The Rings Of Power's Eärendil Explained

"The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" has expanded Elven lore, but the Amazon series still pays tribute to the traditions of J.R.R. Tolkien's pointy-eared warriors. On the one hand, characters such as Adar will annoy Tolkien purists as he seemingly goes against everything Elves stand for. On the other, featuring legendary characters like Finrod shows that the series' creators want to honor the history of Middle-earth and its most influential figures.

The fourth episode, "The Great Wave," acknowledges another powerful Elf from the annals of Middle-earth history. During one scene, Elrond (Robert Aramayo) reflects on his family history and wonders what his father, Eärendil, would think of him. Let's bear in mind that this isn't the same wise Elrond we meet in "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" — he's still very much finding himself on "The Rings of Power."

Of course, Elrond has big shoes to fill if he's ever going to live up to his old man's legacy. Eärendil is one of the most important warriors to ever grace Middle-earth, as he helped save the world from the forces of darkness and evil.

Eärendil is the father of Elrond and Elros and the husband of Elwing. However, his legacy in Middle-earth goes beyond boasting an impressive family. During his lifetime, Eärendil was a half-Elven mariner who was instrumental in defeating Morgoth and his evil minions during the First Age. But how exactly did he manage to accomplish such a feat?

In short, Eärendil and Elwing sailed to Valinor and convinced the Valar to help aid Middle-earth in the war against Morgoth. Due to his half-mortal lineage, Eärendil was the first mortal to ever step foot on Valinor, which would usually have resulted in punishment. But his plea was so convincing that the Valar granted him immortality as an Elf instead.

Afterward, the Valar traveled to Middle-earth and defeated Morgoth in the "War of Wrath." Eärendil also took part in the battle, conquering the Dark Lord's most feared dragon, Ancalagon the Black, in the process. His war efforts made him a legend in Middle-earth, and he inspired future generations to follow in his heroic footsteps.

Eärendil's voyage to Valinor didn't just result in the heroic mariner recruiting the Valar to fight Morgoth. His ship was also granted aerial abilities, which enabled him to conquer the aforementioned dragon. However, he continued to soar through the skies long after slaying the winged creature in the heat of battle.

After the war ended, Eärendil carried the shining light of the Silmaril — otherwise known as the Jewels of Fëanor — across the skies (per Fandom). Otherwise known as the Evening Star, the Star of Eärendil became the brightest light in the night skies and served as a guide of sorts. As documented by Arda, the Evening Star led the Edain to Númenor during the Second Age. Furthermore, some of its light was contained in the glass given to Frodo by Galadriel in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," which came in handy when the Hobbit had to fight a giant spider. 

The star was especially important to the Elves during the Third Age, and it became one of their most beloved symbols and sources of power.