Mithril 69906 225985669 2008-07-16T09:41:10Z 64.234.0.249 /* Other contexts */ {{redirect|Mithril|the fictional paramilitary organization named after it|Mithril (Full Metal Panic!)}} '''Mithril''' is a fictional [[metal]] from [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s [[Middle-earth]] [[Tolkien's legendarium|fantasy writings]]. It is silvery and stronger than steel but much lighter in weight. The author first wrote of it in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', and it was [[retcon|retrospectively mentioned]]<ref name = "hobbit">{{ME-ref|hobbit}}</ref> in the second, revised edition of ''[[The Hobbit]]'' in 1966. In the first 1937 edition, the mail shirt given to Bilbo was described as being made of "silvered steel".<ref name = "hobbit" /> In ''The Lord of the Rings'', Tolkien writes that mithril was found only in [[Moria (Middle-earth)|Khazad-dûm]] (Moria) in [[Middle-earth]], where it was mined by the [[Dwarf (Middle-earth)|Dwarves]]. However, in ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'' he writes that it was also found in [[Númenor]]. The name ''mithril'' comes from two words in [[Sindarin]] — ''mith'', meaning "grey", and ''ril'' meaning "glitter". The metal's [[Quenya]] name is ''mistarille''. ''Mithril'' was also called "true-silver" or "Moria-silver"; the Dwarves had their own secret name for it. ==Properties== The wizard [[Gandalf]] explained ''mithril'' to others while passing through Khazad-dûm: :"''Mithril!'' All folk desired it. It could be beaten like copper, and polished like glass; and the Dwarves could make of it a metal, light and yet harder than tempered steel. Its beauty was like to that of common silver, but the beauty of ''mithril'' did not tarnish or grow dim."<ref name = "moria">{{ME-ref|fotr|"A Journey in the Dark"}}</ref> He also noted that the mithril Frodo is wearing is worth more than the combined value of the Shire.<ref name = "moria" /> The [[Noldor]] of [[Eregion]] made an alloy out of it called ''ithildin'' ("star moon"), which was used to decorate gateways and portals. It was visible only by starlight or moonlight. The West Gate of [[Moria (Middle-earth)|Moria]] bore inlaid ''ithildin'' designs and runes.<ref name = "moria" /> ==Abundance== In Tolkien's Middle-earth, ''mithril'' is extremely rare by the end of the [[Third Age]], as it was now found only in Khazad-dûm. Once the [[Balrog]] destroyed the kingdom of the Dwarves at Khazad-dûm, the only source of new ''mithril'' ore was cut off. Before Moria was abandoned by the Dwarves, while it was still being actively mined, ''mithril'' was worth ten times its weight in gold.<ref name = "moria" /> After the Dwarves abandoned Moria and production of new ''mithril'' stopped entirely, it became priceless. ==The mithril-coat== Of all items made of ''mithril'', the most famous is the "small shirt of [[mail (armour)|mail]]" retrieved from the hoard of the dragon [[Smaug]], and given to [[Bilbo Baggins]] by [[Thorin Oakenshield|Thorin Oakenshield]].<ref name = "hobbit" /> It was later estimated by Gandalf that the value of this mithril-coat was "greater than the value of the whole Shire and everything in it." <ref name = "moria" /> <blockquote>"Also there is this!" said Bilbo, bringing out a parcel which seemed to be rather heavy for its size. He unwound several folds of old cloth, and held up a small shirt of mail. It was close-woven of many rings, as supple almost as linen, cold as ice, and harder than steel. It shone like moonlit silver, and was studded with white gems. </blockquote> Bilbo wore the ''mithril'' shirt during the Battle of the Five Armies,<ref name = "hobbit" /> and took it with him when he left the Shire. Later, he gave the shirt to [[Frodo Baggins]] when he embarked on his quest in ''The Lord of The Rings''. In Moria, the mail saved Frodo's life when he was hit by an [[Orc (Middle-earth)|Orc]] spear during the battle in the [[Chamber of Mazarbul]].<ref name = "moria" /> It saved Frodo's life again when an Orc-arrow struck him while escaping Moria,<ref name = "moria" /> and again when he was struck by another Orc-arrow while crossing the River [[Anduin]].<ref>{{ME-ref|fotr|"The Great River"}}</ref> When [[Sam Gamgee]] believed Frodo to be dead outside Shelob's Lair, he left the shirt with Frodo. Frodo was taken by the orcs, who fought over the shirt. Frodo was saved, but one of the orcs escaped with the shirt. The shirt was, along with Frodo's other possessions, shown to Frodo's allies at the [[Black Gate (Middle-earth)|Black Gate]] to falsely imply that he was captured. Gandalf took the shirt and other tokens. At the end of the story, Frodo wore the shirt at the celebrations and on the trip home. The shirt saved his life one more time when [[Saruman]], who had taken over the Shire, tried to stab Frodo after Frodo had spared his life.<ref>{{ME-ref|rotk|"The Scouring of the Shire"}}</ref> Saruman was then killed by [[Gríma]]. ==Other mithril objects in Tolkien's writings== Searching through the closets of [[Orthanc]], King [[Aragorn|Elessar]] and his aides found the long lost first ''Elendilmir'', a [[Star of Elendil|white star of Elvish crystal]] affixed to a fillet of ''mithril''. Once owned by [[Elendil]], the first King of [[Arnor]], it was an emblem of royalty in the North Kingdom. After Elendil fell in the [[War of the Last Alliance]], his eldest son [[Isildur]] ascended to the throne. On his journey back to the northern capital of Arnor, his retinue was ambushed by orcs. Isildur tried to escape by jumping into a river but was killed by arrows. [[Saruman]] may have found his body and the first Elendilmir with it; at least he found the Elendilmir. A replica was made, which was used by Isildur's successors, up to the reestablishment of the kingdom (reunited with Gondor) by Elessar. He thus used both, using one or the other on certain occasions. The Dwarves' beloved metal appears also in [[Gondor]]. The Guards of the Citadel of [[Minas Tirith]] wear helmets of ''mithril'', "heirlooms from the glory of old days." As a result, the Citadel Guards are the only soldiers in Gondor that still bear the emblems of the lost Kings during the days of the Stewards: regular armour wore out over the centuries and was replaced, but as ''mithril'' armour never degrades it never needed to be replaced, and as ''mithril'' objects were no longer replaceable, the Stewards would not discontinue use of the rare and valuable armour despite the emblems they bore. As Aragorn's ships sail up the [[Anduin]] to relieve the besieged Minas Tirith during the [[War of the Ring]], the standard flying on his ship shows a crown made of ''mithril'' and gold. After [[Gimli (Middle-earth)|Gimli]] became lord of [[Aglarond]], he and his dwarves forged great gates of ''mithril'' and steel to replace the gates of Minas Tirith which were broken by the [[Witch-king of Angmar]]. [[Galadriel]]'s Elven Ring, [[Nenya]] is made of ''mithril'' and is set with a stone of '[[adamant]]' (probably diamond). == Other contexts == The name ''mithril'' or similarly spelled variations (''mithral'', ''mythril'' and others) is present in other fictional contexts like [[role-playing]] games, since the Tolkien Estate did not [[trademark]] the term. One early example is ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' and its derivatives (e.g. ''[[Forgotten Realms]]''). It appears in many [[computer game|computer]] and [[video game|video]] games such as: ''[[The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion]]'', ''[[EverQuest]]'', '' [[Runescape]]'', ''[[Dungeons and Dragons Online]]'',''[[World of Warcraft]]'' and ''[[Final Fantasy]]''. The name is usually used for a special type of metal (often used as armour), or as a denomination of currency, or as a name for a project or device. When used as metal, the value of ''mithril'' varies from setting to setting. It is usually more valuable than gold. In some settings, ''mithril'' is worth ten times its weight in gold (like in Tolkien's writings).{{Fact|date=April 2008}}<!-- do not add a list of computer, video or role-playing games, or anime, or anything else, an adequate summary of the fact that ''mithril'' appears in many such games has already been given. No laundry lists of games, please. --> In the [[anime]] [[Full Metal Panic!]], instead, Mithril is the name of a special secret military agency. ==References== <div class="references-small"> <references /> </div> {{middle-earth portal}} {{Moria (Middle-earth)}} [[Category:Middle-earth materials]] [[Category:Fictional materials]] [[bs:Mitril]] [[ca:Mithril]] [[cs:Mithril]] [[de:Mithril]] [[et:Mithril]] [[es:Mithril]] [[fr:Mithril]] [[hr:Mithril]] [[it:Mithril]] [[nl:Mithril]] [[ja:ミスリル]] [[no:Mithril]] [[pl:Mithril]] [[pt:Mithril]] [[ru:Мифрил]] [[simple:Mithril]] [[fi:Mithril]] [[sv:Mithril]] [[th:มิธริล]] [[tr:Mithril]] [[zh:秘銀]]