# What happened to the Nine Rings? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** middle-earth\ **Created:** [April 12, 2021, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-nine-rings/939868 "2021-04-12T20:25:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-nine-rings/939868/61 "2021-04-15T01:11:58Z")
In _Fellowship_ chapter 2, “Shadow of the Past”, Gandalf says "_Seven the Dwarf-kings possessed, but three [Sauron] has recovered, and the others the dragons have consumed."_ The Ring of Thror was sorta uncertain at so late time, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-nine-rings/939868/62 "2021-04-15T01:20:34Z")
Sauron got that Ring very late. It was the third Dwarven Ring he recovered. If you recall, Gandalf braved the dungeons of Dol Guldur and found the now mad Thráin. From Thráin, Gandalf recovered the map and key to Erebor (The Lonely Mountain) but the Ring had already been taken from Thráin. Sadly the Dwarves never found out the Ring was lost to Sauron until the Council of Elrond. It is believed that was one of many reasons Balin tried to reclaim Moria. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-nine-rings/939868/63 "2021-04-15T03:04:17Z")
I thought only the three Elven Great rings were made by Celebrimbor without Sauron’s help? I seem to recall Gandalf saying that Sauron had never touched them so they were free of his taint. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-nine-rings/939868/64 "2021-04-15T04:01:49Z")
I have always imagined the ring wraiths were wearing their rings, even if their bodies were no longer of flesh and blood. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-nine-rings/939868/65 "2021-04-15T13:31:25Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > While Sauron helped forge them, they were made by Celebrimbor. You’re correct and that is what I was posting about the 9 & the 7. The 3 were indeed free of his touch. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2021, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-nine-rings/939868/66 "2021-04-15T17:04:11Z")
Could it be both - the spirit of the mountain was directly responsible for dumping all that snow on Fellowship, but only after Sauron reached out and stirred it up? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2021, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-nine-rings/939868/67 "2021-04-16T02:16:34Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I think that is a Peter Jackson invention. I’m not deep in the lore, but I remember thinking that was wrong when they showed it in the movie. I had (and have) a memory that it was the mountain itself that brought the snow. Actually, the chanting that Saruman is doing at the top of Orthanc in the film is imploring Caradhras in Elvish (not sure what flavor of Elvish) to smite those pesky beings crawling on him. Yes, an invention of the film, but consistent with the the “Caradhras did it” interpretation. I thought that was kind of clever of Jackson. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2021, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-nine-rings/939868/68 "2021-04-16T02:22:41Z")
I agree. Hardy canon, but nicely done. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2021, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-nine-rings/939868/69 "2021-04-16T11:19:47Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Actually, the chanting that Saruman is doing at the top of Orthanc in the film is imploring Caradhras in Elvish (not sure what flavor of Elvish) to smite those pesky beings crawling on him. Yes, an invention of the film, but consistent with the the “Caradhras did it” interpretation. I thought that was kind of clever of Jackson. I guess I should learn Elvish. A nice Easter egg - thanks for telling me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-the-nine-rings/939868.md?page=3)