This Crucial Rings of Power Location Was in The Fellowship of the Rings (But Never Acknowledged)
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is back with its sophomore season, reuniting viewers with some of the most iconic characters in Middle-earth, including Lady Galadriel, Elrond, Sauron, and many more. The Prime Video original series depicts the events of the Second Age of Middle-earth leading up to the forging of the One Ring of Power and the war of the Last Alliance against the dark lord Sauron and his armies. The second season operates on a scale far larger than its predecessor, visiting various iconic locations in Middle-earth, as well as some with which viewers are only tangentially familiar.
The Rings of Power focuses heavily on Elves and their kingdoms during the Second Age. The Elvish presence in Middle-earth during the Second Age is a far cry from what viewers saw during the events of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, which takes place in the Third Age as the Elves begin to leave for the shores of Valinor. Still at the height of their power in the Second Age, the Elves live in grand cities the likes of which have only been hinted at in the films. Among these is Ost-in-Edhil, a city that was briefly featured in The Fellowship of the Ring, though the movie never calls it by name.
The Rings Of Power Visits Ost-In-Edhil
At the height of their power, the Elves built many cities in Middle-earth. Ost-in-Edhil, meaning “Fortress of the Elves” in Sindarin, was one such city, constructed in the 750th year of the Second Age by Fëanor and the Ñolder. It was located near the Dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm in hopes that the Elves and the Dwarves would have a better relationship if their cities shared closer borders. Ost-in-Edhil was located in the realm of Eregion and became populated with many Elves, including the descendants of Fëanor. Among these descendants was Celebrimbor, Fëanor’s grandson, who took after his ancestors’ love for forging and engineering. Celebrimbor eventually became the leader of Ost-in-Edhil.
In showing viewers more of the Elves of Middle-earth than the movies, The Rings of Power spends much time in Ost-in-Edhil. However, the city is never mentioned by name and is typically referred to as “Eregion,” lumping it together with the rest of the realm in which it is located. This is because Amazon Studios does not have the rights to use the name “Ost-in-Edhil.” The city has become a major location in recent episodes of The Rings of Power, as the latest season follows the Elf’s dealings with Halbrand, who is the dark lord Sauron in disguise. After first meeting Celebrimbor as Halbrand, Sauron next disguises himself as the Lord of Gifts, Annatar, convincing the Elf to forge more rings of power. Ost-in-Edhil becomes the location wherein several of the rings of power are forged, including the three rings for the Elves, the seven rings for the Dwarf-lords, and the nine rings for the kings of Men.
The Ruins Of Ost-In-Edhil Are Seen In The Fellowship Of The Ring
Many Lord of the Rings fans may not have been aware that the city of Ost-in-Edhil makes a brief appearance in The Fellowship of the Ring. The ruins of the city can be seen as the Fellowship of the Ring passes through the sweeping hills and valleys of Middle Earth on their way to the Misty Mountains. The group passes by the ruins of the once-great city, painting a bleak comparison to the sprawling halls and splendor of the once-grand Elven city depicted in The Rings of Power.
The Fellowship passes by the ruins of the Elven city perhaps without understanding the great significance of the location. The group carries with them the One Ring of Power on a mission to destroy it once and for all. To pass the location wherein nineteen of the twenty Great Rings were forged is of great importance and adds an extra level of symbolism to the Lord of the Rings franchise and Frodo’s mission. To destroy the One Ring, Frodo must first pass by the place where several of the original rings of power were first forged.
What Happens To Eregion In The Lord Of The Rings?
The significance of the Elf Celebrimbor and his city of Ost-in-Edhil cannot be overstated–though the ends of both were tragic. Deceived by Sauron in the guise of Annatar, Celebrimbor furthered the dark lord’s plans, giving the Dwarves and Men rings of power that would eventually corrupt them and lead to a rising darkness in Middle-earth. Celebrimbor eventually realizes his mistake too late and finds himself unable to stop Sauron from continuing his dark plan. He hides the existing rings of power from Sauron and mounts a rebellion, inciting the beginning of the War of Elves and Sauron. During this terrible conflict, Ost-in-Edhil is completely destroyed by the dark lord and his forces.
No longer needing to pose as the Elf Annatar, Sauron takes Celebrimbor captive and tortures him for the location of the remaining rings of power. When Celebrimbor refuses to divulge this precious information, Sauron has him killed. As if the torture and execution hadn’t been enough, Sauron takes the body of the once-proud lord of Ost-in-Edhil and uses it as a banner in his following conflicts with the Elves.
Ost-in-Edhil is a grand and marvelous city in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, but it meets a tragic fate during the Elves’ conflict with Sauron. By the events of the Third Age, it is little more than a shell of a once-great kingdom left to rot in the memory of the great evils that were created there.
