Summary
The average person who has watchedThe Lord of the RingsandThe Hobbittrilogy might not know much about the powers of the Three Rings of the Elves.The Rings of Poweron Prime continues to shine a light on their making, and will hopefully divulge more of the rings’ secrets. But is there one ring among the three stronger than the others? If so, which one?
According toThe Lord of the Ringsbooks, the great elven smith Celebrimbor wrought three rings of power for the elves: Nenya, Narya, and Vilya. Nenya belongs to Galadriel. Vilya is first given to the High-King Gil-galad of the Noldor Elves, who then passes it on to Elrond. And Narya is given to the oldest and wisest elf on Middle-earth, Círdan of the Grey Havens, who gives it to Gandalf when he arrives in Middle-earth. We don’t see the rings’ powers overtly in use in the movies, and they all seem to be equally powerful. But Tolkien intended for one of them to be the mightiest.
Which Is the Strongest Elven Ring of Power?
According to theLord of the Ringstext,Vilya, the Ring of Air,borne by Elrond of Rivendell, is the mightiest of the Three Elven Rings. In the final chapter ofThe Return of the King,“Grey Havens,” Frodo and Sam are journeying to Rivendell to meet Bilbo when they meet a party of elven folk on their way tosail to the Undying Lands. With them are Elrond, Galadriel, and Bilbo. Frodo describes seeing all three elven rings of power worn by their bearers for the first time:
Elrond wore a mantle of grey and upon his finger was a ring of gold with a great blue stone, Vilya, the mightiest of the Three.
Each of the Three Rings was made of a different metal, and set with a different colored gemstone that symbolized the power they possessed. Galadriel’s Nenya was made of mithril, with a white stone of adamantine, a mythical stone harder than a diamond. It was known as the Ring of the Adamant, perfect for Galadriel, who kept Sauron’s efforts to invade her mind and Lórien at bay by sheer adamant will.
The metal for Narya is not mentioned, but it was set with a ruby stone, its fiery red signifying the fire of hope, courage, and resistance that its wearer could kindle in the hearts of those around him.Círdan gave the Ring of Fire to Gandalf, who was the leader of the resistance against Sauron and a great beacon of hope for all those who fought the war.
In many ways, from its description, Elrond’s ring Vilya can be considered a direct rival of Sauron’s One Ring. Vilya, like the One Ring, was a band of gold. It was set with a great blue sapphire and was known as the Ring of Air. While this doesn’t mean it controlled the element of air, the lore of the legendarium does indicate a strong connection with the King of the Valar, Manwë, who is closely associated with the air, wind, and sky. He is called the breath of Arda (world), and the Eagles that appear inThe Lord of the Ringsare Manwë’s messengers. When Gil-galad, the High King of all elves on Middle-earth, gives Vilya to Elrond as his regent, it could symbolize a vesting of power recognized by the Valar themselves.
What Are Vilya’s Powers?
Each of the Three Rings of the Elves has the power to heal, preserve beauty, and slow the ravages of time to resist decay and prolong life. Vilya makes Elrond one of the greatest healers, and his realm, Rivendell, a haven where mirth and joy and song are in abundance. Every traveler feels at rest, their weariness stripped away. However, while the other two rings, Nenya and Narya, have specific attributes, Vilya’s powers are not explicitly stated. It seems capable of a little bit of everything.
Every ring of power is known to amplify the traits of its bearers. This is why Celebrimbor must have given the Three to specific people, and Círdan, with his foresight, perceived Narya being used to its fullest by Gandalf. By that logic, Elrond is the perfect ringbearer for Vilya, consideringElrond’s lineage. He is born of the intermingling of High Elves, the Edain (noble Men), and a Maiar — and the part he plays in the war against Sauron.
Why is Vilya Considered the Mightiest Elven Ring of Power?
There is neither a definitive explanation given in Tolkien’s writing, nor an explicit use of its powers depicted anywhere in the text or the Peter Jackson films (bothThe Lord of the RingsandThe Hobbittrilogies). And rightly so, because the Three elven rings, made by Celebrimbor from the wisdom learned from Sauron as Annatar, were always meant to be a secret.
Once he made the One Ring,Sauron had the power to bend the other rings to his will, which prompted the elven ringbearers to take off their rings and keep them hidden. It was only after Sauron lost the One Ring that Elrond and Galadriel used theirs to heal Middle-earth and fortify the realms of Rivendell and Lôrien. It is thus believed by Tolkien experts andLord of the Ringsfans that, due to its association with Manwë and Elrond being a powerful elf himself, Vilya’s potency of magic is simply greater than that of the other rings.
