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- Sigin-Tarȃg Is A Dwarven Endurance Test
- Where Does Sigin-Tarȃg Come From?
- Why Does Elrond Invoke This Rite?
In The Rings of Power, dwarves are an important part of the story. Unlike in The Lord of the Rings, more dwarven history and customs are explored, giving viewers a more in-depth look at the dwarves. The show explores Khazad-dûm, gives a first view of Dwarven women, and much more.
Not only does the TV series show what Khazad-dûm (the Mines of Moria) looked like during its glory days, but it shows the dwarves partaking in time-honored traditions. One of those traditions is Sigin-Tarȃg, which is shown early on in the series when Elrond is visiting the dwarves for the very first time.
While Sigin-Tarȃg exists in the written work of The Lord of the Rings, it’s an entirely different concept that isn’t given much detail. Whereas, The Rings of Power took that concept and developed it into a fun tradition for the dwarves of Khazad-dûm, specifically those dwarves that come from the line of Durin.
Sigin-Tarȃg Is A Dwarven Endurance Test
Simply put, the Rite of Sigin-Tarȃg is a dwarven endurance test. Two competitors use huge hammers to break apart large rocks. If a hammer is broken, it’s replaced and the endurance test continues. This endurance test doesn’t end until one of the competitors can’t keep breaking apart rocks. This means it could go on for hours and possibly days given the competitors are up to the challenge.
In The Rings of Power, Prince Durin lays out a set of rules before the Rite of Sigin-Tarȃg begins. The rules are short and simple: if Elrond forfeits, he’s exiled from Dwarven lands, but if Durin loses, he has to grant Elrond an audience.
This makes it seem like the Rite of Sigin-Tarȃg isn’t as simple as the loser being exiled. Instead, Sigin-Tarȃg appears as a sort of test where certain conditions can be set before the trial begins. Depending on what is trying to be settled will likely determine what happens to the loser of Sigin-Tarȃg.
Where Does Sigin-Tarȃg Come From?
Translated literally, Sigin-Tarȃg means “long-beards” in Khuzdul, a dwarven language. Tolkien notes that this was one of the first names used to refer to Durin’s folk, and it’s quite suiting given their appearances. Although originally just a name, Sigin-Tarȃg developed into a tradition honored by the dwarves. But its history is deeper than just a name.
It wasn’t the dwarves who created the Rite of Sigin-Tarȃg. Instead, it was the Ainu, otherwise known as the Valar, who fashioned this endurance test for the dwarves. Specifically Aulë, creator of dwarves themselves, who created the rite. Otherwise, not much else is known about the Rite of Sigin-Tarȃg and why it was created in the first place.
Why Does Elrond Invoke This Rite?
In The Rings of Power, Elrond specifically invokes the Rite of Sigin-Tarȃg when the dwarves won’t allow him inside Khazad-dûm. If banishment from dwarven lands was truly the result of losing this endurance test, why would Elrond risk this? Especially since it’s not as if he didn’t know the consequences of losing. He was fully aware of what the Rite of Sigin-Tarȃg was, yet still insisted on it.
While Elrond truly does care deeply for his friend Prince Durin, he did travel to Khazad-dûm with other intentions on his mind. Elrond was working with Celebrimbor to build at tower in Eregion. But, unfortunately for them, Gil-galad, the High King of the Noldor Elves, wouldn’t grant Celebrimbor the manpower he needed to complete the tower on time.
Instead, Celebrimbor and Elrond traveled to Khazad-dûm to propose a partnership with the dwarves where the dwarves would help them complete the tower on time. Elrond specifically came up with idea because of his long friendship with Prince Durin of Khazad-dûm and was positive they would be granted an audience to propose the partnership.
Unfortunately for Elrond, when they arrived the dwarves wouldn’t allow them an audience with Prince Durin. No matter what he tried, they couldn’t get inside Khazad-dûm.
Luckily for Elrond, since he had been longtime friends with Prince Durin, he was familiar with dwarven customs. He knew if he invoked the Rite of Sigin-Tarȃg, the dwarves would not be able to refuse, allowing him inside. And it worked exactly how he expected. Once he invoked the rite, he was allowed inside.
Of course, Elrond knew he would never be able to match the strength of a dwarf in their own endurance test. After all, in The Lord of the Rings, dwarves are extremely strong and resilient. The only reason he chose to resort to this is because it was his only way to speak with Prince Durin. Once Elrond forfeited the test, he was able to speak to Durin privately on the way out, where they were able to reconcile with each other and Elrond’s banishment was seemingly lifted.
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