Are you one of the countless millions from around the world that love Tolkien’s saga, The Lord of the Rings, which was immortalized in film about 20 years ago by Peter Jackson?
The tale it tells dives much deeper than you’d expect, unless you were a Tolkien fanatic and read his other landmark works, notably the Silmarillion, in which the exposition for the entire tale is laid – including the creation of Ea, Arda, the rebellion of Melkor against Eru Iluvatar and the Valar, the forging of the Rings of Power, and the eventual, inevitable War of the Ring.
It also tells the tale of Aragorn’s sword, Narsil. Try yourself against these 4 facts you didn’t know about Aragorn’s sword – or maybe you did.
Narsil Is the Sword That Cut the Ring from Sauron’s Finger
This is perhaps the one fact that most of you do know, if you are fans of the film. Aragorn’s sword, Anduril (renamed, more below), that he bears at the end of the Return of the King, has been remade from the shards of Narsil, the very sword that cut the One Ring of Power from the hand of Sauron by Isildur, son of the slain King Elendil, in the War of the Last Alliance, thousands of years earlier.
In the battle, Elendil was slain and his sword Narsil shattered; his son Isildur took the hilt-shard of the sword and cut the Ring from Sauron’s finger, claiming it as his own.
Narsil’s Name Holds Deep Significance
The name Narsil means “Red and White Flame” from the Quenya elements “nar” for “red” and “thil” for “white flame.”
Ostensibly, this is a nod to the sun and moon, the enemies of the darkness created in Arda by Morgoth, but the symbolism of the name may go even deeper, to a time when Melkor brought the Darkness to Valinor before he was even named Morgoth by Feanor.
The sun and moon themselves were, in Tolkien’s mythos, ultimately products of the Two Trees of Valinor. After Melkor killed the Two Trees by the aid of Ungoliant, Yavanna labored long to withdraw just a vestige of their life, and before they perished utterly, Telperion bore a single silver flower and Laurelin a single golden fruit.
Yavanna took these and Aule fashioned vessels for them, and they were set in the sky to outshine the ancient stars, not only as a symbol of hope of the world, but a defiance of Melkor.
Aragorn’s Sword, Narsil, Was Renamed
In The Lord of the Rings, Aragorn’s sword, Narsil, is remade, forged into a new blade that he names Anduril, which means “Flame of the West.”
This name, again, may hold deep symbolism, and may reflect the defiance of Valar, who yet live in the West.
The Movie’s Portrayal of Tolkien’s Vision Was Not Entirely Faithful
In the movie trilogy, Aragorn’s sword Narsil rests as shards in Rivendell. Elrond has these reforged into Anduril and brought to him in his encampment with the Rohirrim before the Battle of Pelennor Fields and Minas Tirith.
This is not quite so in the books. Aragorn carries the hilt-shard of Narsil on his person from his very first meeting with Frodo in the Fellowship of the Ring, and though he does submit to have it reforged, does not suffer to be parted with it for any significant period of time.
Looking for a High-Quality Replica of Aragorn’s Sword Narsil?
Interested in adding a high-quality replica of Aragorn’s sword, Narsil (or Anduril, if you will) to your collection? Get it online at True Swords. They carry many official Lord of the Rings replicas and all of them exhibit exceptional quality. See for yourself on their website.
