# Lord of the Rings: What did the Seven Dwarven Rings do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049 "2012-08-10T03:49:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/1 "2012-08-10T03:49:10Z")
Right, the Nine for humans helped their wearers establish world domination, and get a version of immortality, in exchange for the fiddling details of losing their bodies, falling under Sauron’s control, etc. The Three for the Elves appear to have been creative and sustaining, particularly Gandalf’s Ring, Narya. The One, well, its specs were right on the Ring itself. But what about the Seven for the dwarves? What advantage did they give? I seem to recall somewhere that Tolkein said that the dwarves by their nature couldn’t be dominated the same way the humans who took the Nine were. So what were they supposed to do for the dwarves to make the dwarves accept them from Sauron? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/2 "2012-08-10T04:07:54Z")
They enhanced their natural skills at mining and crafting, but also enhanced their natural greed and lust for wealth. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/3 "2012-08-10T04:21:14Z")
IIRC (maybe from discussion on this board) rings for Men and Dwarves weren’t tailor made for those races: Sauron happened to have sixteen rings handy, and recognized that they’d be useful in dominating mortals. The The abilities of those rings were somehow merely amplifications of the bearers’ own abilities, which differed between Men and Dwarves. The Three on the other hand may have had different properties, since Sauron wasn’t directly involved in their making. ---
**Author:** ![kob09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ebca7d/32.png) [@kob09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kob09)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/4 "2012-08-10T04:32:07Z")
Quote: The magical rings were created by Sauron or by the Elves of Eregion under Sauron’s tutelage. Three were intended for the Elves, Seven for Dwarves, (…) but the Dwarves’ rings did not respond to the One’s control as Sauron expected. the rings helped them achieve their most beautiful cities and artworks 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/5 "2012-08-10T05:40:31Z")
Made them dopey, grumpy, sneezy, sleepy, happy, bashful, and…doc-y. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/6 "2012-08-10T06:31:40Z")
> [@kob09](#): > > Quote: The magical rings were created by Sauron or by the Elves of Eregion under Sauron’s tutelage. Three were intended for the Elves, Seven for Dwarves, (…) but the Dwarves’ rings did not respond to the One’s control as Sauron expected. Source? ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/7 "2012-08-10T06:55:08Z")
“It takes gold to breed gold.” ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/8 "2012-08-10T07:29:37Z")
I wonder how that worked, exactly. Did the Dwarves accumulate most of their hoards through trading, rather than mining? ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/9 "2012-08-10T08:43:14Z")
They were as much traders as they were miners. In the Silmarillon, they traded with the elves for gems and pearls. If you want this to be a factual answer, correlate it with the human world. Annual world gold production doesn’t usually top 500 tonnes (excluding russia’s output.) Daily trading volume in the LME is around 518 tonnes. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/10 "2012-08-10T10:19:29Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Source? Not the exact quote, but from “Of The Rings Of Power and the Third Age” in _The Silmarillion_ - > [@"J.R.R.](#): > > Therefore the Three remained unsullied, for they were forged by Celebrimbor alone, and the hand of Sauron had never touched them; yet they also were subject to the One. > [@"J.R.R.](#): > > The Dwarves indeed proved tough and hard to tame; they ill endure the domination of others, and the thoughts of their hearts are hard to fathom, nor can they be turned to shadows. They used their rings only for the getting of wealth; but wrath and an overmastering greed of gold were kindled in their hearts, of which evil enough after came to the profit of Sauron. The rings given to Men made them mighty in the form of power of their choice, whether as Kings, magicians, or warriors, but kept them alive, after a fashion, long after they should have died. This was their greatest evil, as in Iluvatar’s plan, Men were not meant to live in the confines of Middle-earth for long, indeed death is the great Gift given by Him to Man. The rings, ultimately, give the wearer the means to satisfy their desires, but at the cost of no longer being satisfied (if that makes sense). The Dwarves were able to get all the gold they could ever reasonably want, and more, but would ever lust after more, and never be satisfied. Men obtained power and eternal life, effectively at the cost of their souls. Elves obtained the power to preserve their realms against Evil, at the cost of no longer being part of the outside world, and of having their realms fail when the One was destroyed. I’m fairly sure Tolkien wrote more about this in some of his letters, I can look it up if anyone wants more information. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/11 "2012-08-10T12:17:04Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > Made them dopey, grumpy, sneezy, sleepy, happy, bashful, and…doc-y. Damn! I came in to say that! ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/12 "2012-08-11T02:24:27Z")
I’ve forgotten if it says or implies this anywhere: did the Dwarf rings have anything to do with the mining of mithril? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/13 "2012-08-11T02:37:02Z")
> [@Civil\_Guy](#): > > I’ve forgotten if it says or implies this anywhere: did the Dwarf rings have anything to do with the mining of mithril? I would doubt it. The Dwarves were mining mithril before the Rings were made…it was a major reason that Moria was trading with Celebrimbor at all. The Elves loved mithril and the Dwarves of Moria (then Khazad-Dum) were the ones who had it. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/14 "2012-08-11T04:31:05Z")
Keep in mind that the Seven and the Nine were **not** made with dwarves and men in mind. They were meant for elves. When the elves didn’t fall for Sauron’s ploy, he cut his losses and distributed the rings that he and the elves had made together to the dwarf lords and to powerful men. Here’s a nice link that delves deeply into ringlore: [DRAGON222: Daftar Situs Judi Slot Online Gacor Terpercaya & Terbaru Di Indonesia](http://oakroadsystems.com/genl/ringfaq.htm#H3-SevenNine) ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/15 "2012-08-13T15:58:40Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > “It takes gold to breed gold.” I do remember this – it’s from the LotR appendices… Thror said it to Thrain. This would suggest that the dwarf-rings enhanced the abilities of their bearers to make profit. [Here’s](http://www.lotrplaza.com/forum/archives/display_topic_threads.asp?Archive=1&ForumID=46&TopicID=6362&PagePosition=7) a bunch of LotR fanatics discussing the topic. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/16 "2012-08-13T21:39:11Z")
I’m sure I knew this at one point, but why did Gandalf have one of the elf rings? I know he’s a Maia or something, but clearly not an elf. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/17 "2012-08-13T21:40:50Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > I’m sure I knew this at one point, but why did Gandalf have one of the elf rings? I know he’s a Maia or something, but clearly not an elf. Cirdan (the original owner) gave it to him when he arrived in Middle-Earth. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/18 "2012-08-13T21:50:11Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Cirdan (the original owner) gave it to him when he arrived in Middle-Earth. To expand on that, Círdan was the shipwright responsible for building the ships that were carrying the elves into the West. He was tied down to a job, essentially. When Gandalf arrived, Círdan saw that he would be able to make better use of Narya as he traveled around, inspiring others to oppose the darkness. Círdan: “For this is the Ring of Fire, and herewith, maybe, thou shalt rekindle hearts to the valour of old in a world that grows chill.” ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/19 "2012-08-13T23:07:37Z")
They whitened, brightened, cured the heartbreak of psoriasis, & eliminated ring around the collar (naturally). ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2012, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049/20 "2012-08-14T02:48:56Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > They whitened, brightened, cured the heartbreak of psoriasis, & eliminated ring around the collar (naturally). Nah… I really don’t see the dwarves as being that concerned about psoriasis, nor about ring (heh) around the collar… First dates between dwarves might have been pretty awkward affairs as it was… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lord-of-the-rings-what-did-the-seven-dwarven-rings-do/631049.md?page=2)