Ever wonder why we are still obsessed with the idea of a magic circle of gold? Honestly, it's a bit weird if you think about it. We’ve moved past swords and sorcery into an era of AI and space travel, yet the legend of the rings—in all its various iterations—continues to be the bedrock of our storytelling. Whether it’s J.R.R. Tolkien’s corrupting jewelry or the ancient Norse myths that inspired him, these stories tap into something primal. They aren't just about jewelry. They are about power. And power is something we still haven't figured out how to handle.
If you look back at the history of these legends, you’ll find they didn't start with a hobbit in a hole. They started with blood and greed.
Where the Legend of the Rings Actually Came From
Most people think Tolkien invented the whole "one ring" concept out of thin air. He didn't. He was a philologist, which is basically a fancy way of saying he was obsessed with the history of languages and old stories. He spent his life digging through the Poetic Edda and the Volsunga Saga. These are the real-deal Norse myths. In those stories, you have Andvaranaut. It was a magical ring that could help find gold, but it came with a nasty catch: it cursed whoever owned it.
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Sound familiar?
It should. The Nibelungenlied, a Middle High German epic poem, takes this even further. It’s got dragons, betrayal, and a ring that brings nothing but ruin. It’s heavy stuff. It’s not just a fairy tale for kids; it’s a warning about how the desire for "more" can literally destroy your life and everyone around you. Wagner later turned this into his famous four-opera cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen. If you’ve ever sat through all fifteen hours of it, you know it’s an absolute marathon of Norse mythology and dramatic tragedy.
The Psychology of the Golden Circle
Why a ring, though? Why not a legendary belt or a magical pair of boots?
There is something inherently perfect about the shape. It has no beginning and no end. It represents eternity, but also a trap. When you put a ring on your finger, you’re bound to it. In the legend of the rings, this binding is rarely a good thing.
Look at the Ring of Gyges. Plato wrote about this in The Republic. It’s a story about a shepherd who finds a ring that makes him invisible. What does he do? Does he become a superhero? No. He immediately goes and kills the king and takes over. Plato used this to argue that people only act "justly" because they are afraid of getting caught. If you give someone a ring of power, their true self comes out. It’s a terrifying thought. It suggests that deep down, we might all be a bit like Gollum if given the chance.
Not All Rings are Evil (Sort Of)
It’s worth noting that in some folklore, rings are protective. King Solomon supposedly had a ring—the Seal of Solomon—that gave him the power to command demons and speak to animals. This isn't about corruption; it's about divine authority. But even then, the ring is a heavy burden. It separates the wearer from everyone else. You’re no longer just a person; you’re the guy with the ring.
Tolkien’s Twist on the Legend of the Rings
Tolkien took these scattered myths and did something brilliant. He made the ring sentient. Sort of. The One Ring in The Lord of the Rings has a will. It wants to go back to its master. This changed the legend of the rings from a story about a cursed object to a story about a relationship.
The ring "wants" to be found.
It’s an addiction metaphor before people were really talking about addiction in mainstream fantasy. It’s why Bilbo calls it his "precious." It’s why Boromir thinks he can use it for good, only to realize too late that the ring uses you, not the other way around.
Actually, there’s a really interesting archaeological tie-in here. In 1929, Tolkien worked on an excavation of a Roman temple site called Lydney Park. There was a curse tablet found there that mentioned a stolen ring. The tablet said: "Among those who bear the name of Senicianus to none grant health until he bring back the ring to the temple of Nodens." The ring in question was found elsewhere, and it was inscribed with a Christian blessing. Tolkien was asked to investigate the name "Nodens," a Celtic god. Many scholars, including Tom Shippey, believe this real-life "cursed ring" discovery was a massive influence on his writing. It’s a cool bit of history that bridges the gap between archaeology and epic fantasy.
Why We Can't Let Go of the Ring Trope
You see it everywhere now. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you have the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Though they are more like power-bracelets in the movie, the core theme is the same: ancient power, longevity, and the weight of a father’s legacy.
Then there’s Elden Ring. From Software’s massive hit game doesn't even feature a literal ring you wear on your finger. The "Elden Ring" is more of a metaphysical concept, a set of laws that govern the world. When the ring is shattered, the world breaks. This is the ultimate evolution of the legend of the rings. It’s moved from a physical object to the very fabric of reality itself.
It’s about order versus chaos.
When the ring is whole, things make sense. When it’s gone, everything falls apart.
The Reality of the "Magic" Ring
If you're looking for the "truth" behind these legends, you won't find a piece of jewelry that makes you invisible. But you will find a consistent human truth. The legend of the rings is a metaphor for any technology or power that we create but cannot fully control.
Think about it.
We create algorithms that we don't fully understand. We split the atom and then have to live with the fear of what we’ve done. We build social media platforms that were supposed to connect us but ended up "binding" us in ways we didn't expect. The ring isn't gold. The ring is the power we think we can master, only to find out that it’s mastering us.
Real-World "Legendary" Rings
- The Ring of Silvianus: The actual Roman ring that likely inspired Tolkien. It’s currently kept at The Vyne, a National Trust property in Hampshire.
- The Ring of the Nibelungs: Not a physical object you can go buy, but a cultural force that shaped 19th-century European nationalism.
- Signet Rings: Historically used by monarchs to seal laws. If you had the ring, you had the power of the state. It was the "One Ring" of the bureaucracy.
How to Apply the Lessons of the Ring Legend
Understanding the legend of the rings isn't just for trivia night at the pub. It actually offers some pretty solid life advice if you look past the dragons and the lava.
First, recognize "The Ring" in your own life. What is the thing you think will solve all your problems but actually demands too much of your soul? Maybe it’s a promotion that requires you to sacrifice your integrity. Maybe it’s a digital habit that keeps you "invisible" from the real world.
Second, look at the concept of stewardship versus ownership. In almost all these legends, the people who try to "own" the ring end up destroyed. The heroes are usually the ones who see themselves as temporary carriers. They know they have to let go.
Finally, realize that the "power" often lies in the journey to get rid of the ring, not in using it. Frodo didn't win by becoming a powerful sorcerer; he won by having the stamina to walk to a volcano and throw the power away.
Take these steps to dive deeper into the lore:
- Visit The Vyne in England to see the Ring of Silvianus for yourself. It’s a tiny piece of gold with a massive history.
- Read the Volsunga Saga. It’s much shorter than Lord of the Rings and significantly more violent. It’ll give you a raw look at where these ideas started.
- Watch the "Ring Cycle" (or at least the highlights). Wagner’s music captures the "curse" of the ring better than almost any other medium.
- Evaluate your own "precious" things. Identify the tools or ambitions in your life that might be starting to control you rather than serving you.
The legend of the rings will likely never die. As long as humans crave power and fear its consequences, we’ll keep telling stories about gold circles that hold the fate of the world. We just have to make sure we’re the ones carrying the ring, and not the other way around.