What do you guys think the Arkenstone was? I have wondered occasionally if it is maybe a Silmaril, but then I remember that the two that Maedhros and Maglos took will not be recovered until "the breaking of the world."

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Saying that it's "just another gem" seems kind of impolite (I know, I'm odd). It was certainly no Silmaril. I'm guessing it's a very beautiful kind of mithril, found beneath the roots of Erebor.

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every reader of "The hobbit" can answer you! The arkenstone is a very big diamont which the dwarfs found in the mines (oh i cant remember the name of the mines....) i wouldnt say that it was a silmaril!

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One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

Mine Corma turiën te ilye, Mine Corma tuviën te,
Mine Corma tuciën te ilye ar morniësse nutiën te
Mi Mornanóre yasse caitar Huini.

I don't think it was A silmaril either. In the book, all the simarils are destroyed or lost in some way.

There are several resources on the web which you might find helpful-- interesting too!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkenstone

http://www.councilofelrond.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Encyclopedia&file=index&action=DisplayTerm&pn_vid=&pn_id=2679

Basically, it's described in the book as a white gem with "ten thousand sparks of white radiance." (pg 219, Not At Home, The Hobbit). Whatever else it was, it was obviously one-of-a-kind.

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Starting October 13th: globe trotting from my kitchen. Follow along on Cook In Fifty-Two

Lol, Nimrodel - I have read the Hobbit, which is how I know about the Arkenstone. The question here is, what do you think it was besides a large Diamond. I agree with Elu Thingol - simply 'gem' seems to be too commonplace. It's not an ordinary one, that's for sure.
Maybe it's one of the Elves' attempts to reconstruct the Silmarils....O_O

or not.

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oh...sorry my english isnt aswell as i could understand the real meaning of your question i thought you just wanted to know what it is, but although its clear that it couldnt be a silmaril!

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One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

Mine Corma turiën te ilye, Mine Corma tuviën te,
Mine Corma tuciën te ilye ar morniësse nutiën te
Mi Mornanóre yasse caitar Huini.

Nah. its not a silmaril... It's probably just a very old and important jewl or something that worth alot, and it was surely heritable thing in Thorin's family (precious )
-It's just a stone!

Aerandir:

Wasn't it just a jewel discovered under Erebor, and was found by Thrain I who's descendants worked on it until it looked wonderful? If it was the Elves attempts to reconstruct the Silmaril why would they bury it under Erebor? [/b]

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O Elbereth! Gilthionel!

Well, you never know how it got there...and the elves did try to reconstruct the Silmarils, though they couldn't compare with them...

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Hmmm. Can anyone tell me more about the Elves attempts to reconstruct the Silmarils. Thanks!!

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O Elbereth! Gilthionel!

Need to search so I can come with all the information. Soon I will be back.

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There really could not be any attempt to reconstruct the Silmarils, as they were made to capture the essence of the Two Trees that had been destroyed by Ungoliant (see the Silmarillion)Once the trees are gone, and their essence lost, that's it.

The Arkenstone was probably just an especially large gem of unusual brilliance and clarity. The dwarves may have carved it in order to maximize its capture of ambient light.

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