HISTORY OF THE PALANTIRI

Of the many things of power and beauty wrought by Feanor and his kin in Eldamar, the palantiri (Q. "Farseer"; sing. "palantir") especially served as foci for great events throughout the history of Middle-earth. It is not known how many were created in ancient days, but only seven ever arrived on the shores of Endor. These were originally a gift from the Elves of Aman to Amandil of Andunie, leader of the Faithful of Numenor. The Stones were brought to Middle-earth by Elendil the Tall.

Elendil established the realm of Arnor, while his sons, Isildur and Anarion, travelled farther south and founded the neighboring realm of Gondor. The palantiri were placed so that contact could be maintained between all parts of the two Kingdoms. Three of the Seeing-stones were located in Arnor: at the capital Annuminas, within the tower of Amon Sul, and atop Elostirion in the Tower Hills. The Master Stone, possessing the greatest power of the seven, was placed in Gondor at Osgiliath, while the others rested at Minas Ithil, Minas Anor, and the tower of Orthanc.

Upon the death of Elendil, the Stone at Elostirion was entrusted to the Elves of Mithlond. This was appropriate, because this stone could look only west to the Master Stone at the tower of Avallone on Tol Eressea. Eventually the Elostirion Stone was taken across the sea with the Ringbearers at the end of the Third Age.

The palantir of Osgiliath fell into the Anduin and was lost in T.A. I437 when the capital was burned and ransacked in the midst of the Kin-strife. This was the first of several tragedies to befall the palantiri and those who guarded them.

After the death of King Earendur, Arnor was divided into the three realms of Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur. The Annuminas palantir was retained by Arthedain and moved to Fornost for safe keeping. The possession of the Amon Sul Stone was disputed between the three realms, because the tower was situated on their common border point. The Stone was eventually moved to Fornost following the destruction of the tower of Amon Sul by Rhudaur in T.A. I409.

In T.A. I974, the Witch-king launched an attack upon Arthedain, and King Arvedui was forced to flee with the two palantiri. He took refuge in the Blue Mountains and then with the Lossoth people of the Far North until the minions of the Witch-king had been driven from his lands. Unfortunately, he was shipwrecked and drowned in the Bay of Forochel in T.A. I975 while attempting to return to his Kingdom; the palantiri were lost with him.

The Ithil-stone was taken by Sauron in T.A. 2002 when his forces attacked the city. This Stone, along with those at Minas Anor (re-named Minas Tirith in T.A. 2002) and Orthanc, played a prominent part in the War of the Ring that swept Middle-earth towards the end of the Third Age. By use of the Ithil stone, Sauron was able to ensnare the Istar Saruman and deceive the Steward Denethor II. The Dark Lord's trickery led to the downfall of the former and the death of the latter. However, Aragorn II overcame Sauron's will when he used the Orthanc-stone and thus was able to make informed decisions that swayed the tide of battle in Gondor's favour.

The palantiri look like dark crystal spheres that seem to flicker with a dim inner light. Their size varies from one foot in diameter up to dimensions so great that a man alone cannot lift them. Due to the skill of their creators, the palantiri are virtually indestructible. However, intense enchanted heat may shatter them.

The palantiri were created with invisible, conceptual poles running through them. These must be aligned correctly with the center of the earth before the powers of the Stones can be utilized. Using the Stones, the initiated can gaze over long distances and view scenes far removed from their own location. No sound is transmitted by the Stones, but a viewer can see into any place that is lit, transmitting the image with the same clarity as would be witnessed if he were actually present there. The palantiri are regarded as one of the greatest secrets and, indeed, among the most precious treasures in all Middle-earth.