A Sense of History: On Oaths

From the earliest ages of Arda to the culmination of the Ring War, characters in the legendarium swear oaths for various purposes. These oaths are depicted both positively and negatively. In this month's A Sense of History column, Angelica looks at how oaths were used by cultures throughout the world. Just like in Middle-earth, oaths form a part of the traditions of a range of cultures and serve a variety of purposes.

"Oaths in The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings fit almost seamlessly into these models, showing the Professor’s undoubted familiarity with the main features of historical oaths," Angelica writes. The use of magic and extraordinary objects to bind a person to pledge has roots in places of the world ranging from Egypt to England.

You can read Angelica's article "On Oaths" here.

Posted on 9 September 2022 (updated 14 October 2022) by SWG Moderators