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, and contained some of the
light from the Two Trees of Valinor made by
Yavanna and
Nienna-named Telperion the
Silver, and Laurelin the
Gold. 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. Before Melkor began
stirring up trouble amongst the
Ñoldor, Fëanor would often wear them blazing on his
brow at feasts and would allow others to see them, but as he began to suspect
his kin 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.
Together with
Ungoliant,
Melkor destroyed the Two Trees. 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, and, swearing that he and his sons would not rest
until the Silmarils were recovered, he led the Ñoldor back to
Middle-earth. 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 the Ñoldor failed.
One of the Silmarils was recovered by
Beren and
Lúthien through great peril and loss. This stone
was later taken by
Eärendil 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
elements of Arda — in the sky, fire and water