RELATED: Lord Of The Rings: Important Characters From The Books Who Weren’t In The Movies
With so much of the action now happening in Numenor, there’s even more from Tolkien’s myth and legend collection to impress the dedicated readers who know the books and have their knowledge of the lore intact. What are some Lord of the Rings Easter eggs in Rings of Power episodes 3 and 4 that only readers of novels would have picked up on?
6 East And West
Numenor was located in the middle of an ocean. Sail west and the boat would go to the Undying Lands, the home of the Elves and the Valar. This is why the western part of the country is known for Elvish names and the use of the Quenya language, which Empress Regent Miriel partly explains in her conversation with Elendil in Rings of Power episode 3.
Sail from the east to find Middle-earth, which is the home of several prominent Elves such as Gil-galad and Elrond. The human region of Beleriand was formerly a part of this eastern continent, but it was destroyed during the War of Wrath.
5 Silvan Elves And The Trees
At the beginning of episode 4, the orc captors order Ardondir and his companions to cut down a tree that lies in their path, and they initially refuse based on some strong beliefs about the integrity of trees. He speaks to the tree, almost like a prayer or apology, before viciously chopping it down.
RELATED: LOTR The Rings Of Power: Characters Created For The Show
Two characters in the movies, Treebeard and Legolas, have lines about this custom, but only book readers understand they’re talking about an important part of Elf culture. Arondir and his companions might be a mix of different kinds of Elves, but he’s a Wood Elf, born in the forests of Beleriand, and his people were the first to speak to the trees.
4 The Legacy Of Elros
Books like The Silmarillion tell the story of Numenor in more detail, including how the kingdom was founded. Elros was the first king of Numenor, and in the more than 400 years that he ruled that kingdom, he laid the groundwork for a formidable empire.
The Valar not only gifted this kingdom to their human allies but sent their angelic servants, the Maiar, to help them build some of its most stunning landmarks and other important details, like a system of government and a thriving economy. Manwë, the leader of the Maiar, helped to build the royal palace of Elros, and until the Downfall eons later his eagles guarded the sacred peak of Mount Meneltarma.
3 The Harfoot Migration
There is a lot about the Harfoots that are intended to remind the viewer of Hobbits, but one interesting difference is that Harfoots are nomadic while Hobbits are deeply attached to their permanent homes. Part of the story of the Second Age of Middle-earth is how that change came to pass, and it began with a migration.
RELATED: Lord Of The Rings: Best Things In The Rings Of Power (& The Worst)
One of the three original races of mortals that would eventually evolve into Hobbits, the Harfoots were the first group to migrate west towards the kingdom of Arnor and the lands of the Dúnedain, who named them halflings. They merged with the Fallohides and built permanent villages that would eventually become Bree and the Shire.
2 The Downfall
There are some references to the ultimate fate of Numenor in the movies, but only book readers know the finer details. With the ancient legend of Atlantis as an obvious parallel, which is a lot more obvious in the books, readers know that the ultimate fate of the island nation lies at the bottom of the ocean.
Miriel’s vision of the incoming tidal wave in episode 4 is a chilling one, to say the least, but book readers are aware that there was never a specific vision of destruction. The Ban of the Valar had been in effect since the island had been given to Men, but no specific threat was ever made should the rules be broken. Elendil recognized that the people of Numenor were turning away from the Valar, but he gathered the faithful quietly until the Emperor tried to force his way into Valinor.
1 Sauron And The Southlands
Fans of The Lord of the Rings movies know that Sauron’s home in Mordor is in the east of Middle-earth, and most of his human followers were recruited from the south. Rings of Power seems to be answering the same question that Faramir did in both the movies and the books as to what motivated the people of the south. Was it greed and spite, or desperation and fear?
The mysterious symbol that Galadriel carries, which she discovers is a map in episode 3, partly includes this region. In the books, Sauron choose it because it was surrounded by mountains on three sides, making it easier to defend against invaders. In a bit of irony, this land was formed from the ruins left behind after the War of Wrath, which ended the reign of Morgoth for good and changed the face of the whole continent.
MORE: The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power – Easter Eggs Only Book Readers Noticed In Episodes 1 & 2
