Episode 5 of season 2 of Rings of Power looks at a structure well known to fans of the Lord of the Rings : Durin’s Gates, also known as the Gates of Moria. They symbolize the relationship between Elves and Dwarves, and have great significance in the Prime Video series.
They are the pride of Narvi, master smith, and of all the Dwarves who have ever had the chance to see them: the Gates of Durin have made their spectacular entrance into The Rings of Powerduring episode 5 of season 2, available on Prime Video. Does this name ring a bell? It’s totally normal, and the series also has fun winking at fans of the Lord of the Rings.
Warning, the rest of this article contains spoilers for episode 5 of season 2 of Rings of Poweras well as on The Lord of the Rings in general.
« Speak, friend, and enter »
At first glance, one might think that Durin’s Gates serve only to mark the western entrance to the underground kingdom of Khazad-dûm. However, this is not a common portal giving access to the dwarven mines, but a much more prestigious creation. We owe it to Narvi. With his elf friend Celebrimbor, he is at the origin of this construction.
Together, they mine the mithril, so coveted to craft the rings of power, in order to create another opening in the mountain, and facilitate travel between the Elven forge at Ost-in-Edhil, and Khazad-dûm. Celebrimbor, for his part, takes charge of usingithildina material created by the Elves, and which has the ability to shine when exposed to the light of the moon and stars. Thus, it serves as a secret decoration, to transmit a message.
The inscriptions, written in Tengwar, an Elvish language, mean: ” The Gates of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter. I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Houssaye carved these signs. »
Like all doors created by the Dwarves, they are undetectable from the outside once closed, and blend perfectly into the decor. They only open by touch, if you know how to find them, as well as by mentioning a specific password. Here, the code symbolizes the unwavering friendship between the Elves and the Dwarves.
What is the password to Durin’s Gates?
Before imposing itself in The Rings of Powerthese famous doors were first of all of capital importance in the events of the Lord of the Rings. Remember: in the first part, The Fellowship of the Ringthe troop formed by Frodon, Sam, Gandalf and their friends thus seeks to join Moria, namely the ruins of an ancient dwarven city of Middle-earth. These are then those of Khazad-dûm, a kingdom fallen in the Third Age because of the greed of the Dwarves, who end up awakening a Balrog, a demonic creature.
The Fellowship of the Ring seeks to cross them to cross the Mountains of Mist, thanks to the western gates of Durin. Gandalf and Merry then decipher the riddle written on the gates, and thus discover the password necessary to open them. This is the word « mellon »which means « ami » in Sindarin, an Elvish language. Hey, hey, does that ring a bell?
Friendship above all
In episode 5 of season 2 of Rings of PowerNarvi presents his masterpiece to Celebrimbor, as well as to an audience of already conquered Dwarves and Elves. In his description, he specifies that the inscriptions will be visible only “in the moonlight” and that a password will be required to open them, “only known by our friends”.
We can see here a nod to this famous enigma which posed some difficulties to Gandalf, but also a reference to the friendship which ended up being born between the Elf Legolas and the Dwarf Gimli over the course of their adventures. In The Return of the Kingthird part of the trilogy, the two friends exchange a few words: “I never thought I would die in battle next to an Elf! – And what do you think of dying next to a friend?”. Narvi would certainly have shed a little tear.
Source: www.numerama.com
