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Things of Middle-earth

Elendilmir, The

Type: Artifacts

Meaning: jewel of Elendil

Other Names:
Star of Elendil
Star of the North
Star of the North Kingdom

Description:The Elendilmir was a white jewel set as a star upon a narrow silver fillet, originally in the possession of Silmarien, daughter of Tar-Elendil. From Silmarien, the Elendilmir passed down through the line of the Lords of Andúnië to Elendil, who brought it out of Númenor to Middle Earth.

Isildur inherited the Elendilmir and was apparently wearing it when he was cut down at the Gladden Fields; after the War of the Ring, it was found among other possessions of Saruman's in a locked cabinet. Saruman obviously had found Isildur's bones while searching for the One Ring, taken the Elendilmir and left the bones for scavengers.

There was a second Elendilmir, a copy made for Valandil son of Isildur and worn by the kings and chieftains of Arnor. In the Fourth Age, Elessar Telcontar retained both Elendilmirs.

Source: "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields," Unfinished Tales.

There came Legolas, and Gimli wielding his axe, and Halbarad with the standard, and Elladan and Elrohir with stars on their brow, and the dour-handed Dúnedain, Rangers of the North, leading a great valour of the folk of Lebennin and Lamedon and the fiefs of the South. But before all went Aragorn with the Flame of the West, Andúril like a new fire kindled, Narsil re-forged as deadly as of old: and upon his brow was the Star of Elendil...

(LotR: RotK: Book Five: Chapter VI: The Battle of the Pelennor Fields)
In a casket on a high shelf two things were laid. One was a small case of gold, attached to a fine chain...Next to it lay a treasure without price, long mourned as lost for ever: the Elendilmir itself, the white star of Elvish crystal upon a fillet of mithril that had descended from Silmarien to Elendil, and had been taken by him as the token of royalty in the North Kingdom...

Elessar took it up with reverence, and when he returned to the North and took up again the full kingship of Arnor Arwen bound it upon his brow, and men were silent in amaze to see its splendour. But Elessar did not again imperil it, and wore it only on high days in the North Kingdom. Otherwise, when in kingly raiment he bore the Elendilmir which had descended to him. "And this also is thing of reverence," he said, "and above my worth; forty heads have worn it before."

(UT: Part Three - The Third Age: Chapter I: The Disaster of the Gladden Fields - The sources of the legend of Isildur's death)

Contributors: Zimraphel. 7/6/2003; quotes added by ~Nessime 5/17/04

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