Seven Stars was a common symbol throughout Arda.
It refers to the constellation that turns through the northern skies every night of the year. To the Elves this was the Valacirca that signalled the downfall of Morgoth,[1] but the Men of the Northern lands called it simply 'The Wain'.[2] The Seven Stars are today known as the Plough, or the Big Dipper.
The Doors of Durin also displayed seven stars with a crown, probably representing Durin's Crown.
The Seven Stars were also a symbol of Elendil: The Faithful escaped the Akallabêth on Elendil's nine ships.[3] Of those nine, each of the seven which carried one of the Palantíri had a single five-rayed star on its sail.[4] When Narsil was reforged, in Andúril's blade were traced seven stars, set between a crescent Moon and a rayed Sun.[5] In the Rhyme of Lore remembered by Gandalf, they are mentioned along with the seven Palantíri.[6] The Crown of Gondor bore seven jewels of adamant set in the circlet.[7]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "A Warm Welcome"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, citing from J.R.R. Tolkien's notes for the entry Elendil in the index of the George Allen & Unwin second edition of The Lord of the Rings from 1966, p. 436
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Ring Goes South"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Palantír"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Steward and the King"