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Okay, perhaps "hide" is the incorrect word here: but during the War of the Last Alliance, when his armies were shattered and the defences of his kingdom destroyed, why didn't Sauron at some stage attempt to ferry the ring of power to safe and/or secret location, perhaps to the south or the east (where friendly-ish countries lay).

Instead, Barad-dûr lays under siege for seven years, and he eventually fights his last battle, in person, on the slopes of Mount Doom (notably the only location where the Ring was in serious jeopardy of being unmade). While he almost certainly would have lost considerable power being separated from the Ring, it seems that the writing was on the wall: there was no way he was escaping Mordor with his body intact. Why, then, leave his soul in the hands of his enemies?

After all, he couldn't guarantee that, if defeated, the ring wouldn't simply fall into the hands of someone strong willed enough to simply destroy it.

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    Because he thought he could win, he also didn't think anyone could ever have the strength to destroy it (hence no guards at the Sammath Naur). – Edlothiad Mar 06 '17 at 14:46
  • @Edlothiad was there any evidence to suggest that he could, without any significant forces left at his command? Also, I'd say most of the leaders of his enemies would be considerably stronger than any under his own command. – Stumbler Mar 06 '17 at 14:47
  • One doesn't conquer the world by running and hiding when things start to look bad. (As it turns out, One doesn't conquer the world anyway, but you get my point.) – Steve-O Mar 06 '17 at 14:48
  • @Steve-O except this is ultimately the path that he is forced down (a happy accident in all honesty). He also opts to retreat when he is the Necromancer, although this is much later (and when he is weaker) – Stumbler Mar 06 '17 at 14:50
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    He doesn't retreat when he is the Necromancer (necessarily), he moves back into Mordor. As Steve-O says, he didn't retreat because he planned on taking over the world. – Edlothiad Mar 06 '17 at 14:55
  • @Edlothiad - technically he did win, he beat the two champions, Isildur kind of surprised him. – Cearon O'Flynn Mar 06 '17 at 16:02
  • Sauron still had considerable forces in Barad-Dur, the Last Alliance were harried all the way to Barad-Dur & i'm pretty sure the orcs sortied a lot & rained arrows and stones down on the besiegers, Anarion being killed in the 6th year by a stone from the tower. Also I think Sauron, in his arrogance, never thought that anyone would want to destroy the ring, he thought all would be twisted and wish to dominate as he did. – Cearon O'Flynn Mar 06 '17 at 16:06
  • @CearonO'Flynn, in that case the Nazi's also won, and then the allies surprised them :P. And even Tolkien states Sauron never though anyone would want to destroy the ring. Sufficiently answered here – Edlothiad Mar 06 '17 at 16:25
  • @Edlothiad i meant that Sauron faced against Gil-galad and Elendil in a combat of champions and beat them. Isildur then cut off his finger, depending on the rules of the combat of champions it could be argued Isildur "cheated" as he shouldnt have interfered... but the good guys cant really cheat against pure evil can they ;) – Cearon O'Flynn Mar 06 '17 at 16:29
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    @CearonO'Flynn It's war, there's no cheating... Isildur just pulled the RKO outta nowhere – Edlothiad Mar 06 '17 at 16:32
  • @Steve-O - Indeed. Sauron's primary defining personality-feature is monomaniacal megalomania. – Valorum Mar 06 '17 at 17:44

1 Answers1

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Thanks to ssell for providing the inspiration for this answer, as well as one of the citations.

Not only did Sauron not expect anyone to try to destroy the Ring…

“He is in great fear, not knowing what mighty one may suddenly appear, wielding the Ring, and assailing him with war, seeking to cast him down and take his place.That we should wish to cast him down and have no one in his place is not a thought that occurs to his mind. That we should try to destroy the Ring itself has not yet entered into his darkest dream.”

—Gandalf in The Two Towers, "The White Rider"

… he was unable to conceive the possibility.

“But the only measure that he knows is desire, desire for power; and so he judges all hearts. Into his heart the thought will not enter that any will refuse it, that having the Ring we may seek to destroy it. If we seek this, we shall put him out of reckoning.”

—Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"

Given that Sauron was unable to consider even the possibility that someone would try to destroy the Ring, it would have made no sense for him to try to hide it; as you've already said in your question, being separated from it would have meant losing a considerable amount of power.

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  • Even if this is the right answer you cannot just copy –  Mar 07 '17 at 11:06
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    @ChristopherPeart I already modified my answer before I read you comment, so consider that solved. My original answer wasn't a 1-to-1 copy, though; I only borrowed the opening phrase and the Two Towers quote. – user2428118 Mar 07 '17 at 11:21
  • OK thanks for the edit –  Mar 07 '17 at 11:23
  • @ChristopherPeart Copying is OK provided you cite the original source and only use the relevant parts. – Rand al'Thor Mar 07 '17 at 11:59
  • @Randal OK I thought it was a pure copy at first –  Mar 07 '17 at 13:22
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    The problem with this is that although Sauron could not conceive of anyone destroying the Ring, he did expect people to try and use it, and must have considered that someone powerful could acquire the Ring and become his master. He would also consider that it's bearer might have a heart attack somewhere and the Ring would be lost for millennia. So he still had plenty of reasons to hide the Ring. – James Hollis Jul 25 '18 at 15:44