Literature
Did Galadriel Use the Ring of Power to Destroy Dol Guldur?
Did Galadriel Use the Ring of Power to Destroy Dol Guldur?
Introduction
In the land of Middle-earth as depicted in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, the White Council played a crucial role in the defeat of Sauron during the waning years of the Third Age. Central to this quest was the possession and use of the Rings of Power, with the White Council using their collective might to oust the Necromancer Sauron from Dol Guldur during the hobbit years. Much later in the history of Middle-earth, the quest reached a climactic point with the destruction of the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. This article explores the role of Galadriel's Ring, Nenya, in the destruction of Dol Guldur and discusses the dynamics of the Rings of Power in retaking this fortress of the Dark Lord.
The Fall of Dol Guldur During the Hobbit Years
According to the lore of Middle-earth, the White Council, led by the Grey Wizard Saruman and bolstered by others like Alatar and Pallando, undertook the battle against Sauron when he was revealed at Dol Guldur. The Easterlings and other classes of Orcs were defeated, and the Dark Lord was driven from his fortress. This victory was achieved through a combination of the White Council's collective power and the might of the armies gathered under the banner of the White Council. The use of Nenya, the Ring of Water, is not explicitly mentioned in the primary source texts, but it is reasonable to assume that the power of the White Council was a collaborative effort.
The Return of Sauron and the War of the Ring
Decades later, during the War of the Ring, the power of Sauron had grown significantly. The fortress of Dol Guldur once again became a center of evil forces gathering under Sauron. By this time, the One Ring had been passed to Frodo Baggins, and his quest to destroy the Ring in the fires of Mount Doom had taken center stage. The destruction of the One Ring was the first step in the ultimate defeat of Sauron. After the Ring's destruction, Galadriel, a powerful Elf-lady and bearer of the Nenya, led an army from Lothlórien to confront the forces of Sauron.
Was Nenya Used to Destroy Dol Guldur?
The critical question here is whether Galadriel used Nenya to destroy Dol Guldur. Based on the accepted lore, Nenya was a powerful Ring of Water that, for its efficacy, relied on the power of the One Ring. The conclusion from the events in 'The Return of the King' is that Nenya would have indeed become inert with the destruction of the One Ring, making it unlikely that it played a role in Galadriel's actions at Dol Guldur.
Conclusion
The destruction of Dol Guldur by Galadriel and the forces of the White Council occurred after the defeat of Sauron and the destruction of the One Ring. While Nenya, Galadriel's Ring of Power, was powerful in its own right, its primary function was to protect rather than to destroy. In the context of the battles of the War of the Ring, the might of the Ring was no longer effective, and other means were employed to achieve the necessary outcomes. Although there is no written confirmation of Nenya’s use, the collective power of the White Council, as well as the forces of the Elves and Men, ensured the defeat of the lingering darkness at Dol Guldur.