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Nineteen Rings and One Lie: How the Rings of Power Were Made

The newest tale

Nineteen Rings and One Lie

How the Rings of Power Were Made

Everyone can recite the ring-verse, but the three-seven-nine split was never a plan. It was an inventory taken in a burned city.

Published on
16 October 2026
Runtime
33 min 53 sec
The next tale hangs Tuesday, 20 October

Tolkien Illuminations3

The Ages of Middle-earth: 55,000 Years on One LineThe Ages of Middle-earth55,000 Years on One LineNo. 3 · 6:17 · 11 October 2026 · TimelineAragorn Family Tree: Elros, Elendil, Isildur, AragornAragorn Family TreeElros, Elendil, Isildur, AragornNo. 2 · 6:34 · 4 October 2026 · Family treeThe Fellowship's Journey Map: Bag End to Mount DoomThe Fellowship's Journey MapBag End to Mount DoomNo. 1 · 7:10 · 27 September 2026 · Journey map
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Figures of Legend26

Nineteen Rings and One Lie: How the Rings of Power Were MadeNineteen Rings and One LieHow the Rings of Power Were Made33:53 · 16 October 2026Why Sauron Never Conquered Gil-galadWhy Sauron Never Conquered Gil-galad36:40 · 13 October 2026Ar-Pharazôn: The King Who Invaded HeavenAr-PharazônThe King Who Invaded Heaven34:37 · 6 October 2026What Happens When a Maia Dies?What Happens When a Maia Dies?34:36 · 29 September 2026Eärendil: The Mariner Who Became a StarEärendilThe Mariner Who Became a Star32:16 · 15 September 2026The Last Alliance of Elves and Men: The Victory That Doomed Middle-earthThe Last Alliance of Elves and MenThe Victory That Doomed Middle-earth21:56 · 8 September 2026The White Council: 1,750 Years to Name SauronThe White Council1,750 Years to Name Sauron34:40 · 1 September 2026Elendil the Tall: The Man Who Saved Numenor's SoulElendil the TallThe Man Who Saved Numenor's Soul28:41 · 28 August 2026Why Didn't Sauron Guard Mount Doom? What He Actually FearedWhy Didn't Sauron Guard Mount Doom? What He Actually Feared33:01 · 18 August 2026Ring of Barahir: The Ring With No PowerRing of BarahirThe Ring With No Power30:15 · 14 August 2026Annatar: How Sauron Fooled the Greatest Elven-SmithAnnatarHow Sauron Fooled the Greatest Elven-Smith28:58 · 4 August 2026Aragorn: The 87 Lost Years Tolkien Hid From YouAragornThe 87 Lost Years Tolkien Hid From You33:09 · 24 July 2026Witch-king of Angmar: Rise & Fall of the Nazgul LordWitch-king of AngmarRise & Fall of the Nazgul Lord22:38 · 17 July 2026Queen Beruthiel and Her Cats: A Strange Tolkien MysteryQueen Beruthiel and Her CatsA Strange Tolkien Mystery28:00 · 14 July 2026Who Were the Nine Ringwraiths?Who Were the Nine Ringwraiths?22:12 · 10 July 2026Lúthien: The Maiden Who Broke MorgothLúthienThe Maiden Who Broke Morgoth28:53 · 26 June 2026The Five Wizards of Middle-earth: Istari Ranked by True PowerThe Five Wizards of Middle-earthIstari Ranked by True Power24:12 · 9 June 2026Elwing the White: The Forgotten Queen of Eärendil's TaleElwing the WhiteThe Forgotten Queen of Eärendil's Tale27:08 · 5 June 2026Isildur: Hero or Failure?IsildurHero or Failure?30:20 · 29 May 2026Grima Wormtongue: The Villain Who Needed No SwordGrima WormtongueThe Villain Who Needed No Sword26:26 · 19 May 2026The Blue Wizards: Did They Defeat Sauron?The Blue WizardsDid They Defeat Sauron?28:27 · 12 May 2026Saruman's Fall: Why the Greatest Wizard Betrayed His OrderSaruman's FallWhy the Greatest Wizard Betrayed His Order32:54 · 17 April 2026Strongest Elf Warriors Ranked: Fingolfin to LegolasStrongest Elf Warriors RankedFingolfin to Legolas31:11 · 14 April 2026Unlikely Heroes: Why the Powerless Saved Middle-earthUnlikely HeroesWhy the Powerless Saved Middle-earth28:48 · 25 March 2026Children of Hurin: Tolkien's Darkest TragedyChildren of HurinTolkien's Darkest Tragedy28:43 · 20 March 2026Galadriel: The Last of the MightyGaladrielThe Last of the Mighty7 November 2025

Wars & Battles7

Middle-earth Battles Ranked: Numbers Tolkien Never WroteMiddle-earth Battles RankedNumbers Tolkien Never Wrote34:08 · 9 October 2026The Last Alliance of Elves and Men: The Victory That Doomed Middle-earthThe Last Alliance of Elves and MenThe Victory That Doomed Middle-earth21:56 · 8 September 2026A Brief History of Middle-earth: What Happened Before The Ring?A Brief History of Middle-earthWhat Happened Before The Ring?33:09 · 31 July 2026Nirnaeth Arnoediad: The Battle of Unnumbered TearsNirnaeth ArnoediadThe Battle of Unnumbered Tears27:44 · 7 July 2026War of the Powers: How Tulkas Captured MelkorWar of the PowersHow Tulkas Captured Melkor35:08 · 26 May 2026The War of Wrath: How Morgoth Finally FellThe War of WrathHow Morgoth Finally Fell29:45 · 3 April 2026The Fall of Gondolin: Tolkien's First Great TaleThe Fall of GondolinTolkien's First Great Tale13 November 2025

Realms & Places11

Ar-Pharazôn: The King Who Invaded HeavenAr-PharazônThe King Who Invaded Heaven34:37 · 6 October 2026Utumno: Morgoth's First HellUtumnoMorgoth's First Hell22:35 · 4 September 2026Elendil the Tall: The Man Who Saved Numenor's SoulElendil the TallThe Man Who Saved Numenor's Soul28:41 · 28 August 2026Shelob's Lair: Cirith Ungol, the Spider's Pass Into MordorShelob's LairCirith Ungol, the Spider's Pass Into Mordor32:51 · 21 August 2026Doriath: Thingol, Melian, and the Fall of MenegrothDoriathThingol, Melian, and the Fall of Menegroth34:54 · 19 June 2026Barad-dûr: The Tower Built on Sauron's SoulBarad-dûrThe Tower Built on Sauron's Soul29:38 · 8 May 2026Middle-earth Maps Explained: How Tolkien's World Changed Across the AgesMiddle-earth Maps ExplainedHow Tolkien's World Changed Across the Ages27:18 · 5 May 2026Isengard: The Tower That Defeated SarumanIsengardThe Tower That Defeated Saruman31:48 · 31 March 2026Angband: Morgoth's Iron HellAngbandMorgoth's Iron Hell23:50 · 3 February 2026The Fall of Gondolin: Tolkien's First Great TaleThe Fall of GondolinTolkien's First Great Tale13 November 2025History of the ShireHistory of the Shire27 October 2025

Rings & Relics7

Nineteen Rings and One Lie: How the Rings of Power Were MadeNineteen Rings and One LieHow the Rings of Power Were Made33:53 · 16 October 2026Nenya: What Galadriel's Ring Actually DoesNenyaWhat Galadriel's Ring Actually Does27:57 · 25 August 2026Ring of Barahir: The Ring With No PowerRing of BarahirThe Ring With No Power30:15 · 14 August 2026Annatar: How Sauron Fooled the Greatest Elven-SmithAnnatarHow Sauron Fooled the Greatest Elven-Smith28:58 · 4 August 2026Andúril and Narsil: Why Sauron Feared the Broken SwordAndúril and NarsilWhy Sauron Feared the Broken Sword36:07 · 16 June 2026The One Ring: How It Actually WorksThe One RingHow It Actually Works34:43 · 12 June 2026The Silmarils: Three Jewels That Doomed the First AgeThe SilmarilsThree Jewels That Doomed the First Age32:26 · 29 November 2025

Peoples & Creatures12

The Origin of Hobbits: The One Myth Tolkien Never WroteThe Origin of HobbitsThe One Myth Tolkien Never Wrote32:56 · 22 September 2026Shelob's Lair: Cirith Ungol, the Spider's Pass Into MordorShelob's LairCirith Ungol, the Spider's Pass Into Mordor32:51 · 21 August 2026Ungoliant: Is She Still Alive?UngoliantIs She Still Alive?32:42 · 11 August 2026Middle-earth's Most Powerful BeingsMiddle-earth's Most Powerful Beings35:28 · 7 August 2026Do Orcs Have Souls? The Question Tolkien Couldn't AnswerDo Orcs Have Souls? The Question Tolkien Couldn't Answer21:03 · 21 July 2026The Stoors: Gollum's Forgotten Hobbit FamilyThe StoorsGollum's Forgotten Hobbit Family28:50 · 3 July 2026The Dead Men of Dunharrow: The Oath That Cursed Them 3,000 YearsThe Dead Men of DunharrowThe Oath That Cursed Them 3,000 Years23:46 · 30 June 2026Evil Dwarves: When Aule's Children Served MorgothEvil DwarvesWhen Aule's Children Served Morgoth41:34 · 23 June 2026The Awakening of the Elves: How Middle-earth BeganThe Awakening of the ElvesHow Middle-earth Began34:14 · 22 May 2026How Many Balrogs Were There? Tolkien's Great DebateHow Many Balrogs Were There? Tolkien's Great Debate23:22 · 28 April 2026Dragon-Sickness: The Cursed Gold That Destroyed KingsDragon-SicknessThe Cursed Gold That Destroyed Kings31:32 · 10 April 2026Goblins vs Orcs vs Uruk-hai: What's the Difference?Goblins vs Orcs vs Uruk-haiWhat's the Difference?25:41 · 30 January 2026

Mysteries & Curiosities13

Why Sauron Never Conquered Gil-galadWhy Sauron Never Conquered Gil-galad36:40 · 13 October 2026Middle-earth Battles Ranked: Numbers Tolkien Never WroteMiddle-earth Battles RankedNumbers Tolkien Never Wrote34:08 · 9 October 2026The Origin of Hobbits: The One Myth Tolkien Never WroteThe Origin of HobbitsThe One Myth Tolkien Never Wrote32:56 · 22 September 2026The White Council: 1,750 Years to Name SauronThe White Council1,750 Years to Name Sauron34:40 · 1 September 2026Nenya: What Galadriel's Ring Actually DoesNenyaWhat Galadriel's Ring Actually Does27:57 · 25 August 2026Why Didn't Sauron Guard Mount Doom? What He Actually FearedWhy Didn't Sauron Guard Mount Doom? What He Actually Feared33:01 · 18 August 2026Ungoliant: Is She Still Alive?UngoliantIs She Still Alive?32:42 · 11 August 2026Queen Beruthiel and Her Cats: A Strange Tolkien MysteryQueen Beruthiel and Her CatsA Strange Tolkien Mystery28:00 · 14 July 2026The Dead Men of Dunharrow: The Oath That Cursed Them 3,000 YearsThe Dead Men of DunharrowThe Oath That Cursed Them 3,000 Years23:46 · 30 June 2026The Blue Wizards: Did They Defeat Sauron?The Blue WizardsDid They Defeat Sauron?28:27 · 12 May 2026How Many Balrogs Were There? Tolkien's Great DebateHow Many Balrogs Were There? Tolkien's Great Debate23:22 · 28 April 2026Dragon-Sickness: The Cursed Gold That Destroyed KingsDragon-SicknessThe Cursed Gold That Destroyed Kings31:32 · 10 April 2026Pipeweed: How Saruman Corrupted the ShirePipeweedHow Saruman Corrupted the Shire25:30 · 6 January 2026

The Deep Lore15

What Happens When a Maia Dies?What Happens When a Maia Dies?34:36 · 29 September 2026Eärendil: The Mariner Who Became a StarEärendilThe Mariner Who Became a Star32:16 · 15 September 2026Utumno: Morgoth's First HellUtumnoMorgoth's First Hell22:35 · 4 September 2026Middle-earth's Most Powerful BeingsMiddle-earth's Most Powerful Beings35:28 · 7 August 2026A Brief History of Middle-earth: What Happened Before The Ring?A Brief History of Middle-earthWhat Happened Before The Ring?33:09 · 31 July 2026Tolkien's Magic Explained: Why Gandalf Doesn't Cast SpellsTolkien's Magic ExplainedWhy Gandalf Doesn't Cast Spells35:29 · 28 July 2026Do Orcs Have Souls? The Question Tolkien Couldn't AnswerDo Orcs Have Souls? The Question Tolkien Couldn't Answer21:03 · 21 July 2026The One Ring: How It Actually WorksThe One RingHow It Actually Works34:43 · 12 June 2026The Lost Chapters: What Colbert's New LOTR Movie Will RestoreThe Lost ChaptersWhat Colbert's New LOTR Movie Will Restore31:13 · 2 June 2026What Gandalf Knew About the MachineWhat Gandalf Knew About the Machine31:49 · 31 May 2026War of the Powers: How Tulkas Captured MelkorWar of the PowersHow Tulkas Captured Melkor35:08 · 26 May 2026The Awakening of the Elves: How Middle-earth BeganThe Awakening of the ElvesHow Middle-earth Began34:14 · 22 May 2026The Maiar: Tolkien's Angels Ranked by PowerThe MaiarTolkien's Angels Ranked by Power30:48 · 15 May 2026Tolkien's Hidden Christmas StoryTolkien's Hidden Christmas Story22:48 · 18 December 2025The Valar: Gods of Middle-earth ExplainedThe ValarGods of Middle-earth Explained14 November 2025

Postscript

A quick summary of anything interesting I find related to Tolkien. Once a month, no clutter.

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