The Phial of Galadriel
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> Phial of Galadriel
The phial of Galadriel was a small crystal phial,
not a gem but a
container for liquids, a vial. It glittered as she moved it and rays of
white light came from it.
"In this phial is caught the light of
Earendil's star, set amid the waters of my fountain. It will shine
still brighter when night is about you."
Earendil's star was the evening and morning star that Frodo and Sam
earlier saw
shining while they were looking into the Mirror
of Galadriel. So she
was giving Frodo a crystal vial filled with water from her Mirror,
which already held the light of Earendil that had shown on it. The
light of Earendil comes mostly from a Silmaril that Earendil wears.
Those creatures which avoided light also needed to
avoid the Phial of Galadriel. It was a painful weapon against the eight
eyes of darkness-loving Shelob and against the will of the Two Watchers
of the gate to the Tower of Cirith Ungol.
A Silmaril alone did not ward off evil, as Morgoth
wore all three
in his Iron Crown while presiding over Angband. But add the water of
the Mirror of Galadriel, and the matter may have changed.
Sam also referred to the phial as the Lady's glass.
In narration it is also referred to as the elven-glass of Galadriel.
After Frodo and Sam threw away most of their gear in Gorgoroth, Sam
kept the phial.
Reference:
"The Mirror of Galadriel", Fellowship of the Ring
"The Tower of Cirith Ungol", Return of the King
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