The Palantíri

The Palantíri or SeeingStones were crystal globes, made by Fëanor in Aman. They showed scenes far away in space (and eventually back in time), but especially things near to another Palantír, thus two Palantíri could be used for visual communication (between two stones in accord [1] thought was transferred and perceived as speech).

There existed at least eight stones: The Eldar gave seven stones to Amandil, one more stone is mentioned - the Master-stone - which remained in TolEressëa in the tower of Avallónë.

After the downfall of Númenor, Elendil and the remainder of the Númenoreans brought the Seven Stones to Middle-earth and they were used by them for communication among the chief Dúnedain throughout the ThirdAge.

Elendil's three stones were originally placed in EmynBeraid (in Elostirion, the tallest of the three WhiteTowers at EmynBeraid), AmonSûl (Weathertop) and in the SunsetTower? of Annúminas. Isildur's and Anárion's four stones were placed in MinasIthil, MinasAnor, Osgiliath and in Orthanc.

During the ThirdAge several of the stones were lost or destroyed:

• The Palantír of Osgiliath (which is also referred to as Master-stone) was lost 1437 during the Kin-strife.
• The stones of AmonSûl and Annúminas were lost 1975 due to Arvedui's shipwreck.
• The Ithil stone was seized by Sauron 2002 (during the sack of MinasIthil), and most probably perished in Barad-dûr at the end of the War of the Ring.