Unveiling Hidden Treasures: The Legendary Weapons and Armor You Might Have Overlooked in The Rings of Power

In the riveting finale of Season 2 of Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, we witness an intriguing moment: Tar-Míriel hands over the illustrious sword Narsil to Elendil. Now, before you roll your eyes thinking this is just another sword handover story, let me remind you that this is the very same sword that Isildur will later employ to sever the One Ring from Sauron's finger. Yes, that ring—the one that sends shivers down the spines of even the bravest souls who dare think of it. And let’s not forget that this iconic blade will undergo a makeover into Aragorn's Andúril. Talk about a glow-up!

Now, this episode may have been the debutante ball for Narsil in The Rings of Power, but she actually had an earlier cameo in Season One. Remember that little adventure when Galadriel crashed Tar-Palantir's tower uninvited? Among the odds and ends in the background was none other than our star-studded sword. And, oh, it wasn’t alone! The tower’s décor included a metal shield shaped like two birds, a golden battle-axe, and a rather dashing masked helmet with a crest. A fashion statement worthy of any Middle-earth gala.

Once audiences soaked in this visual feast, eager fans couldn’t help but speculate about these artifacts, linking them to the sprawling lore of J.R.R. Tolkien, particularly its treasure trove known as The Silmarillion. Concept art from Wētā Workshop later confirmed the identities of the shield and axe, while leaving just enough mystery around the helmet to keep us guessing. Sure, these treasures might seem like just Easter eggs for Tolkien aficionados, but who knows? They could become more than mere embellishments, much like Narsil’s own journey of destiny.

As it turns out, that swan-emblazoned shield and axe had belonged to none other than Tuor, the grandfather of Elrond from The Lord of the Rings. A former man raised by elves—Tuor surely had a tale to tell. Picture this: a mighty warrior sent by Ulmo, the Vala of Water, to rescue Middle-earth from the clutches of Morgoth. In a riveting twist of fate, in the year 495 of the First Age—nearly 3,000 years before Sauron's inevitable defeat—Tuor followed a flock of swans toward the deserted city of Vinyamar, where treasures awaited him. Among them was a shield bedecked with two swans. Tolkien’s version wore its blue and white shades like a proud flag, while in The Rings of Power, it is resplendent in silver.

But wait, there’s more! Tuor also took a fateful trip to Gondolin, where he snagged himself a princess named Idril and fought valiantly against Morgoth's forces with an axe called Dramborleg. This axe—let us pause for a moment to appreciate its melodious name meaning "Thudder-Sharp"—could slice like a sword and bludgeon like a club. You see, Tolkien was a sentimental sort; he didn’t specify where Tuor found Dramborleg, yet we can surmise it was wielded in Gondolin's fabled corridors. Legend has it in earlier drafts, he vanquished five Balrogs with it. Yes, five! You’d think he was up for a record at the Middle-earth Olympics.

Tuor, a man of many legacies, was not just significant because of his valor; he is also an ancestor of Elros, Elrond’s brother, who turned his back on Elven immortality to become the very first King of Númenor. What a family reunion that must have been, filled with tales of glory and tragedy!

Now, let's talk about that enigmatic helmet hanging in Tar-Palantir's tower. While Wētā Workshop kept the name of this shiny treasure under wraps, fans speculate it’s the famous Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin, worn by Túrin, another consequential character from the First Age. Túrin’s saga, peppered with tragedy like a dark fairy tale, saw him entangled in a curse by Morgoth that brought calamity to his life and those he loved. Oh, the irony! This heirloom helmet sported the visage of Glaurung, the first dragon of Middle-earth, who happened to be Túrin’s thorn-in-the-side nemesis.

In Tolkien’s grand tapestry, Dramborleg indeed found its way into the royal lineage of Númenor, but the other two treasures wandered off into obscurity. The fate of the swan shield remains a head-scratcher, although we like to think Tuor took it along when he and Idril sailed for the Undying Lands. Does it get any more picturesque?

Despite the slight liberties taken with lore, having Tuor’s swan shield and the Dragon-helm in Tar-Palantir's tower was a delightful treasure hunt for alert fans of Tolkien’s work. It's always a joy to see Wētā Workshop’s interpretations breathe new life into the legendary weapons and armor from the First Age. Because let’s be honest—who doesn’t love a charismatic sword, a heroic axe, and a helmet with a story?”