20 surprising Lord of the Rings facts and hidden Easter eggs even die-hard fans don't know

Professor JRR Tolkien’s mystical and magical world, The Lord of the Rings, may have been around since 1954, but it is still surprising readers and fans around the world decades later.

And, as we close in on the release of the third season of Prime Video’s epic TV spin-off series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power in November, we thought we’d delve into some of the lesser-known facts, tidbits and Easter eggs from throughout both the TV show & Peter Jackson’s legendary trilogy.

And although we don’t have the 20 Rings of Power handy, we’re sure these 20 facts about the franchise are just as valuable to the real fans around the world.

1. Forodwaith has a chilling origin story

During the first episode of The Rings of Power, ‘A Shadow of the Past’, we see Galadriel (played by Morfydd Clark) battling a snow troll while looking for Sauron (Charlie Vickers) in the ancient land of Forodwaith. An entire season later, during season 2 episode one, ‘Elven Kings Under the Sky’, we witness a flashback of Sauron attempting to claim control over the Orcfolk before being skewered to death by Adar (Sam Hazeldine) - and more on him later.

While these were no doubt significant moments throughout the lore of The Rings of Power, the location itself holds a great deal of history. Forodwaith is situated at the northernmost tip of the map of Middle-earth, and has maintained incredibly icy conditions for generations. This is due to its location being between the Gap of Ilmen (the greater atmosphere of the land) and one of Morgoth’s fortresses, creating an "evil cold" throughout the area. Over the centuries many creatures resided here, including dragons and the Snowmen of Forochel, who would ice skate around the frozen wastes by using bones as blades.

2. The Elves make their ships look like swans for a historic reason

No fan of the series will ever forget when Frodo (Elijah Wood) and the other Ring-bearers sailed off to Valinor from the Grey Havens on ships with swan-head masts. This wasn’t just pretty decoration, though. Keen-eyed fans might recall Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) made her presence known to the Fellowship of the Ring in a swan ship, as well.

And throughout The Rings of Power references have been made to swan boats. This is because they are a revered and respected creature in Elven lore. Back in the First Age, Ossë, a Maia (god) sent a flock of swans to draw the ships of the Telerin Elves across the seas to Aman safely. Those elves who remained in Middle-earth, the Sindar, adopted the swan as their noble symbol.

3. Galadriel’s magical phial has a connection to Elrond’s family

One of the most powerful images of The Lord of the Rings trilogy is Frodo facing off against Shelob, the enormous and ferocious spider. He turns the tide against the beast when he uses the gift Galadriel gave him, a phial full of mystical water taken from her personal fountain. This water contained the light of a star, which came from the Two Trees of Valinor. The origin of this water has a unique connection to the great Half-elf Elrond (Hugo Weaving), though.

The water’s light was originally delivered by Eärendil, a mighty Half-elf mariner who sailed to Valinor and (somehow) carried a star across the sky at the end of the First Age. He later had a son with Half-elven noblewoman Elwing, Elrond.

4. Elrond and Arwen have a forgotten connection to Galadriel

Speaking of Elrond, his family lineage runs deep throughout the race of Elves. As he was born in 532 of the First Age, he has seen and done it all. We’re seeing the extent of how important he is to the development of the Elves in The Rings of Power, and indeed how complicated his relationship is with Galadriel.

Eventually, though, their relationship becomes even more intertwined, as Elrond (played by Robert Aramayo in The Rings of Power) goes on to wed Galadriel’s daughter, Celebrían, in 109 of the Third Age. They have a pair of twin boys, Elladan and Elrohir, before Arwen (Liv Tyler) is born. That means Galadriel is Elrond’s mother-in-law, Arwen’s grandmother and Aragorn’s (Viggo Mortensen) grandmother-in-law.

All of this becomes hugely awkward when one recalls that the unlikely duo shared a kiss during season 2 of The Rings of Power. It must get pretty awkward around the dinner table during the holidays…

5. Galadriel’s gift to Gimli became a Dwarven heirloom

The Fellowship of the Ring were suitably in tatters when they finally arrived at the woods of Lothlórien after the tragic demise of Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) at the hands of the Balrog of Moria, Durin’s Bane. They were heartened, then, when the Elf-queen Galadriel granted each of the team a gift to help them along their travels.

Gimli (John Rhys-Davies), son of Gloin, the mighty dwarf, requested a single golden hair from her head. In her benevolence, she bequeathed three upon him; a token he then treasured forever. In Tolkien’s books it was revealed Gimli expresses his intent to cast the three hairs within crystal, making them an heirloom of his family forevermore.

6. Saruman’s death was even more gruesome than the movies

Saruman’s (Christopher Lee) death in Peter Jackson’s The Return of the King (movie) is brutal. After becoming trapped in Isengard’s tower, Orthanc, he was stabbed in the back by Grima Wormtongue (Bradford Claude Dourif). But the books don’t let him get away with his devilry that easily.

In Tolkien’s tomes, Saruman later went on to take over the Shire in a much-beloved passage called The Scouring of the Shire. When Frodo, Sam (Sean Astin), Merry (Dominic Monaghan), Pippin (Billy Boyd) and Bolger finally confront the wizard, though, they witnessed him berating Wormtongue to an immense degree. The sharp-worded sorcerer eventually pushed his thrall too far. Wormtongue jumped on his back and slit his throat with a stolen dagger. Saruman’s body then writhed around and disappeared into nothing (sort of like Obi-Wan Kenobi in A New Hope).

7. Gandalf’s original name was not Mithrandir

From one wizard to another, in The Rings of Power Gandalf is known to the Harfoots as Grand Elf, and this is one of many titles he’s been given over his enormous lifespan.

Mithrandir is his best-known nickname, with most realms of men calling him this mystical wizard-esque title. Before that, he was first known as Olórin. This name was given to him in Valinor, and derives from the Quenya word Olor or Olos, meaning 'dream'.

8. The One Ring started out as a wedding ring

In terms of origins, the film series's One Ring had a huge amount of development. In the early stages of pre-production, Peter Jackson worked closely with film producer Rick Porras to craft the perfect-looking evil Ring of Power. Together, they worked on creating 15 different types of prototypes for the ring’s look, feel and style. Eventually, however, they settled on one they used as a stand-in.

Porras’s wedding ring was used as a stand-in when he played a stand-in for Gollum/Sméagol (Andy Serkis) during a screen test. Jackson loved the look of his simple gold ring so much he ended up using it as a basis for the final prop.

9. We’ve only scratched the surface of the Barrow-downs

Season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power introduced the Barrow-wights; creatures hailing from the Barrow-downs nearer to Hobbiton and the Shire than the likes of Rivendell or Gondor. Tolkien scholars will recall the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring book sends Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Samwise through the devious and malevolent Barrow-downs, where they were captured, fought against reanimated warriors and were ultimately saved from further chaos by Tom Bombadil.

This was a major part of the Hobbits' journey, as it was their first foray into real threat; Gandalf had left them to their own devices and the foursome were forced to fight their own battle. At the end of it, they gained a great amount of battle experience, as well as their own mystical swords - The Barrow-blades. Fans will see this story play out properly for the first time in the upcoming movie, The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, which is being written by Stephen Colbert. It currently does not have a release date.

10. Adar's origins paved the way for the Uruk-hai

While Adar is not considered totally canon in the Tolkien-verse, his origins are extremely interesting. We know that he was born or created in Cuiviénen, where the Elves first appeared during the First Age. However, he became one of the 13 creatures corrupted by Morgoth. Sauron fed him a corrupted chalice of wine, turning him into an unusual Orc-elf hybrid.

This is not unlike the Uruk-hai, who maintain prominence throughout The Lord of the Rings at large. They were originally created by Saruman through a (speculated) cross-breeding of men and Orcs. Therefore, Adar is certainly another early example of this same mixing of evildoers.

11. One of Tolkien’s most famous characters made a cameo in The Rings of Power

During one of Galadriel’s many muse-filled jaunts around Lindon, a statue of an Elfen woman could be spotted alongside a large dog, otherwise known as the Hound of Valinor. This marble display is none other than Luthien, one of Tolkien’s most famous characters. He based her on his real-life wife, Edith Mary Tolkien, and marked her as one of the heroes in his epic poem about Beren (his Middle-earth counterpart) and Luthien.

Much like Aragorn and Arwen, they are star-crossed lovers; he, a mortal and she, an Elf, destined for tragedy as they battled through her father’s wishes so they could finally be wed. It’s really quite epic, and Tolkien’s son, Christopher Tolkien, edited the story into its purest form in 2017.

12. The Witch-king of Angmar’s demise was foretold by a great Elf warrior

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As we all know, "no man can kill" the Witch-king of Angmar. This was proved to be true during the events of The Return of the King when Eowyn (Miranda Otto), disguised as a man during the fight for Middle-earth, struck down the violent warrior on the field of battle.

The prophetic curse was originally placed upon the Witch-king by one of Tolkien’s mightiest Elves, Glorfindel. After defeating the demon’s forces during the Battle of Fornost in 1975 of the Second Age, Eärnur attempted to chase down the fleeing warrior. Glorfindel called after him: "Do not pursue him! He will not return to these lands. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man shall he fall."

13. The Nazgûl’s scream was performed by Peter Jackson’s wife

The Witch-king and his Nazgûl’s terrifying look and feel were of great importance to Jackson when he was designing them for the movies. But once their image was properly created, they needed something even scarier to shock viewers in place. Eventually, they decided on a horrifying scream. The sound department were struggling to figure out how to make it sound, though.

Thankfully, Jackson had an ace up his sleeve; his wife and co-producer, Fran Walsh, could provide a bone-shattering screech on demand. After a few takes, we were gifted the now iconic sound that fans of the franchise know and love.

14. Each kingdom had its own Palantir

The Palantiri, the crystal balls that can be used as seeing stones and communication, became hot products during The Return of the King when Isengard’s orb was used by Sauron to spy on Merry & Pippin in Rohan. Centuries prior, however, there were many more around Middle-earth.

In the Second Age, in particular, lots of major cities and strongholds across the realm had these all-seeing stones. The list includes Minas Tirith, Minas Arnor and even Osgiliath, Gondor’s capital.

15. Fangorn Forest was named after a major character

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Whether you love or hate the Ents, they have been around for a very long time, and therefore their mythos and legacy runs deep. And while we may know him as Treebeard (John Rhys-Davies), the leader of the Ents is actually described by Gandalf as "the oldest-living thing that walks beneath the sun".

His real name, in fact, is Fangorn, the name later given to his home, Fangorn Forest, where Merry & Pippin first met Gandalf the White and rallied the woods to take down Isengard.

16. Lindon was featured in Peter Jackson’s trilogy long before it appeared in The Rings of Power

Much of The Rings of Power takes place in Lindon, one of the largest and most important Elven settlements - and with good reason. The city is one of the first and last Elven havens, and it is also the last stop for many before they pass on.

Crucially, in the Fourth Age, Lindon’s capital, the Grey Havens, is the last place the Ring-bearers visit before they travel to Valinor following the end of Sauron’s tyranny.

17. Gandalf dealt the Balrog a bitter insult

When Gandalf faces off against Durin’s Bane in the depths of the Mines of Moria, he damns it by calling it the 'Flame of Udun'. Think of this comment like an insult; as if to say where he’s from is no good. The locale is a reference to one of Morgoth’s most prominent valleys, Udun.

It can also be translated to mean Hell from Sindarin.

18. What is the Flame of Anor?

In the exact same battle, Gandalf also mentions he’s the wielder of the 'Flame of Anor'. This word translates to the Sun. And while he isn’t literally wielding the power of the sun, he could have been speaking in metaphor; he is the bringer of light against darkness, a force of good.

Gandalf may have also been referencing his red ring of power, Narya.

19. Paul McCartney almost played Frodo with an Oscar-winning director

Yes, really. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr attempted to kick off their own adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s works back in 1968. After being sent the books, they became obsessed with the story, and tried to get their company, Apple Corps, to bring it to the silver screen, directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Peter Jackson ultimately revealed in 2021: "They couldn't get the rights from Tolkien, because he didn't like the idea of a pop group doing his story. So it got nixed by him. They tried to do it. There's no doubt about it. For a moment in time, they were seriously contemplating doing that at the beginning of 1968."

On top of McCartney’s plans to play Frodo, Starr was down as Samwise Gamgee, Lennon as Gollum and Harrison as Gandalf.

20. Aragorn changed the name of Isildur’s sword after becoming king

Isildur did leave behind something for his lineage, though. The legend goes that Sauron shattered the mighty blade, Narsil, before Isildur slashed Sauron’s fingers off, rending the Ring of Power from him in the process. The sword’s name came from the term Red and White Flame.

The blade remained broken until it was reforged by Elrond in the Third Age for Aragorn, Isildur’s heir, just before the final Battle for Middle-earth. However, its name was changed to Anduril, which translates to Flame of the West.

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