Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Rings of Power season 2.
The Rings of Powerseason 2 reveals that Morgoth’s Crown is the same as Sauron’s, calling into question the item’s history and what it means for the Prime Video show. WhileThe Rings of Power’s castconsists of several original characters, many elements of their story are taken directly from Tolkien’s Legendarium. From the history of Morgoth and Sauron to other characters like Elrond and Galadriel, however,The Rings of Power’s Tolkien charactersprovide the biggest hints at stories from the author’s original books.
The primary references to this history from beforeMiddle-earth’s Second Agecome in the prologue ofThe Rings of Powerseason 1, episode 1. The War of Wrath is a primary focus in these flashbacks, detailing the final defeat of Morgoth by a combined force of elves, men, and Valar. Given their depiction in Tolkien’s books,Sauron and Morgoth are twoLord of the Ringsvillainswho are closely connected. Interestingly,The Rings of Powermakes these connections more prevalent by revealing that Sauron’s Crown was once owned by Morgoth, a headpiece with a deep history.
Morgoth’s Crown Held The Three Silmarils During The First Age
Morgoth’s Crown Was Integral To The War Of The Great Jewels
The aforementioned War of Wrath was, despite its moniker, a single battle that ended the War of the Great Jewels. The jewels in question areThe Lord of the Rings’Silmarils, three jewels of pure light that were considered the most beautiful objects in all of Middle-earth and desired by many. Morgoth himself sought the Silmarils as a result, waging war against the kingdom of Valinor in order to obtain them. Morgoth succeeded in stealing the Jewels, taking them back to Middle-earth with him.
Celebrimbor’s crafting of the Rings of Power was inspired by the creator of the Silmarils, Fëanor.
Eventually, Morgoth crafted the Iron Crown during the First Age. Morgoth decorated the Iron Crown with the Silmarils and often refused to take it off. As such, the Iron Crown became a symbol of both Morgoth’s power and his desires, as the Silmarils remained coveted by men, elves, dwarves, and Valar across Middle-earth.Up untilThe Lord of the Rings'20 Rings of Power were crafted, the Silmarils were considered the biggest creations in Middle-earthregarding the impact they had on the First Age.
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Interestingly,The Rings of Power’s mention of three human heroesties to the story of Morgoth’s Iron Crown and the Silmarils. InThe Rings of Powerseason 2, episode 5, Sauron mentions Eärendil, Tuor, and Beren to Celebrimbor. The latter of these heroes, Beren, sought to claim a Silmaril from Morgoth as a symbol of his love for an elf named Lúthien. Beren succeeded, with the Silmaril being passed down to Elwing, who eventually married Eärendil. The latter was the one who convinced the Valar to destroy Morgoth, leading to the War of Wrath.
Morgoth’s Crown Shouldn’t Still Exist During The Rings Of Power’s Second Age
Morgoth’s Crown Being Included In The Second Age Is A Change From Tolkien’s Lore
InThe Rings of Powerseason 2, episode 6, it is confirmed that Morgoth’s Iron Crown was eventually passed down to Sauron. The Iron Crown was used by Adar in the assassination attempt of Sauron shown inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, episode 1, and appears again in Adar’s camp in season 2, episode 6. Interestingly, this marks a big lore change from Tolkien’s works, which established a much different history for the Iron Crown.
In Tolkien’s novels, it is mentioned that Morgoth was cast to the Timeless Void after the War of Wrath, never to return. In order to keep Morgoth away from Middle-earth, he was bound with several chains that connected to a collar around his neck. This collar was said to have been forged out of the Iron Crown, meaning the symbol of Morgoth’s former power now serves as a way to keep him imprisoned. As such, the Iron Crown appearing inThe Rings of Power’s timelinemarks a change from Tolkien’s lore.
The Rings Of Power Gives Morgoth’s Crown Special Powers
Morgoth’s Crown Is Given A Big Role In The Rings Of Power
Despite the change to Tolkien’s lore,The Rings of Powerseason 2 gives Morgoth’s Iron Crown a reason for existing. The show establishes that Morgoth’s Crown has an unspecified power, though this certainly makes sense. After all,Morgoth’s Iron Crown was capable of holding the Silmaril, with the Jewels themselves having an unspoken power over every living being. Similarly, the story of Beren and Morgoth ends with the former’s knife, Angrist, being broken against the latter’s crown. Angrist was a special weapon and was said to cut through iron like it was wood, making Morgoth’s Crown incredibly durable.
WithThe Rings of Powerestablishing the special powers of Morgoth’s Crown, it makes sense as to why Adar’s attempt against Sauron’s life diminished the latter’s power…
InThe Rings of Power,Adar mentions that Morgoth’s Crown has the power to vanquish Sauron. This was highlighted inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, episode 1 when Adar used the crown to stab Sauron. Given Sauron’s status as a Maiar, regular swords of Uruks should not kill him as they do in this scene. However, withThe Rings of Powerestablishing the special powers of Morgoth’s Crown, it makes sense as to why Adar’s attempt against Sauron’s life diminished the latter’s power for centuries. Now,Adar intends to use the Iron Crown to kill Sauron once more.
What Morgoth’s Crown Represents In The Rings Of Power
The Iron Crown’s Meaning Remains Consistent Between Novels & TV
Although changes have been made to the Iron Crown inThe Rings of Power, it is intriguing that what it represents mostly remains the same. In Tolkien’s works, Morgoth’s Crown represents pure power. While it also personified Morgoth’s weaknesses, such as his pride and hubris, it represented his power.The Crown, combined with the Silmarils, showed that Morgoth was the single most powerful being in Middle-earthand that only the combined strength of elves, men, and Valar could defeat him in the War of the Great Jewels.
The War of the Great Jewels consisted of six major battles across the First Age.
InThe Rings of Power, the Iron Crown represents similar. Given that Morgoth’s Crown was being used by Sauron as a way to showcase to Adar and the Uruks that he is Morgoth’s successor, the symbolism of power remains. As a double-edged sword, however, the Iron Crown also represents the power to defeat Sauron. If Sauron claims it, he will truly become Morgoth’s successor. That said, if Adar and Galadriel get their wish inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, the Iron Crown will be used to defeat him once and for all.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
