The Silmarils

The Silmarils or Silmarilli, also called the Jewels of Fëanor, were the gems crafted by Fëanor from some essence of the Two Trees of Valinor; Laurelin and Telperion, before the First Age. They were among the most prized of all the wonders crafted by the elves and were coveted by many. It was said that the fate of Arda was woven about the Silmarils.

Fëanor created the Silmarils during the Years of the Trees in the Noontide of Valinor. They were named for and crafted of the hard crystalline substance silima.

Recognizing their immense beauty, they were hallowed by Varda, Queen of Arda so that no mortal flesh, hands unclean, or anything evil could touch them. Fëanor would often wear them blazing on his brow at feasts and would allow others to see them.

Soon paranoia began to take hold of Fëanor. He began to suspect his kin and he no longer displayed them openly allowing only his father and sons to view them. After Fëanor was exiled to Formenos, the Silmarils were stored in a chamber of iron.

Melkor, with Ungoliant, mother of Shelob who most of you recognize from the Lord of the Rings movies, destroyed the Two Trees. The result of this being that the Silmarils now contained all the remaining light of the Two Trees. Therefore, the Valar entreated Fëanor to give up the Silmarils so they could restore the Trees, but he refused.

Then news came: Melkor had killed Fëanor's father Finwë, the High King of the Ñoldor, and stolen all the gems, including the Silmarils. After this deed, Melkor fled to the northlands of Middle-earth, where his ancient fortress was. Melkor, now named Morgoth by Fëanor, set the Silmarils in his crown.

Fëanor was furious at Melkor and at the Valar's perceived desire to take the gems for their own purposes. He and his seven sons swore that they would wage war against any being that withheld a Silmaril from them. Fëanor traveled back to Middle-earth in pursuit of Morgoth. His flight, which began the First Age of Middle-earth, led to no end of grief for the Elves and eventually for the Men of Middle-earth. Five major battles were fought in Beleriand, but ultimately Fëanor failed.

One of the Silmarils was recovered by Beren and Lúthien through great peril and loss. This stone was later taken by Eärendil, the husband of their granddaughter Elwing, to the Valar in the West as a token of repentance. The Valar then set this Silmaril as a star.

The other two gems remained in Morgoth's hands, and were taken from him only at the end of the War of Wrath. However, soon afterwards, they were stolen by Fëanor's two sons Maedhros and Maglor. The jewels burned their hands, in refusal of their rights of possession, as they had burned Morgoth's hands many years before. In agony, Maedhros threw himself and his Silmaril into a fiery pit, and Maglor threw his into the sea. Thus, the Silmarils remained in all three realms of Arda — in the sky, beneath the earth, and within the sea.

According to prophecy: Following Melkor's final return and defeat in the Dagor Dagorath, the world will be changed and the Three Silmarils will be recovered by the Valar, and Yavanna will break them and with their light she will revive the Two Trees, the Pelori Mountains will be flattened and the light of the Two Trees will fill Arda again in a new age of eternal bliss.

It has been theorized that the Arkenstone found by the dwarf Thrain was actually one of the Silmarils. The theory seems to have some merit as it's description of being a gem of many facets that shines with it's own light and the affect it had on Thrain were similar to the Silmarils effect on Fëanor.

This theory is contradicted by Tokien himself though, who states that the Silmarils will not be found until the end of Arda.

More Arda Lore posts:
Wizards of Middle-Earth - http://imgur.com/gallery/w7FAI
Tom Bombadil - http://imgur.com/gallery/712KO
Sauron's Fall - http://imgur.com/gallery/aMxjF
The Rings of Power - http://imgur.com/gallery/T3XlH
The Silmarils - https://imgur.com/gallery/3zPCD
Orcs of Middle-Earth - http://imgur.com/gallery/S7KQI