Mithril
Mithril is a fictional metal from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth universe.
Properties
[change | change source]Mithril is the strongest metal known in Middle-earth. It looks similar to silver. It does not weigh much, and it is easy to make into things. Mithril is very rare and precious. It was only found in Khazad-dûm (Moria), where it was mined by the Dwarves, and (perhaps) in Númenor.
The name "mithril" comes from the Sindarin words mith, meaning "grey", and ril meaning "glitter". In Quenya, its name is mistarille. Mithril was also called "true-silver" or "Moria-silver".
The most well known object made of mithril is probably the mail shirt of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins.
Influence on other fiction
[change | change source]Mithril is now often used in other fictional works, usually as a strong and magical metal. It other fictional works, mithril is also sometimes written differently, for example as mythril or mithral.
