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Mithril is a fictional material from J. R. R. Tolkien's universe, Middle-earth. It is a precious silvery metal, stronger than steel but much lighter in weight, that was mined by the Dwarves in the mines of Khazad-dûm. The name mithril comes from two words in Sindarin—mith, meaning "grey", and ril meaning "glitter". Mithril was also called "true-silver" by Men, while the Dwarves had their own, secret name for it.
Mithril is extremely rare by the end of the Third Age, and found only in Khazad-dûm. The Ñoldor of Eregion made a substance out of it they call ithildin (moon-metal), which was used to decorate gateways and portals. It is visible only by starlight or moonlight and only after it is touched by someone using the right password. The West Gate of Moria is an example.
While Moria is the only known source of mithril, there are indications that it was also found in Númenor and in Aman in smaller quantities.
The Mithril Coat
Of all items made of mithril, the most famous is the coat of mail retrieved from the hoard of the dragon Smaug, and given to Bilbo Baggins by Thorin Oakenshield. Bilbo later gave the coat to his nephew Frodo, who wore it during the Quest to Mount Doom. It saved Frodo's life when he was nearly skewered by an Orc in the Mines of Moria. (In the film adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring, the attack was by a cave troll.) It was later taken by the Orcs who captured him in the pass above Cirith Ungol, and passed on to the Dark Lord's servants at Barad-dûr. When the coat was displayed before the hosts of Aragorn at the Gates of Mordor, many despaired, thinking Frodo had been captured or killed, and the Ring taken. Gandalf reclaimed it from Sauron's lieutenant, and was later able to return it to Frodo after the battles were won.
Other mithril objects
- Galadriel possesses one of the three Elven Rings, Nenya. It is wrought of mithril with a white stone.
- Poking through the closets of Orthanc, King Elessar and his aides found the long lost Elendilmir, a white star of Elvish crystal affixed to a fillet of mithril. Once owned by Elendil, the first King of Arnor, it is an emblem of royalty in the North Kingdom.
- The Dwarves' beloved metal appears in Gondor too, the Kingdom of the South. The Guards of the Citadel of Minas Tirith wear helmets of mithril, "heirlooms from the glory of old days."
- As Aragorn's ships sail up the Anduin to relieve the besieged Minas Tirith during the War of the Ring, the standard flying on his ship shows a crown made of mithril and gold.
- After Gimli became lord of Aglarond, he and his Dwarves forged great gates of mithril to replace the gates of Minas Tirith which were broken by the Witch-king of Angmar.
Mithril, or similarly spelled names, has been used in other fictional contexts as a strong and semi-magical metal. Examples include:
- The role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, where mithral is one of the special materials used to make high-quality or magical items.
- The computer game HeXen II, in which there is a mithril wall underwater that must be transformed into wood via a spell in order to proceed in the game.
- The video game RPG series Final Fantasy, where Mythril is a material for shields, weapons, armour, helmets and so on.
- The computer game ADOM, as a type of metal, one of the strongest.
- The computer game Princess Maker 2 has the character of French aristocrat Francoise More wearing a mithril armor when she fences.
- The computer game Age of Mythology as a special armor type.
- The MMORPG Kings of Chaos as a defence weapon for humans.
- The MMORPG EverQuest as a metal that can make weapons, armor, and other equipment.
- The free online computer game RuneScape (located at runescape.com (http://www.runescape.com)), as a type of weapon and armor, stronger than steel and blue in colour.
- The MMORPG The Realm Online features Mythril as a strong, light-weight metal green in color used to make quality weapons and armor.
- The MMORPG World of WarCraft, where it is used to make weapons, armor, and gadgets.
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