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Gandalf's Ring of Power

The newest tale

Gandalf's Ring of Power

On a bridge under Moria, Gandalf says fourteen words that fans have argued about for seventy years: "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor." Under his glove sits Narya, the Ring of Fire, forged by Celebrimbor in Eregion around 1590 of the Second Age and handed to him by Cirdan the Shipwright at the Grey Havens.

Published on
20 October 2026
Runtime
32 min 29 sec
The next tale hangs Friday, 23 October

Tolkien Illuminations4

The Twenty Great Rings: 13 Never Get a NameThe Twenty Great Rings13 Never Get a NameNo. 4 · 6:42 · 18 October 2026 · TimelineThe Ages of Middle-earth: 55,000 Years on One LineThe Ages of Middle-earth55,000 Years on One LineNo. 3 · 6:17 · 11 October 2026 · TimelineAragorn Family Tree: Elros, Elendil, Isildur, AragornAragorn Family TreeElros, Elendil, Isildur, AragornNo. 2 · 6:34 · 4 October 2026 · Family treeThe Fellowship's Journey Map: Bag End to Mount DoomThe Fellowship's Journey MapBag End to Mount DoomNo. 1 · 7:10 · 27 September 2026 · Journey map
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Find

Figures of Legend25

Nineteen Rings and One Lie: How the Rings of Power Were MadeNineteen Rings and One LieHow the Rings of Power Were Made33:53 · 16 October 2026Why Sauron Never Conquered Gil-galadWhy Sauron Never Conquered Gil-galad36:40 · 13 October 2026Ar-Pharazôn: The King Who Invaded HeavenAr-PharazônThe King Who Invaded Heaven34:37 · 6 October 2026What Happens When a Maia Dies?What Happens When a Maia Dies?34:36 · 29 September 2026Eärendil: The Mariner Who Became a StarEärendilThe Mariner Who Became a Star32:16 · 15 September 2026The Last Alliance of Elves and Men: The Victory That Doomed Middle-earthThe Last Alliance of Elves and MenThe Victory That Doomed Middle-earth21:56 · 8 September 2026The White Council: 1,750 Years to Name SauronThe White Council1,750 Years to Name Sauron34:40 · 1 September 2026Elendil the Tall: The Man Who Saved Numenor's SoulElendil the TallThe Man Who Saved Numenor's Soul28:41 · 28 August 2026Why Didn't Sauron Guard Mount Doom? What He Actually FearedWhy Didn't Sauron Guard Mount Doom? What He Actually Feared33:01 · 18 August 2026Ring of Barahir: The Ring With No PowerRing of BarahirThe Ring With No Power30:15 · 14 August 2026Annatar: How Sauron Fooled the Greatest Elven-SmithAnnatarHow Sauron Fooled the Greatest Elven-Smith28:58 · 4 August 2026Aragorn: The 87 Lost Years Tolkien Hid From YouAragornThe 87 Lost Years Tolkien Hid From You33:09 · 24 July 2026Witch-king of Angmar: Rise & Fall of the Nazgul LordWitch-king of AngmarRise & Fall of the Nazgul Lord22:38 · 17 July 2026Queen Beruthiel and Her Cats: A Strange Tolkien MysteryQueen Beruthiel and Her CatsA Strange Tolkien Mystery28:00 · 14 July 2026Who Were the Nine Ringwraiths?Who Were the Nine Ringwraiths?22:12 · 10 July 2026Lúthien: The Maiden Who Broke MorgothLúthienThe Maiden Who Broke Morgoth28:53 · 26 June 2026The Five Wizards of Middle-earth: Istari Ranked by True PowerThe Five Wizards of Middle-earthIstari Ranked by True Power24:12 · 9 June 2026Elwing the White: The Forgotten Queen of Eärendil's TaleElwing the WhiteThe Forgotten Queen of Eärendil's Tale27:08 · 5 June 2026Isildur: Hero or Failure?IsildurHero or Failure?30:20 · 29 May 2026The Blue Wizards: Did They Defeat Sauron?The Blue WizardsDid They Defeat Sauron?28:27 · 12 May 2026Saruman's Fall: Why the Greatest Wizard Betrayed His OrderSaruman's FallWhy the Greatest Wizard Betrayed His Order32:54 · 17 April 2026Strongest Elf Warriors Ranked: Fingolfin to LegolasStrongest Elf Warriors RankedFingolfin to Legolas31:11 · 14 April 2026Unlikely Heroes: Why the Powerless Saved Middle-earthUnlikely HeroesWhy the Powerless Saved Middle-earth28:48 · 25 March 2026Children of Hurin: Tolkien's Darkest TragedyChildren of HurinTolkien's Darkest Tragedy28:43 · 20 March 2026Galadriel: The Last of the MightyGaladrielThe Last of the Mighty7 November 2025

Wars & Battles7

Middle-earth Battles Ranked: Numbers Tolkien Never WroteMiddle-earth Battles RankedNumbers Tolkien Never Wrote34:08 · 9 October 2026The Last Alliance of Elves and Men: The Victory That Doomed Middle-earthThe Last Alliance of Elves and MenThe Victory That Doomed Middle-earth21:56 · 8 September 2026A Brief History of Middle-earth: What Happened Before The Ring?A Brief History of Middle-earthWhat Happened Before The Ring?33:09 · 31 July 2026Nirnaeth Arnoediad: The Battle of Unnumbered TearsNirnaeth ArnoediadThe Battle of Unnumbered Tears27:44 · 7 July 2026War of the Powers: How Tulkas Captured MelkorWar of the PowersHow Tulkas Captured Melkor35:08 · 26 May 2026The War of Wrath: How Morgoth Finally FellThe War of WrathHow Morgoth Finally Fell29:45 · 3 April 2026The Fall of Gondolin: Tolkien's First Great TaleThe Fall of GondolinTolkien's First Great Tale13 November 2025

Realms & Places11

Ar-Pharazôn: The King Who Invaded HeavenAr-PharazônThe King Who Invaded Heaven34:37 · 6 October 2026Utumno: Morgoth's First HellUtumnoMorgoth's First Hell22:35 · 4 September 2026Elendil the Tall: The Man Who Saved Numenor's SoulElendil the TallThe Man Who Saved Numenor's Soul28:41 · 28 August 2026Shelob's Lair: Cirith Ungol, the Spider's Pass Into MordorShelob's LairCirith Ungol, the Spider's Pass Into Mordor32:51 · 21 August 2026Doriath: Thingol, Melian, and the Fall of MenegrothDoriathThingol, Melian, and the Fall of Menegroth34:54 · 19 June 2026Barad-dûr: The Tower Built on Sauron's SoulBarad-dûrThe Tower Built on Sauron's Soul29:38 · 8 May 2026Middle-earth Maps Explained: How Tolkien's World Changed Across the AgesMiddle-earth Maps ExplainedHow Tolkien's World Changed Across the Ages27:18 · 5 May 2026Isengard: The Tower That Defeated SarumanIsengardThe Tower That Defeated Saruman31:48 · 31 March 2026Angband: Morgoth's Iron HellAngbandMorgoth's Iron Hell23:50 · 3 February 2026The Fall of Gondolin: Tolkien's First Great TaleThe Fall of GondolinTolkien's First Great Tale13 November 2025History of the ShireHistory of the Shire27 October 2025

Rings & Relics8

Gandalf's Ring of PowerGandalf's Ring of Power32:28 · 20 October 2026Nineteen Rings and One Lie: How the Rings of Power Were MadeNineteen Rings and One LieHow the Rings of Power Were Made33:53 · 16 October 2026Nenya: What Galadriel's Ring Actually DoesNenyaWhat Galadriel's Ring Actually Does27:57 · 25 August 2026Ring of Barahir: The Ring With No PowerRing of BarahirThe Ring With No Power30:15 · 14 August 2026Annatar: How Sauron Fooled the Greatest Elven-SmithAnnatarHow Sauron Fooled the Greatest Elven-Smith28:58 · 4 August 2026Andúril and Narsil: Why Sauron Feared the Broken SwordAndúril and NarsilWhy Sauron Feared the Broken Sword36:07 · 16 June 2026The One Ring: How It Actually WorksThe One RingHow It Actually Works34:43 · 12 June 2026The Silmarils: Three Jewels That Doomed the First AgeThe SilmarilsThree Jewels That Doomed the First Age32:26 · 29 November 2025

Peoples & Creatures10

The Origin of Hobbits: The One Myth Tolkien Never WroteThe Origin of HobbitsThe One Myth Tolkien Never Wrote32:56 · 22 September 2026Shelob's Lair: Cirith Ungol, the Spider's Pass Into MordorShelob's LairCirith Ungol, the Spider's Pass Into Mordor32:51 · 21 August 2026Ungoliant: Is She Still Alive?UngoliantIs She Still Alive?32:42 · 11 August 2026Middle-earth's Most Powerful BeingsMiddle-earth's Most Powerful Beings35:28 · 7 August 2026Do Orcs Have Souls? The Question Tolkien Couldn't AnswerDo Orcs Have Souls? The Question Tolkien Couldn't Answer21:03 · 21 July 2026The Stoors: Gollum's Forgotten Hobbit FamilyThe StoorsGollum's Forgotten Hobbit Family28:50 · 3 July 2026The Dead Men of Dunharrow: The Oath That Cursed Them 3,000 YearsThe Dead Men of DunharrowThe Oath That Cursed Them 3,000 Years23:46 · 30 June 2026The Awakening of the Elves: How Middle-earth BeganThe Awakening of the ElvesHow Middle-earth Began34:14 · 22 May 2026Dragon-Sickness: The Cursed Gold That Destroyed KingsDragon-SicknessThe Cursed Gold That Destroyed Kings31:32 · 10 April 2026Goblins vs Orcs vs Uruk-hai: What's the Difference?Goblins vs Orcs vs Uruk-haiWhat's the Difference?25:41 · 30 January 2026

Mysteries & Curiosities13

Gandalf's Ring of PowerGandalf's Ring of Power32:28 · 20 October 2026Why Sauron Never Conquered Gil-galadWhy Sauron Never Conquered Gil-galad36:40 · 13 October 2026Middle-earth Battles Ranked: Numbers Tolkien Never WroteMiddle-earth Battles RankedNumbers Tolkien Never Wrote34:08 · 9 October 2026The Origin of Hobbits: The One Myth Tolkien Never WroteThe Origin of HobbitsThe One Myth Tolkien Never Wrote32:56 · 22 September 2026The White Council: 1,750 Years to Name SauronThe White Council1,750 Years to Name Sauron34:40 · 1 September 2026Nenya: What Galadriel's Ring Actually DoesNenyaWhat Galadriel's Ring Actually Does27:57 · 25 August 2026Why Didn't Sauron Guard Mount Doom? What He Actually FearedWhy Didn't Sauron Guard Mount Doom? What He Actually Feared33:01 · 18 August 2026Ungoliant: Is She Still Alive?UngoliantIs She Still Alive?32:42 · 11 August 2026Queen Beruthiel and Her Cats: A Strange Tolkien MysteryQueen Beruthiel and Her CatsA Strange Tolkien Mystery28:00 · 14 July 2026The Dead Men of Dunharrow: The Oath That Cursed Them 3,000 YearsThe Dead Men of DunharrowThe Oath That Cursed Them 3,000 Years23:46 · 30 June 2026The Blue Wizards: Did They Defeat Sauron?The Blue WizardsDid They Defeat Sauron?28:27 · 12 May 2026Dragon-Sickness: The Cursed Gold That Destroyed KingsDragon-SicknessThe Cursed Gold That Destroyed Kings31:32 · 10 April 2026Pipeweed: How Saruman Corrupted the ShirePipeweedHow Saruman Corrupted the Shire25:30 · 6 January 2026

The Deep Lore14

What Happens When a Maia Dies?What Happens When a Maia Dies?34:36 · 29 September 2026Eärendil: The Mariner Who Became a StarEärendilThe Mariner Who Became a Star32:16 · 15 September 2026Utumno: Morgoth's First HellUtumnoMorgoth's First Hell22:35 · 4 September 2026Middle-earth's Most Powerful BeingsMiddle-earth's Most Powerful Beings35:28 · 7 August 2026A Brief History of Middle-earth: What Happened Before The Ring?A Brief History of Middle-earthWhat Happened Before The Ring?33:09 · 31 July 2026Tolkien's Magic Explained: Why Gandalf Doesn't Cast SpellsTolkien's Magic ExplainedWhy Gandalf Doesn't Cast Spells35:29 · 28 July 2026Do Orcs Have Souls? The Question Tolkien Couldn't AnswerDo Orcs Have Souls? The Question Tolkien Couldn't Answer21:03 · 21 July 2026The One Ring: How It Actually WorksThe One RingHow It Actually Works34:43 · 12 June 2026What Gandalf Knew About the MachineWhat Gandalf Knew About the Machine31:49 · 31 May 2026War of the Powers: How Tulkas Captured MelkorWar of the PowersHow Tulkas Captured Melkor35:08 · 26 May 2026The Awakening of the Elves: How Middle-earth BeganThe Awakening of the ElvesHow Middle-earth Began34:14 · 22 May 2026The Maiar: Tolkien's Angels Ranked by PowerThe MaiarTolkien's Angels Ranked by Power30:48 · 15 May 2026Tolkien's Hidden Christmas StoryTolkien's Hidden Christmas Story22:48 · 18 December 2025The Valar: Gods of Middle-earth ExplainedThe ValarGods of Middle-earth Explained14 November 2025

Postscript

A quick summary of anything interesting I find related to Tolkien. Once a month, no clutter.

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