Mithril or Silmaril: What could be in King Durin’s box in The Rings of Power?

The Rings of Power premiere depicted a few mysterious objects and characters. One of them was the glowing item in King Durin III’s box/chest. The Dwarven King and his son Durin IV opened the chest while discussing if Elrond knew about it.

Before I take a couple of steps back and understand their conversation, let’s answer the question, ‘What was in Durin’s box or chest?’

Durin’s box could have Mithril or a Silmaril. Mithril is a rare metal available only in Khazad-dûm. The Silmarils are three jewels lost to the sky, sea, and earth. While it isn’t confirmed, the box could contain either of those items.

In the episode, we see Elrond approaching the kingdom of Khazad-dûm to seek help from his friend Durin IV. Things don’t go as smoothly as he thought they would, but he finally manages to pitch his idea.

The idea was simple but extremely difficult to pull off. To build a forge like no one has ever seen before in such a short time frame was no child’s play. However, Elrond believed that if anyone could do it, it was his friend Durin IV.

After having dinner with Elrond and sorting their differences, Durin IV goes to his father, King Durin III. However, the King doesn’t seem to buy the pitch. In fact, he’s suspicious of Elrond and asks his son if the Elf suspects something. He further questions if he knows about their possession.

In the end, we see a box/chest open and an item glowing on their faces. Now, there are two theories. One is that the item could be a Silmaril jewel, and the other is that it could be Mithril.

Mithril is a rare metal that is found only in Khazad-dûm. The element was so valuable for the city and the Dwarven Kingdom that they wanted to preserve it. In fact, they didn’t like outsiders such as the elves knowing about it.

After all, the metal played a big role in the city’s infrastructure. If we look at the trailer, King Durin has an ore in his hands, and it has a silver-ish glow. It looked like the glow we saw in the episode, confirming this theory.

Alternatively, the item could be a Silmaril jewel. The Silmarils are three jewels that were lost during the first age. They are said to be under the water, in the sky, and under the earth. In fact, the elves and the dwarves have even had a battle over it in the books.

So, there could be a chance that the item in the chest is a Silmaril jewel. While these theories are equally fascinating, it is more likely for the item to be Mithril. But nothing can be confirmed until the next episode hits the streaming platform.

About The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is an American TV series, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, developed by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay for streaming on Amazon Prime. 

Set 3,000 years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the show will be set in the Second Age of Middle-earth. Beginning with a time of peace, the series will follow the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron and the forging of the rings of power.

The cast includes Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Nazanin Boniadi, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Markella Kavenagh, Joseph Mawle, and Dylan Smith among many others.