Though I always say that every type of content has its audience. I just personally don't get the "Who would win?" stuff or talks of power levels. There's a lot to discuss, more than just what happened and who it happened to...
@@TheRedBook Absolutely. Tolkien casts a wide enough net so that even discussions of that sort have their audience and that's ok. To each his own with zero judgment.
It's just nice to have discussions that appeal to these aspects with these parameters.
Gosh, I do believe that Tolkien would be far more fascinated with the conversational landmines of modern internet warfare that breeds societal consequences into the act of commenting on public forums than with the longevity of his works.
@@Looshmal - You're not kidding. The longest comment chains on my videos are all about everything except Tolkien. There's one going on now about "cultural marxism" whatever that is. What does a man need to do to just get some Tolkien discussions going
Said it before and I’ll say it again, this is the absolute best LOTR mythology channel on UA-cam
Thanks :D and I like the use of the word mythology as well there. I'd much rather be called that than a lore channel...I don't know why that bothers me so much
@@TheRedBook I think it might bother you because lore generally refers to actual events or people. Like Babylonian lore, or Greek lore. Mythology refers to fictional events and characters, such as what your excellent channel is about.
Best I can come up with man lol
Interesting, I never understood it that way. The way magic works in Tolkien's work, a person puts part of his or her soul, his or her will, into the object to give it strength. It's a very personal bond, obtained while forging it or creating it. Elven items are not magic because someone put a spell on it, they are magic because they are elven. Elves create a bond with the object while creating it and that bond implies part of their selfs.
Sauron did the same thing. He put all his will, his self, into the ring while creating it, that way he created a powerful bond. However, there are three parts in that process: The object, the person who puts his or her will, and the place where he or she does it. The place is very important, when you do something so personal, so powerful, the place where you do it is a very important part of it.
So, destroying the ring was impossible because it had too much of Sauron and he couldn't be actually destroyed. However, you could break the bond between the ring and Sauron, and the way to do it was to bring it back to the place where it was created and go backwards: Instead of forging it, melt it. That way you are effectively unmaking the bond, and then the ring would could be destroyed.
I always thought it made sense but now it seems that Tolkien didn't notice T.T
Great comment Alfonso. I don't really disagree with you, even if I didn't cover some of these points. Your first point about a person putting a part of his or hell will into an object is an idea I completely agree with. It certainly explains how certain works of art cannot be replicated even upon their destruction. I first thought of this idea with the Silmarils but later attributed it also to the One Ring and other Rings of Power.
So, I still think all your ideas there make sense and I agree with you.
@@TheRedBook Wow, that feels like an honor coming from someone so versed in the lore as you, thanks.
Not at all. I'm always interested in discussions. I have never considered my word the final say or anything, these are my interpretations and thoughts a lot of the time. It's always good to read other peoples as well.
It never occurred to me before that Elven smiths did the same (or a similar) thing when creating their "magical" artifacts. Does that imply that swords like Sting and Glamdring might contain part of someone's soul? And would they have been more powerful in or near Gondolin?
@@Disgruntled_Dave I may be wrong but to me it seems like Tolkien tries to not use the word "soul" too much in this context, he prefers "will". Call it like you want, but yes, I always thought that those swords contain part of the people who created them.
I am not sure if their power would be stronger in Gondolin. It seems to make sense but I fail to remember some moment in the books where Tolkien mentioned items that lost their powers out of age or distance. Maybe. We know that the one ring didn't lost any power, but then again, Sauron was alive, the creators of those items would probably be with Mandos.
I would love to see a video exploring magical places in Middle Earth. The locations that seem to have a power of their own; like valley of Imladris, the lake in Dorthonion where Beren resided for a while, the Old Forest and maybe even the Shire itself.
Good idea Yael. I'll make a note of that. Power doesn't just reside in a person and the examples you have given are all different in their own ways.
@@TheRedBook and how could I forget Amon Lhaw and Amon Hen! Is it the place, or is it the seats, that allow for the far off visions and … echos (??)?
@@TheRedBook there's also the places elves lived for long periods,Ike Hollin and Gondolin, Nargothrond etc. In the Fellowship of the Ring Gandalf talks about Hollin as does Legolas.
The first of many videos focused completely on the One Ring (they won't all be posted in a row). Have you ever wondered how it was known where to unmake the ring? Do you have any questions you have thought about over the years related to the One Ring?
I hope you enjoyed this video! As always, check out the community posts in the next few days for updates about what is coming next on the channel.
If you want to get involved in helping to decide on interesting topics to cover or if you want early access to videos, consider joining the channel - ua-cam.com/play/UUMOPOz2P0OxWp0ij0K4BsLsRw.html
I’d love to watch a video that explores your thoughts on HOW the rings of power are made. Would like to hear your metaphysical / philosophical / spiritual thoughts on the topic. And is there a parallel to this in the “real” world in your opinion?
@@spencerarnot - One user has asked me to do something similar for the Three Rings specifically. I've thought about it before and it would involve talking about other objects, such as the Silmarils. I'll add this to the big "Rings of Power ideas" list
I've always just assumed Celebrimbor knew how and that he shared the knowledge with other Elves before being captured, which you stated as well in this video.
What I am still curious about is whether the Ring could have been destroyed by a different volcano (if another one had been accessible) or if it had to be Orodruin even if there was an equivalent source of heat elsewhere. I'm leaning toward Orodruin alone due to its connection to the Ring's creation, but when Gandalf mentions dragons being able to melt the other rings of power, that kind of makes it sound like it was simply a matter of their fire not being hot enough.
@@Disgruntled_Dave - Another user brought up this point too. I still put it down to the close link between Mount Doom. Sauron, Melkor, and the ring. Mount Doom is THE place. It was made there and will be unmade there. How many other fire mountains do we know of in Middle-earth?
I think with the Dragon comment, it speaks of the vast difference between the Great Rings of Power and the Ruling Ring. They can be unmade in these other ways but the One is special, unique, and it stands alone. It can't be unmade in that way.
Is there a certain tier you have to be in order to get the video early or just be a member?
Also do you believe its a bit strange that Sauron believed the one ring was destroyed after the war of the last alliance but in the third age he clearly believes that no one would actually be able to destroy the ring and have the strength to overcome the rings power and cast in the fire, or maybe the fact that they didn't destroy earlier just reinforced his belief that no one was strong enough to destroy it? Have a great day
"The Wise speak only of what they know." An excellently produced video
Thank you very much Drew :)
Thank you so much for your wonderful erudite commentaries on Tolkien’s brilliant imaginings - your 3-part demolition of the Sauron’s confusing character have been my absolute favourites! This was a wonderful addition. The warm voice and accent don’t hurt either!
Thanks Michele, I'm surprised that the Sauron series is someone's favourite. It's certainly my least favourite! But knowing people do enjoy it makes it worthwhile.
@@TheRedBook - having read the original article, which was annoyingly ignorant of Tolkien’s writing, made your commentaries supremely satisfying!
Great stuff as usual. And in true Tolkienian fashion you slipped in hints of other fascinating stuff (the nature of “the Wise”) without going into too much detail. ;)
Thanks, man. And yes, I'm always worried ill get side tracked and talk for 10 minutes about something unrelated. I always make a note to cover it in its own video. The wise and their nature deserves its own video imo.
I just found out this channel. The content seems good. I love a good analysis about the more obscure parts of the lore.
Thanks! I do aim to try and offer something a little bit different to most (not all) of the Tolkien channels on UA-cam. Glad it appeals to you!
I've wondered before if there weren't any other Volcano, the wise knew about, really it would have to be a constantly "open" volcano which I suppose is pretty rare. The real reason seemed clear enough - narratively speaking (and particularly as Tolkien's Catholic) - ultimate evil can only be unmade by confronting it right into it's home, and resisting it at great personal sacrifice. Maybe Gandalf understood that intuitively, but it's good there is some foundation for practical reason within the Lore - but generally, I think we all take Gandalf at his word. :)
Good point Magus. There is certainly a magical & mythical aspect when it comes to unmaking evil where it was made. The idea of other Fire Mountains being places where it could be unmade is interesting but Middle-earth was also severely lacking in such places. What if it wouldn't work? The unmaking in the place of making solution just seems to make much more sense.
This is a very good insight and such is true poetry when weaved into lines of poetry. This helped give me greater perspective on things I am confronting in my own life of late. Thank you and God bless you, through Our Blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Very glad you enjoyed the video and that it's helping you in such a way. Thanks :)
@@TheRedBook True, it'd likely be a lot safer to try it, but could they even retrieve it again if it was just sitting in there? Not unless someone has power equivalent to "the force", or Gandalf (with his fire ring) can do something. No, it'd probably be the same deal as tossing it into the ocean, there would always be a Sauron to contend with, even if you could beat him back again and again. So either Mt. Doom was literally "the Hottest place on Earth", or it's more about the journey, the sacrifice and the will to complete the task that's instrumental to success.
Funnily enough I think it's probably both. I do think Mount Doom would be the hottest accessible place in the world but also that it is a place of special significance. I side more with the latter though. I think it fits more in with the idea of myth and legend that mechanics!
One of the best Tolkien Lore channels. I’ll never find this universe not fascinating. Would love to see a video on the races of evil, especially the Olag Hai
Thanks! And I have quite a few videos on the evil beings - they probably outnumber the good characters in my video! But there will be plenty more about Orcs, Trolls, Ringwraiths, etc.
Love your channel dude. Would love to see a video on the spirit of caradhras. Such an enigma in the legendarium
Cheers, and that would be a good video I think. Some theories behind the spirit of the mountain.
This channel just hits the spot! Such a gem.
😁cheers!
The prefix "Of" is a masterstroke of titular gravitas for this sub-series. Your channel's rapidly expanding viewership is testimony to your establishment as one of YT's most original and engaging Tolkien scholars.
Nice to have you back once again :) . Thanks a lot, and I'm glad the video titles appeal in this way. I'm always worried that it won't actually get across what I'm talking about. I could offer far more direct video titles or even clickbait ones (like someone accused me of with the Ancalagon video :D ) but I like the Legendarium series being reminiscent of The Silmarillion chapters.
I'm really begin to love this channel, and the deeper questions it addresses about Tolkien's work. I don't need another video about "WHO WERE THE NINE?" Keep it up!
Can I just give you my highest compliments, you have very quickly become my favourite youtuber on this topic and that is because when I watch your videos I feel the closest I can to what tolkien imagined and what brought on those imaginations etc... it's an angle I've not seen on the topic before to this degree and can see the main youtubers of this topic are already following your good work and reproducing it themselves to a degree. Well done for bringing up the standard!
Kind words Elendil. It's always flattering to hear that my own thoughts on Tolkien can spark thought and discussion in this way. Thanks!
As for others following and reproducing it. If you mean they are choosing to look a bit deeper than the surface and offer their own thoughts instead of just facts, then that is of course great and I welcome that.
If you are talking about style/look/ideas, I know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but I hate it to be honest. I don't want any others to imitate at all. I want every channel to be unique in their own way with their own identity. I've taken time to work out what style I'd like, with some trial and error. It's too easy for others to come along and just use it themselves. But those are just my thoughts on the matter!
Superb content, really enjoying this.
cool video it was very interesting and i thoroughly enjoyed The Red Book looking forward to you next vid
👍 Thanks, Jamie. Glad you liked it!
Nice work dude thanks
I look forward to this series and will definitely be tuning in for its next installment.
✌
Thanks a lot :) the next installment should be available on Monday!
@@TheRedBook
Jolly good, I be watching.👍
You sound so good I love your voice in this one 🥰
Now its clear why Saruman's title is the Wise.
These videos prove time and again that I know so little about Tolkien's universe
Been hanging for this all week 👍
I hope it was enjoyable!
Have you considered doing a video discussing the differences between Sauron and Melkor? Their different tactics, their different end goals for Arda? Also do you think any part of Sauron's end game was to retrieve Melkor from the void and release him, or do you think he was happy with doing things his way? I think the fact that they have different styles and goals is very interesting. Thank you and have a good day
I don't have a plan for a direct comparison video but I think their motives will come out over other videos. My Morgoth's Ring video covered a lot of Melkor's motives, as will my upcoming video. I have a few planned for Sauron, what he wanted, his vision for Middle-earth, etc. I will always have plenty of Morgoth and Sauron content :)
Your videos are fantastically researched and created with the art and disciple of an elf.
Did Tolkien say anything in the lore about whether Sauron regretted releasing Gollum?
Excellent analysis & explanation as always. Yup I think it's important to remember that Mount Doom, while volcano-like, isn't a volcano as understood today. Likewise the mountains of Arda and the mechanics behind their creation, in fact it might be an interesting topic to explore the geography & physics of Arda & Middle Earth, maybe. A decent forge could easily meet and exceed to temperatures inside a volcano at the surface; it was more about the "type" of fire within Mt Doom. On a side-note, it could be argued that the "Nameless Things" were a necessary part of the geographic processes of Arda, created at the beginning as a by-product of the music, seeing as there were no tectonics etc esp on a flat plane before the fall of Numenor. Anyway cheers for the vid, keep em coming :)
Yes, it is always called a Fire Mountain or Mountain of Fire, not synonymous with a volcano! Interesting thought about the Nameless Things. Despite their unsettling nature, they could be as valid a part of the world as other beings of evil. Some purpose we can't understand.
I'd like to explore the geography a bit more. I think Mordor is a good place to start with that as well. Or Tolkien's later thoughts about the Changing of the World as a myth.
I have always understood the process (and you said it twice) was that the ring could not be destroyed, it could only be "unmade". Sauron put his essence into the ring as it was being forged within Mt Doom. Therefore, it could only be unmade at the source of its creation. Because of the ring's power, Sauron could not imagine anyone intentionally destroying it, but rather claiming it and using it to fight him. He knew that would lead to their downfall and his getting the ring back.
It's really interesting that Sauron originally thought the elves destroyed the ring. Shows that not even Sauron knew that destroying the ring would destroy him. Makes even more sense why he didn't guard mount doom like "plot hole" people say. (Even though the fact that the ring is a force of absolute corruption was reason enough to presume no one would think of destroying it)
suggestion for a Halloween video: two worlds, the Seen and the Unseen -- the Spirit world of the Fea, where Ringbearer's Hroa go when they vanish. Beings physically in the Spirit world (Frodo wearing the Ring, and the Ringwraiths, for instance) can perceive the Material world dimly if at all ("our shapes throw shadows on their minds, " Gandalf said of the wraiths). Elves of Valinor (Glorfindel, for instance) exist physically in both worlds at once ("against both the Seen and the Unseen he has great power"), and so might potentially be able to clearly see Frodo when he's wearing the Ring. When Frodo's physical body is transported to the Spirit world, the Ringwraiths can also see him clearly "and might have seized him", implying that they normally might not have been able to do so. Speculation about enchanted weapons and clothing which allow the Ringwraiths to interact with things in the Material world (their black raiment, the Morgul dagger, etc), While in the Spirit world Frodo can see Glorfindel's true form, his Fea, a shining figure of light, while the figures of others of his Company are barely-seen shadows.
Great stuff as always 👍
👍 Thank you !
I really like your talks and find them well paced, thoughtful and insightful. First time I’ve posted though, so be gentle. I can’t really accept that Sauron didn’t know if the ring had been destroyed , or assumed it had been. Surely , he would have known instinctively if it had? It is an inate part of him and he of it.
Thanks, Derek. I appreciate that. And don't worry about about leaving comments, even if they are disagreeing or questioning what I have said. If people voice opinions or thoughts without being aggressive then it's all good.
Your point about Sauron is valid. It's something that Tolkien didn't explain beyond Gandalf's comment and it's a strange comment for him to make. But I think the problem here is that we attribute certain knowledge to Sauron in hindsight. We suspect he'd know the ring was destroyed when it was because it's a part of him. The thing is, he does experience this when it is actually destroyed. So you are right but...how do we know what he'd think before that happened? As he was taking shape again, he'd perhaps suspect it was gone and think he was fully capable of returning to shape without it. It's only when it finally happens that he realises just how wrong he was and just how much of his power he placed in it. All his questions were answered when it was destroyed.
So, I agree that he would instinctively know when it was unmade but he (like many others do) made mistakes. He assumed it had been destroyed without knowing just how bad it would go for him if it really had been destroyed. The folly of evil thinking it's the greatest thing in the world. Sauron believing that even with the ring gone he was still as great. Only realising that would never be the case once it was really gone...
It's something I'll maybe clear up (or hope to) in a future inconsistencies video on the channel.
I agree that Tolkien should have cleared this up as it is quite confusing. He even has Gandalf later say that Sauron would not dream of anyone destroying it...which I can kind of explain...
This channel is criminally undersubscribed! While it is nice to have a small community of fine people and easier access to the creator, it will help to have more subs so even more content can be made. Here's to even more success in the future! 😎 Btw, I think a discussion about whether or not Orcs could possibly be redeemed and live honest and honorable lives would be very interesting! Take care, sir! 🙂
Thanks. Well, only a few weeks ago I had about 1500 subs and it crossed 7000 today, so there has been some good growth lately. Still a way off being any sort of big channel though!
And yes, I like the Orc idea. I have several videos I want to do about redeemability. I've had Feanor covered and have ideas about Morgoth and Sauron. The Orcs deserve a video too.
@@TheRedBook Thanks for replying! Looking forward to your future work! No rush! 😉 Take care! 😎
8:14 This is the most clear contradiction of the LOTR movies. The ring was perceived as "the weapon of the enemy", not "His life force was bound to the ring and the ring survived." So Gandalf thinks that Sauron could have returned even if the ring would have been destroyed. It's not clear if Sauron returning knew the ring was not unmade.
The part in the book in the council of Elrond where they say they don't know what will happen if the ring is destroyed is directed mostly to what will happen to the 3 elven rings. It's not explicit that Sauron would not be affected by the destruction of the one ring, but it's implied that his life is not bound to the ring.
This is the most important difference between the movies and the books, since the journey was done to destroy the weapon of the enemy, and not Sauron himself.
That's a good point. In the books they do talk about Sauron becoming maimed, unable to do further harm. It's never about destroying Sauron. I do get that impression from the movies that it's about killing the Dark Lord and not just defeating him. Hadn't thought about that before...
@@TheRedBook Yes, it's from the movie Gandalf's line : "The spirit of Sauron endured. His life force was bound to the ring and the ring survived." This was put in the movie to make the journey seem more impactful for the viewers. But this is understood by the fellowship only at the end of the plot.
Red, I've been gobbling up your posts all weekend. Frankly, they're great. And I apologize for taking the piss about your accent. It takes a Scot to pronounce LOTR names and places with some verisimilitude and I take my hat off to you.
Great Video! Subscribed 😄
Thanks a lot :)
awesome work as always and very helpful, i didn't know at all mount doom had morgoth's touch
👍 Thanks a lot! Glad you took something new away from it!
Amazing content
Just found your account, will gladly be binging for the next 280 hours haha
That's good to hear :D maybe by the time you are finished there will be a new video as well haha
Something arises here that I had not noticed before: IF Sauron believed that the Elves had destroyed the Ring after the Battle of the Last Alliance, there is a strong reason to believe that destruction of the One Ring would not have any meaningful longevity/mortality impact on Sauron himself. If it was destroyed and he yet lived, what would that mean in Sauron's view and mind? Another thing that crossed my mind: maybe the fires of Mt. Doom don't even destroy the ring but send it to someplace from whence it can never be recovered...
I wouldn't say that Dane. I think Sauron's view that it had been destroyed when it hadn't speaks of Sauron's own ego and naivety. He would think he was still great enough to take shape and to enforce his will on the world. He was unaware just how broken he'd be if the ring was taken from him. This is why I say that when the ring was unmade, he would have suffered a tremendous shock, finally realising his folly and just how much of his spirit he placed into this object, never able to recover it again.
@@TheRedBook I thought Sauron couldn't conceive of anyone wanting to destroy the ring of power rather use it, but Gandalf's earlier statement seems to conflict with what he says later. Is it that Isuldur's inaction helped formulate that notion that kept Sauron blind to his own lands, or was it easier to think the Elves and Men would destroy the ring after he was defeated - they were already there at Mt. Doom after all, with no opposition - but it was unthinkable when he was near the height of his power?
@@MagusMarquillin - Yes, I believe so. I think Gandalf is saying that even when Sauron's enemies had the free opportunity to destroy it, they couldn't. Since they couldn't destroy it even when he wasn't around, it must mean they are incapable of destroying it. It fits with Sauron's growing ego about himself. He wouldn't destroy it, why would anyone else? He convinces himself.
@@TheRedBook Also - bear in mind that it takes Sauron "with the Ring" only a year to rebuild himself a physical body and gather a huge army following the Akallabêth. It takes Sauron "without the Ring" over a millennium to rebuild a 'visible' presence in Dol Guldur, and he is weak enough at that point that he is mistaken as one of the Nazgûl to start with. Sauron could have misunderstood his initial weakness in the Third Age as due to the destruction of the Ring, and only later come to realise that it had survived.
@@dlevi67 Númenór fell in S.A. 3319 but Sauron didn't attack Minas Ithil until S.A. 3429 so I suspect it took him longer than that to create a body and certainly longer than that to rebuild his forces.
Thank you, Steven, superb content as always! Very insightful and well thought out. Incidentally, if you think Feanor in his prime would be able to destroy the Ring, do you think Gandalf could have mentioned him, if only as "heroes of old", at some point when he was enumerating the things or beings that could destroy the Ring? That's what I like about Tolkien: you can draw on fact where you know it and speculate based on fact. And there is always some bit of mystery in the end.
If it were the case that these figures could unmake the ring, then absolutely, it could have been added in at the Council of Elrond or in Bag End when Gandalf was speaking of the history of the ring and Frodo's naïve attempts to 'destroy it'.
But we can say that about a lot of things. It would have saved many people many headaches if Tolkien also added one line at the Council of Elrond saying Eagles couldn't fly them to Mordor :D
@@TheRedBook Well I suppose Eagles weren't mentioned just because the Wise knew it was out of the question. Another amazing thing about the Legendarium: there is inner logic, structure, and everything has to be consistent with it.
The case of Eagles is like Tolkien's magic: it's not traditional hocus-pocus but an innate ability, physical, spiritual or artistic, and like any other ability it has its limits.
I agree , yet many seem to think it's some sort of plot hole. I'm delaying an Eagle video as long as I can :D .
@@TheRedBook Maybe you shouldn't make it the principal subject of your video? Discuss the role of the Eagles in the Legendarium in general (birds of Manwe) and address the "plot hole" part on an inter alia basis. In other words, just slip in a sentence or two about the birds of Manwe being your on-call means of transportation making no sense. Would be a lot more fun for you to make, I guess.)
@@annamnatsakanyan4040 That's a good idea but it also fits into the Inconsistencies series since a lot of people falsely claim it is a plot hole. At least I have a video idea if I run out of other ideas :D
Video suggestion: What are the two towers referred to in the title The Two Towers?
I think the only reason I would perhaps not do a video is I think it may be too short. There's an unused cover for that volume drawn by Tolkien and on it, he has Orthanc and Minas Morgul - which is a combination many don't seem to use. He mentions that in Letter 143. But in an earlier letter Tolkien says - "The Two Towers gets as near as possible to finding
a title to cover the widely divergent Books 3 and 4; and can be left ambiguous - it might refer to
Isengard and Barad-dûr, or to Minas Tirith and B; or Isengard and Cirith Ungol".
So, he seemed to see it as Orthanc and Cirith Ungol but thought that was misleading because of the opposition of the greater towers of Barad-dur and Minas Tirith throughout the whole story.
New Video Red Book! First Click of the Day :)
Hopefully a good start to the day!
@@TheRedBook always
Another brilliant video.. i never really read into how they knew it could be destroyed in mt Doom ..i Just assumed it could be destroyed there only because it was made there..n just assumed Celebrimbor or Elrond knew about it somehow. Or maybe Sauron told someone n they didnt keep the secret.or maybe all magic rings could only be destroyed where they were created.. it could of just had been common knowlage for those who practiced magic. Thankyou very good choice of theme for the video.
Thanks Ella, and yeah, to us it's no great mystery that the ring could be unmade where it was made. I guess my idea was that it wouldn't be such common knowledge to those unfamiliar with tropes like this. Your average person might believe such an object of power was invulnerable, a divine 'weapon' created by someone beyond their understanding.
Curiously, it can't have been a matter of sheer heat - because volcanic lava is around 1200C and the melting point of gold around 1600C. Dwarven furnaces would have been hotter than Orodruin. That leaves the unique nature of the Ring and its creator.
My guess is that we can thank Celebrimbor for this information. Which would be nice pay-back, considering how much the poor guy suffered.
That is something that I've read before but I've always put it down to Tolkien maybe not looking into the physics of it that much? You are right though, of course. I've always guessed that in Middle-earth, according to this text, ordinary gold would melt in Orodruin.
Small correction - melting point of pure gold 1064 °C (~ 1600 *°F* ); typical 18 kt gold is a bit less (930 - 1000 °C depending on alloying), and a good metalsmith like Sauron would probably have alloyed stuff to get a) a bit of hardness and b) _more_ magical properties from the other elements. Arsenic is nicely poisonous and gives gold a lovely red bloom - very appropriate!
In any case, totally agreed that a furnace is more than hot enough - otherwise how would they create gold artifacts? - and hotter than typical magma (650 - 1200 °C); lava - as in 'molten rock flowing during an eruption' is usually much hotter (up to 2000 °C), and hotter than a typical goldsmith furnace (1500 - 1600 °C).
So, from a "modern physics" standpoint, both a hot magma chamber _and_ a furnace would be enough to melt a gold ring.
@@dlevi67 Interesting! Does the toxic nature of an alloy continue when it is combined with gold? It's just I'm now visualising Gollum suffering five hundred years of heavy metal poisoning .
@@dlevi67 With his fondness for order, if Sauron used an alloy it would likely be of eutectic composition (i.e., all material changes phase at the same temperature, rather than a solidus to liquidus temperature range where solid blobs of metal float in liquid metal). Sauron's craft would also likely create a perfect CCP (cubic close-packed) crystalline structure if pure gold was used that results in much higher strength and hardness than a typical crystalline structure with flaws.
@@danielstride198 Only poisonous from loss of metal into microscopic fragments that can combine with other substances to make ionic compounds. But the way the One Ring is described, no material could be removed from it by abrasion, ablation, or solution processes.
Gollum may have suffered from heavy metal noise pollution (what else would an orc band play?). 🤣
Please more on Mount Doom and the fate of it after the ring is destroyed does Morder really collapse into a caldera? Sorry if I'm asking this question 2/3 through the video love it!!
An idea just hit me that I thought might be interesting to explore, but it might be difficult: what did Eru mean during/ after the music of the Ainur when he told Melkor that everything he did was an instrument of Eru's will?
Good idea. It would be interesting to explain what Eru meant by this and the results of Melkor's discord and actions.
I would like to know where the gold that made the ring was mined and who mined it. That's got to be one of the most important details about the making of the ring.
Are there veins of gold within the caverns of mount doom perhaps?
While myriad other Tolkien lore related channels seem repetitive and very similar in content to each other, this one seems to offer completely fresh takes and novel topics.
As for the topic in this particular video, i can think of several reasons why Elrond's council would've been confident the fires of Mount Doom could unmake The One Ring:
-If the Ring was cast/forged there in the first place, it would be rational for it to be melted there also.
-Elrond, Galadriel, Gandalf, Glorfindel all seem to exhibit supernatural foresight.
-Elrond, Galadriel, Gandal themselves possessed rings of power so they would understand some of their properties.
-As mentioned by others, Celebrimbor could've just told Galadriel.
-What choice did they really have...
Thanks Connie! Always cool to be told the channel stands out (at least in a positive way!)
I agree with your reasoning. Perhaps I'd maybe be slightly against the idea of the Ring-bearers inherently understanding the full nature of the rings. Though, I could be convinced. I think the best option is that Celebrimbor would reveal some Ring-lore or that he himself would learn of it after taking what he could from Sauron and perfecting his own art in making the Three.
I love Phil Dragon's audio for LotR. But i cannot find where to buy it. Any advice?
It can't be purchased and he's never had it for sale but there are many websites that host it, archive.org being one. I recommend just doing a google search for links and there will be many available!
I always assumed that it was because that's where the ring was forged. The fires used to forge and shape the ring would also be capable of unmaking it.
You aren't wrong, Coyote. This is an explanation I offer in the video but I have also assumed that your common person in Middle-earth unaware of the creation of such things might not know this.
I always thought it was the bearers of the three rings, read his mind when he put on the one and found out that way
As good an explanation as any james. It's certainly possible that when Sauron put on the One Ring that the Elves became aware of much more than he wanted them to. After all, they did understand him completely in that moment, his desire to dominate them.
Another, more direct, explanation:
Elrond (or some of his scouts) found the forge where Sauron made the One while investigating Mordor after Isildur defeated Sauron.
I suspect one of the Valar could destroy the ring, but you never know, Sauron may have incorporated magic into it, so that it was liken to the earth, hence why only the fires of where it came could destroy in. If Sauron had created the ring, so that it could only be destroyed by mount doom, then it goes to show that Sauron had a deep knowledge of the lore of arda and was indeed practically peerless amongst the race of the maiar when it came to knowledge craft and skill. Sauron’s defection to Morgoth, must have been a dear blow to the Valar. His feats as a dark lord where impressive.
Eru could destroy the One Ring with ease, but Deus ex Machina is a horrible plot device.
I think Varda with her power to create the Sun could do it.
I think it was implied in the video that a smith superior to Sauron could've destroyed it. So maybe Fëanor, had he still been around.
@@connielingus8385 Aule, his former employer.
@@tominiowa2513 have no doubt about that, but he tends not to intervene in affairs directly that much.
While he could not conceive of any mortal possessing the ring of destroying it, it is interesting that he set a such a watch on the fence of Mordor. Why else would anyone want to go into the black land? The Main Elven Players were all around when the ring was made and taken from Sauron, they would know the most about it and its lore.
A lot of those fortifications used to 'defend' Mordor were built by its enemies and were merely being occupied. I suppose it's more of a perception of ever lasting vigilance. Mordor is always watching and always on guard, restless.
8:17 I think I've found a contradiction regarding Sauron beliefs about the One Ring. Here Gandalf says that Sauron thought that the elves destroyed it but in the letter 131 Tolkien said that Sauron thought it's impossible for anybody to willingly destroy the One:
"Also so great was the Ring's power of lust, that anyone who used it became mastered by it; it was beyond the strength of any will (even his own) to injure it, cast it away, or neglect it."
Two points: 1) although Tolkien strove to present a self-consistent universe, he didn't always succeed, and he certainly changed his mind a lot over the course of nearly 70 years of writing about Ëa. On minor and major things.
2) Perhaps the key is in "anyone who _used_ it". Just picking it up - or even taking the whole dead body of Sauron and chucking that into the flames, ring, armour and all, might have been feasible.
Yes, this was (or is) going to be covered in my inconsistencies series. I think there are ways to explain it away. Maybe not the most exciting explanations but I think it's simply a matter of when these statements are relevant. Sauron's mind wasn't set in stone throughout his whole time beyond the forging of the rings. He could have easily have believed no one could destroy it after his enemies had years to freely dispose of it and they didn't. If they can't destroy it when the door to Orodruin is open to them, they must not be able to destroy it.
Though, it also ties in with Sauron's ego. He grows to assume anyone with power will act as he would and he would never give up such a gift of power. So, others who are wise and hold power wouldn't either...
@@TheRedBook Well, it could be an explanation but I'm not sure. The letter says Sauron never considered a possibility that the One Ring can be destroyed. There still seems to be an inconsistency.
"There was another weakness: if the One Ring was actually unmade, annihilated, then its power would be dissolved, Sauron's own being would be diminished to vanishing point, and he would be reduced to a shadow, a mere memory of malicious will. But that he never contemplated nor feared."
Absolutely and there's also another quote from "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age" where it seems like Orcs are searching the Gladden Fields for the ring at a time when Sauron would have thought it was destroyed. Though, that could be put down to editorial decisions by Christopher.
I think I will cover this in an inconsistency video and there's a good chance it is one.
The One Ring was destroyed by the will of Eru, but that may just be a matter of speaking rather than a real contradiction. After all, people would get tired of say things such as, "This is impossible, except if done by Eru", so the qualifying clause is implicitly understood even when not spoken.
There is one being per Gandalf who could neglect or cast away the One Ring, that of course being Tom Bombadil. Bombadil could have easily pitched the One Ring into the Fires of Orodruin (neglecting the problems of getting both him and it to Sammath Naur) the same way he might toss an apple core into the compost heap.
You should do a weekly upload
I have been since I started the channel. I think I've only skipped a video a week twice.
The wise, those who are truly wise seem to get only wiser with time… Humility of soul seems to be the key.
I wonder if Gandalf was the source of all The Wises' knowledge of the Ring. Perhaps Manwe received knowledge from Eru Iluvatar concerning the Ring and Gandalf spoke it to the White Council and they all believed. I would be surprised if Saruman had revealed the weakness of the One Ring.
Well, even if Saruman did reveal the weaknesses of the One Ring (which is an interesting idea), he is much the same as Sauron in that he wouldn't think they'd actually destroy it if it was found. Those with power and the mindset of Sauron and Saruman believe that those with wisdom and power will wield the ring and not destroy it.
It does say that Saruman was the “expert” when it came to ring-lore among the wise. He set out originally (like Gandalf) to find as much information as possible in order to stop Sauron, but being (like his opponent) a Maiar of Aulë, he eventually started to respect the craftsmanship and even went as far as to trying to make his own rings. He refers to himself in boast as the “ring maker”. A lot of what Gandalf knew about the rings of power came from Saruman before he was corrupted. Saruman’s ring would be a great topic for a future video! 👍🏻
The languages are so clever, I just realized that "Orodruin", Orod=Mountain, Mount Ruin, Mount Doom
I believe 'ruin' translates as burning red, or fiery red. So, mountain of burning red or mountain of fiery red. It's certainly a clever play on words though with how it all works out :D
It's also called "Amon Amarth" in Sindarin, I think (meaning word for word "Mount Doom") :)
@@LeHobbitFan I've listened to that band for years and I never knew that! Damn that's cool
I was quite late to this one but I really enjoyed it personally I like to think it’s something to do with the type of magic used to create the one in mount doom as apposed to it being really hot the hottest place in middle earth but I just like to think that
I prefer the magic & myth approach over a technical "How to make a ring" manual approach as well.
It can be said that "magical" items, including the One Ring, were objects that contained, channeled and focused willpower. Destroying the ring definitely involved having the will to cast it away into the place of its making. And as the ring came closer to its place of origin, the will of Sauron within it became more powerful, so again, one wishing to destroy it had to have very strong willpower, indeed. I think it's all part of how everyone in these stories had wants and goals and the will to make those things happen. So many times we see people fighting will against will. There were those who had evil desires and great willpower to set things into motion and those who were good who had to bolster their willpower to wrestle against the evil ones. Will against will. Do you have the will to see things through to a better end and to be part of making those things come about? So many times while reading these stories, I've felt the weight of the evil will that the good characters struggled against. It's one of the main reasons I reread these books, I think even more so than just because of the adventure. Even though I know what's going to happen, I still feel the struggle of our heroes within me, almost as if I am urging and helping them to get through the horrible things they are going through.
my loremaster
Greetings!
Cheers.
😁
Anything can be unmade when time is reversed. What could make, must also destroy the same. In other words, creation or destruction depends on your temporal perspective. It's sort of a law of nature, of logic. If you reverse time on matter, you have anti-matter for example. But it also applies to intuition and the "gut feeling" of the wise in Arda, that it's just logically sound to assume if you reverse the creation of something, you facilitate its destruction. That's where they had this information - pure and raw intuition.
Could Aule ring craft make a ring or unmade the one ring? To make a chain you need to bound rings together which Aule did to bind Melkor.
I am of the firm believe that Aule could unmake the ring. His "smithcraft" is arguably greater than Sauron's and Tolkien does say that it would take that to unmake it. It could even be argued that someone like Feanor could make a go of it, though he'd probably claim it lol.
As for making a greater ring, that's possible too, though Aule wouldn't do that. It's probably a good idea for a video about the One Ring, tying it to Aule.
@@TheRedBook It seems a reasonable assumption that Sauron's first boss would have greater smith craft than his underling, and of course Aulë has greater inherent power.
I say without his first boss, Sauron couldn't have forged the ring but maybe that's a video for another day!
Mount Doom is underrated
Do u think jk Rowling took the horcrux idea from the one ring?
Objects containing a part of someone existed before The Lord of the Rings but I think she was influenced by it - just as other aspects of the story influenced her. She claimed not to have read it until she was on her 3rd book - but if I remember correctly, all the Horcrux stuff doesn't appear in the first couple of HP books?
I'm pretty sure LOTR states that as it was forged there, that was the only place it could be destroyed. It of course was well known that Sauron was a mighty sorcerer. AND there's a fiery mountain in his land. Not too hard to guess.
yeah but that's not enough of an answer for people. That's why I make these videos.
Just had an image of Ancalagon swallowing the One Ring and Sauron having to wait for him to poop it out like a bad dog. ;-p
When I was on other sites answering Tolkien Q&As you'd be surprised how often questions about Dragons swallowing Rings of Power popped up :D
It seems reasonable to me that this information was received from Aulë when Istari was sent to Middle-earth.
I wonder rather why Sauron decided to magically/mystically infuse the “greater part of his essence” into an object that could conceivably be separated from him or even destroyed. I realize, of course, that the One Ring was created to deceive the elves and those others who accepted the various rings of Power from Celebrimbor and Annatar. In this way, Sauron’s master ring would give him control over and knowledge of all who wore the other rings. Yes, by controlling the acts of those who wore the other rings, he could extend his will to dominate the peoples who were governed by the Ring Wearers (elves, dwarves, men). But the elves took their three rings off immediately and the dwarves proved resistant to the rings they were given, so that plan of Sauron’s flopped a bit. Men who wore the rings, of course, proved quite maneuverable (becoming Nazgul and turning their armies toward evil.)
Still, that doesn’t explain why he actually infused the greater portion of his being into the One Ring. Did sequestering this predominant essence in a separate talisman he wore actually increase his power? Why would that increase his power if he already possessed that native strength in his own essence? Why split it up, when there was a chance that the ring might, hypothetically, be taken from him (as it was), thus diminishing his personal power, or at least complicating the use of his full native power?
It would also appear that Sauron, even as he rose again and began to take shape after the Last Alliance, believed he could still attain great strength (and even a physical form) once again *without* his ring, for it’s clear that he assumed the ring had been destroyed by the elves of the Last Alliance. It seems odd that he was not astonished that he could survive and grow again even with his ring destroyed. Yet he clearly felt compelled to recreate himself while believing the Ring was destroyed, and that the elves presumably knew how to destroy it, until he discerned that the ring had actually survived and he began looking for it. Perhaps there are thematic parallels with Morgoth’s Ring, i.e. the fabric of the very earth, but Sauron’s “Precious” was a talisman, not an entire world.
It seems a bit inconsistent for Tolkien to have written in one of his commentaries that Sauron remade himself thinking that his enemies had indeed destroyed the ring after the war of the Last Alliance, and yet in the books, it is made clear that one of the key plot points centers upon the Wise in their belief that Sauron (in his arrogance) could never even imagine anyone actually destroying the ring, thus allowing Frodo and Sam to sneak it into Mount Doom. Sauron did not conceive of this strategy. He thought one of the Wise would use it against him. Perhaps the Wise, collectively, deduced more about Sauron’s ring than Sauron knew himself (which seems unlikely) because it remains a tiny “plot curiosity.”
Why store the greater portion of his power in the ring, beyond the need to control other ring-bearers?
Why was did he not realize the ring had survived from the start when he began to renew himself?
Why did he think no one would dare attempt to destroy the ring when he already assumed it had been destroyed after the Last Alliance.
Perhaps all of this tells us that Tolkien believed Sauron *could* eventually find a way to come back even with the one ring destroyed.
#RiddlesInTheDark
I see the sub count has jumped! Nice.
Yeah, the last 2 weeks have been pretty good for it! Just hit 6k today.
Awesome
That always struck me as a bit strange that Sauron thought that the one ring was destroyed, one can wonder if he then knew what would happen if it was destroyed? Gandalf stated that only one power knew everything about the rings of power, i always took for granted he ment Sauron.
It's pretty much what I say in the video, many seem to think Sauron knew everything about the One Ring but why do we assume he would know what would happen if it was unmade? Wouldn't it be possible that some would think the power would return to him? We look in hindsight and wonder why figures acted in certain ways instead of realising none of them are infallible.
@@TheRedBook one mathematic asumtion could realy be that Sauron already lost some of his power making the one ring and would regain it by getting it back but why would he loose himself more by it being destroyed...its not something clearly logic and i agree with you that without hignsight nothing is totaly clear. Even though the wise seemed to pretict the outcome.
@@jimbombadill - His relationship with the ring is not entirely spelt out in LotR but is clearer in Letters. He wasn't diminished through making the ring - actually becoming enhanced if he held the ring. If it wasn't in his possession,he wasn't diminished but didn't benefit from its power. To become diminished, Sauron would need to lose his authority over the ring (someone else mastering it) or the ring would have to be unmade.
@@TheRedBook i always thought Gandalf said something about Sauron putting alot of his power into the ring when making it and that he from that was kind of"half" loosing it?
What would happen if Sauron got the ring back?
Good question Joe. Easy answer is "He'd win" but I'll add this to a list of videos because it would be interesting to discuss.
What confuses me is how Sauron can add his power into a ring and that makes him more powerful? Using Earth physics he would really be more likely to lose a little power by transferring it into a ring and then wielding it.
Anything he put into the ring he had in himself prior, unless his power is instantly regained, which would beg the question of why not make multiple rings.
It's a good question and it is going to be one of my videos in this series on the One Ring. I will answer how the ring works for Sauron and how he can make a ring with his own natural power but somehow gain more power. It will be a video on this channel :)
Could Ungoliant devour the One Ring?
Considering Ungoliant was able to devour exceptionally powerful and unique creations of the Valar, I think she would have been able to devour the One Ring. Either that or it would have been "within her" unobtainable by anyone else.
Finally someone brings up the fact that magic in the legendarium is mainly just a higher form of craft or understanding of how things work. 🙄🙄 it's like a matter of the knowledge of the essence of something.
A lot of people who've only seen the movies and only read a few of the books tend to think that the istari are full on MAGIC USERS like in Harry Potter or other such media. Its referred to as magic in the books because normal everyday humans and hobbits and such dont understand it at all.
It's also why I think personally on a magic to magic duel someone like Dumbledore from Harry Potter might actually have a fair chance about magically subduing someone like gandalf. However that doesnt mean hed win. Gandalf again is a way better fighter and strategist.
It's there for all to see in the story itself. Just look at how Gandalf reacts when Legolas asks him to perform what is essentially magic, or how Galadriel reacts to Sam speaking of her magic. The Elves of Lothlorien also get confused when the cloaks are called magic. They don't know what is meant by it. I have always planned a video on magic and sorcery but I held off since another channel made a series out of it. I will do it though.
I would love to know how Tolkien would have responded to questions regarding relative power of figures from different legendarium's, or modern real world items (e.g., would an atomic bomb destroy Sauron?).
My suspicion is his answer would have been along the lines of, "How many Angels can dance on the head of a pin?".
Clarke's Third Law!
I think the Wise understood the magic that created the one ring.
A question I’ve had for quite a while: How did Gollum know the Ring could be destroyed in Orodruin? “One mustn’t go that way. One mustn’t hurt the Precious!” He wasn’t one of the Wise, and it makes no sense that Sauron or Gandalf would have told him. Was the Ring itself speaking to him for self-preservation?
Just my opinion but Gollum followed the Fellowship all through Moria. He probably overheard their conversations about it.
Good point Brad but surely this could be down to the mission of his 'master' ? He's been with Frodo and Sam for a while, he will know their quest, they will have talked about it, even in whispers amongst themselves without thinking Gollum would listen. They are going to Mordor and he is their guide. Smeagol isn't stupid, he could probably work out that they were intending to bring harm to it. Just my immediate thoughts on that but I will think on it some more :D
@@istari0 Frodo hearing the occasional almost inaudible footstep behind the company indicates that Gollum followed them part-way through Moria. Gollum entered Moria in August 3018 T.A., while the Fellowship entered on January 13, 2019 T.A. Whether Gollum was attracted by the One Ring, or came across hobbit scent while hunting for food is unknown.
@@tominiowa2513 I could well be wrong but I thought I remembered reading someplace that Gollum entered Moria from the east and made it all the way to the western doors but did not know how to open them. Consequently, he was there when the Fellowship entered Moria.
@@istari0 Correct, but did Gollum hang around at the western entrance hall, or did he leave that area to look for food, then encounter evidence of the Fellowship further to the east? Tolkien does not state either way. The most probable is that Gollum first starts trailing the Fellowship just before Frodo starts hearing his footsteps.
One for the Dark Lord, on his Dark Throne, in the Land of Mordor, where the Shadows lie..
If Sauron took shape again in the 3rd age why would he assume the Ring was destroyed? Did he not know he would be rendered impotent if it was destroyed?
A good question that is set for a future video on the channel as part of my inconsistencies series. I'll answer exactly what you want to know :)
If it's not about physics, then how can magma melt it? I keep thinking about how Feanor created 'Silima', the crystalline(?) substance that contained the light of the Trees. it was said to be the hardest material ever crafted in Arda. To the point where the one Silmaril that ended up buried in a fiery chasm, not unlike what we find in Mordor, the one that Maedhros stole, has been foretold would survive until the end of Arda. I also wonder if Aulë could have been able to unmake the One Ring. He was, after all, superior in essence and lore and skill to his one time servant Mairon. And that is not even considering what we know ourselves nowadays. I'm thinking of nuclear fire, which is far hotter than magma. But you also seem to be inferring that more than just heat was involved; something like particular magnetic conditions prone in locations such as Orodruin...
I said it's "less about the physics" . Something has to be able to physically destroy it but it's not the substance itself that's important. It's the location, the place it was made, the one who made it. That was my point.
@@TheRedBook It doesn't really make sense then. I'm sure you are aware that in in last writings, Tolkien was beginning to revise his earlier conception about his creation myths; such as those about the Sun and Moon, stating (I paraphrase) that 'we can't expect people, in this day and age, and with the knowledge readily available, to believe the Sun and Moon came from fruit and leaf'. And thus he began to rewrite that particular story, where the Sun (Anar) was lit before the Valar came to Arda. In fact, it became the signal for them to move from their great works throughout EA and focus on the Habitation. Granted, this was published by his son only posthumously. But it does show an evolution in his thinking.
I guess my point is that Tolkien, through the Valar, established rules that governed that world. And I'm simply trying to understand what those could be. The One Ring ended up being destroyed without Sauron's presence or direct intervention, which seem to indicate his conscious will was not required in the matter - only the location. And said location was remarkable only by the fact that it was a volcano; something of a rare occurrence in Middle Earth one gathers. The closest, geographically, to where Sauron's main enemies were concentrated. No special tools or spells were needed by the hobbits (or Isildur before them); just an object dropped in lava.
@@grallonsphere271 Yes, Tolkien started revising matters but never got that far. Barring yet more unreleased writings, what the final form of these revisions would have been is unknowable. I do think it is quite clear that Mount Doom was much more than your typical volcano. It was created by Morgoth and Sauron chose it as his forge for a reason and then did some mighty works there.
It would be really sad if the wise were wrong with her destruction theory of Mount Doom...
Fastest click of my life
Hope it was worth the click :D
The Wisdom of the Wise.
Is this wisdom why no other members of the White Council questioned how Saruman could "know" that the One Ring had been washed out to sea by the Anduin?
Wouldn't you trust the wisest of your order?
@@TheRedBook As a Catholic, Tolkien would have been very familiar with the concept of "Devil's Advocate".
"His knowledge is deep, but his pride has grown with it, and he takes ill any meddling."
Saruman seems the type who does not like to be questioned.
@@TheRedBook But not wishing to quarrel with Saruman or incite him to wrath would not prevent the other members of the White Council silently questioning in their own minds. So it appears that they believed that Saruman has the wisdom to see the fate of the One Ring even in the absence of physical evidence.
Be careful 'dedicating' content to the One Ring! Many men have lost their will for less!
Look out for a 20 minute video of me talking about how precious it is to me ;)
Soon 10K subs ;) ?
Haha might be a while off. I had a crazy week with views and subs but it's been going back down since Friday!
@@TheRedBook Keep posting, and you won't miss the momentum for the coming period :)
I think I'll manage to keep doing my Monday videos. I don't want to push for two a week but I'm doing ok if I manage one. Well, maybe if the topics are interesting for people.
@@TheRedBook One sounds like the golden mean. Two can quickly become demotivating!
Too much work as well. Maybe if this was my job but it's not. Don't have time to make two :O
👏👍🤓
👍👍
❤
Could Fëanor unmade the One Ring?
If we are forgetting about willingly destroying it and just talking of smithcraft ability, then yes, he'd be one of very very few figures with a smithcraft greater than Sauron's. in fact, he may be only 1 of 2 figures, the other being Aulë. Though, I'd say neither would for different reasons.
Power is EaSy to destroy, all you have to do is not desire power, and not try to use the methods of the powerful to destroy what they desire; "you cannot bring down the Master's house using his tools."
Ok, now hop to it you Hobbits.
The Elves would know how the One Ring could be destroyed because the Elves know how and where and by whom it was made. They know these things because it was Celebrimbor who made the three Elven rings, and taught Sauron how to craft the others. This analysis in this video is overly complicated.
You are wrong. The Three Rings were made before the One but after the other 16. Thinking Celebrimbor taught Sauron is 100% incorrect.Celebrimbor was able to craft the Three because of Sauron's knowledge, that's one reason why they are subject to it. It's all there in Tolkien's text. I can see why it may seem overly complicated if the viewer has the wrong information going into it.
I really like your content, but have you considered starting your videos by yelling "what's up youtube, it's your boy" and then telling us about some shitty mobile game?
No? Perfect, thank you.
No one has offered me a big sack with a $ on it yet, so I haven't had to consider it. I'd like to think I'd say no though!
I have attempted an introduction where I say the same thing each time. I hated it and have never added it to any of my videos. Doesn't seem to be my thing :D
@@TheRedBook If/when you're offered a sponsorship, you take that with both hands. I was just making a joke, but you do excellent work and you ought to be paid for it. If/when you start having sponsorship spots, it wouldn't turn me off a bit. But please, don't yell.
Haha I knew you were joking as well. I hate those shouting ads too. I tend to just turn the video off. I also hate it when someone stops their video 2 minutes in to talk about their sponsor for 3 minutes.