A guide to all the new and familiar characters on The Rings of Power
Durin IV
- Actor: Owain Arthur
- Books: The Lord of the Rings Appendix A
By the time of The Lord of the Rings, the great dwarf kingdom of Khazad-dûm, a.k.a. Moria, was a tomb. But during the Second Age, Moria is a thriving and beautiful kingdom carved out of the rock of a mountain. During the second episode of the series, we finally meet and learn more about the crown prince of Khazad-dûm and get a peak at the rich culture and history of the dwarves.
Played by Owain Arthur, Durin IV is descended from a long line of Durins and embodies the best and worst parts of dwarf culture. He’s deeply proud of his kingdom, his wife and family, and of being a dwarf. Rivaling his pride is his stubbornness and fierce loyalty to his people.
As dwarves were considered the greatest metalsmiths in Middle-earth, it makes sense that in the second episode Elrond ventures to Moria to request Durin IV’s talents to help build a forge for the elf Celebrimbor, the man who will create the rings of power. Eventually, the dwarves would possess seven rings of power, with Durin IV and his father King Durin III wearing one each.
In Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings, Durin IV is listed under the clan, “Durin’s Folk.” This familial line began with the creation of the dwarves and Durin I by the Valar Aulë. The legendary dwarves Thorin Oakenshield (The Hobbit) and Gimli (The Lord of the Rings) were also members of Durin’s Folk.
Gil-galad
- Actor: Benjamin Walker
- Films: Briefly in The Fellowship of the Ring
- Books: The Silmarillion; The History of Middle Earth; The Nature of Middle Earth; The Fellowship of the Ring
The Lord of the Rings fans will recognize Gil-galad from the poem Samwise Gamgee sings to the three other Hobbits. “The Fall of Gil-galad” tells of the death of the elven High King “in Mordor where the shadows are.”
Gil-galad is another ancient legendary elf who, in the Second Age, reigned as the High King of the Noldor — the clan of elves who left Valinor and settled in the western parts of Middle-earth. He was essentially the highest ruling elf in all Middle-earth at the time.
In The Rings of Power, Gil-galad is portrayed as stoic and revered, embodying authority and wisdom. And while he promotes peace above all else, Gil-galad isn’t blind to the shadow of evil that’s growing in Middle-earth, as seen in his trust and confidence in Elrond to help Celebrimbor craft something new and powerful (the rings of power).
In Tolkien’s lore, Gil-galad and Elrond meet a mysterious stranger named Annatar, the Lord of Gifts. Gil-galad doesn’t trust this person’s intentions and refuses him (Galadriel also mistrusts him). It is later revealed that Annatar was Sauron in disguise. Eventually, Gil-galad holds two rings of power (Vilya and Narya), which he passed on to Elrond and Círdan before his death in the last battle against Sauron at the end of the Second Age.
