Lord of the Rings is one of the most famous fantasy epics of all time. While the trilogy, written by J. R. R. Tolkien, and the corresponding films directed by Peter Jackson, touch on the powers of the 20 rings, Prime Video’s series The Rings of Power—a prequel to LOTR—dives into a little more detail.
Related: What The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power Cast Looks Like In Real Life
In the epigraph of Lord of the Rings, the author introduces the reader to how the rings were distributed among the races in Middle Earth. You know how the poem goes and extra points if you read this in Sir Ian McKellen’s booming voice:
Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie
The three rings given to the Elven rulers were forged by Celebrimbor himself and were therefore never touched by Sauron, but they are still bound to The One Ring. (He was a ruler of Eregion in the Second Age, and a master smith.) They were called Narya (the Ring of Fire), Nenya (the Ring of Adamant), and Vilya (the Ring of Air).
Narya is described as a ring with a red gemstone, often thought to be a ruby, which evokes the imagery of fire and flame. Narya is said to have the power to inspire others to resist tyranny, domination, and despair. It also can rekindle hearts with courage and hope, akin to the warmth of a fire. While it does not manifest in combat, it is symbolically tied to Gandalf’s role as a motivator and guide.
Nenya is described as a ring made of mithril, and it is set with a white stone, often interpreted to be adamant (a type of diamond) or a crystal. Its appearance is said to be both ethereal and pure, reflecting the light and clarity of water. Nenya was wielded by Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlórien.
Nenya has the power to preserve, protect, and hide from evil forces. It also amplifies Galadriel’s innate abilities, allowing her to maintain the safety and splendor of Lothlórien. However, its power is tied to the One Ring, so when the One Ring was destroyed, the power of Nenya faded.
Vilya is described as a ring made of gold with a great blue stone, most often thought to be a sapphire. Its appearance is said to evoke the element of air, with its cool blue gem symbolizing the sky or the wind.
It was given to Gil-galad, the High King of the Noldor Elves. After his death in the War of the Last Alliance, the ring was passed to Elrond, the Lord of Rivendell—played by Robert Aramayo in The Rings of Power. Elrond wielded Vilya for many centuries, using its power to protect Rivendell and its inhabitants.
The Seven Rings were intended to bring the Dwarves under Sauron’s control. However, they did not have the desired effect. The Dwarves proved resistant to direct domination and corruption, but the rings did amplify their natural greed and desire for wealth. This led to the accumulation of great treasures and the awakening of several dragons, who eventually became attracted to the treasure hoards.
By the time of The Lord of the Rings, four of these rings were consumed by dragon fire, and Sauron had recovered three of them. Thus, the Dwarves no longer possessed any of the Seven Rings. While the names of the Seven Rings for the Dwarves are not specifically mentioned in the text, but it’s known that the rings were distributed among the seven different Dwarf clans.
Also known as Malln´s or Bavor’s folk, the Stonefoots were one of the seven tribes of the Khazâd. They were also known as the “Red Dwarves”.
This clan of Dwarves originated from one of the four Dwarf fathers, who were born in the Black Mountains.
The Stiffbeards were also a clan of Dwarves that lived in Rhûn.
The Ironfists clan lived in Rhûn, a large region in the far eastern part of Middle-earth.
Another clan of Dwarves who came from the Blue Mountains. They were paired with the Firebeards, but each tribe had its own mansion and ring.
A tribe of Dwarves who came from the Blue Mountains.
A clan of Dwarves that originally inhabited Khazad-dûm, led by Durin I, “The Deathless”.
The nine men who received the rings were initially powerful kings, sorcerers, and warriors. The Nine Rings granted their bearers unnatural long life, but this was a twisted gift. The men who received the rings did not age, but they also could not die in the usual sense. Over time, they were gradually consumed by the power of the rings, losing their free will, humanity, and physical forms.
They ultimately faded into wraiths, becoming the Nazgûl, or Ringwraiths. As their physical forms faded, they became invisible to mortal eyes and were trapped in a shadowy existence between the living and the dead. We don’t know what the rings were called, nor do we know the backstory for each Wraith before their transformation.
Before his transformation into a Wraith, The Witch-king of Angmar was known as Er-Mûrazôr (Tindomul). He became a powerful foe of the Northern Kingdoms of the Dúnedain. His identity as a human before his corruption is not explicitly given, but he is known to be Sauron’s most feared servant.
In MERP lore, Ûvatha is portrayed as a former chieftain or lord from the east of Middle-earth, possibly from the regions of Rhûn or Khand. His title, “the Horseman,” suggests a prominent role as a cavalry leader or a skilled rider, reflecting his martial prowess and affinity for horses.
As one of the Nazgûl, Ûvatha was a key servant of Sauron, wielding one of the Nine Rings of Power. His expertise with horses would have made him a formidable and fearsome presence in battle, and he would have been a significant figure in the armies of Sauron.
In the Middle-earth Role Playing (MERP) lore, the eighth member of the Nazgûl is Rên the Unclean, who’s specifically depicted as a former king or sorcerer from the lands of Rhûn, in the east of Middle-earth. His title, “The Unclean,” suggests an association with corruption or dark sorcery, perhaps emphasizing his descent into shadow and the loss of his humanity.
Previously known as Adûnaphel in non-canonical sources, Adûnaphel is described as a Black Númenórean woman who became one of the Nazgûl after receiving one of the Nine Rings of Power from Sauron. She is one of the few female characters among the Nine in these adaptations, which is a unique addition compared to Tolkien’s original writings, where no gender distinctions among the Nazgûl are mentioned.
Known as Hôarmûrath of Dír before his transformation into a Ring Wraith, according to non-canonical sources. He is often referred to as “The Icy Nazgûl” due to his association with cold and winter. This is reflected in his characterization as a fearsome and cold-hearted wraith who might have used sorcery and dark powers related to ice and frost.
In some non-canonical sources, Khôrahil is imagined as a Númenórean lord or one of the Black Númenóreans, a group of Númenóreans who remained loyal to Sauron after the downfall of Númenor and became his servants in Middle-earth. They are associated with Umbar and other lands in the south.
Also known as the Black Assassin, the Betrayer or The Grim Southron. His origins are unknown.
Third of the Nine, also known as the Dog-Lord, the Dark Marshal, or Morgomir was the third in Command among the Nine. His exact origins are unknown, but it’s possible he was a mighty Lord from the Southeastern Lands.
Also known as the Shadow of the East, Khamûl is the second most powerful of the Nazgûl and the only other named member of the Nine. He was once an Easterling king before he fell under Sauron’s influence.
Khamûl is noted to be the most perceptive of the Ringwraiths when it comes to sensing the presence of the One Ring, but he is also the weakest in daylight. He briefly rules Dol Guldur in Mirkwood before being called to Mordor.
The One Ring was created by Sauron in the fires of Mount Doom in the Second Age. It was forged to control and dominate the other Rings of Power. The Ring has a corrupting influence on those who possess it, gradually bending their will to that of Sauron. It amplifies the desires and weaknesses of its bearer, often leading them to greed, power lust, and eventual destruction.
When worn, the One Ring renders its wearer invisible to the mortal eye. This ability is a result of the Ring’s power to shift the wearer into the unseen realm, where they are visible only to other beings who dwell in that realm, such as the Nazgûl.
