No, Voldemort did not know that the ring he turned into a Horcrux was the Resurrection Stone.
Voldemort's primary goal was to create Horcruxes to achieve immortality by splitting his soul into multiple pieces. When he chose Marvolo Gaunt's ring as one of these vessels, his interest lay solely in its status as an ancestral relic of Salazar Slytherin's bloodline, connecting him to his powerful magical heritage.
According to the reference:
- Voldemort never knew the ring was the Resurrection Stone.
- He also did not know it was part of the Deathly Hallows.
- This lack of knowledge was because the symbol and legend of the Hallows were not widely known.
Why Didn't Voldemort Recognize the Ring's True Nature?
Voldemort, despite his vast knowledge of dark magic and historical artifacts, was seemingly unaware of the deeper significance of the ring. Several factors contributed to this:
- Focus on Lineage: His interest was primarily in the Gaunts' connection to Slytherin. The ring's history as the Resurrection Stone was likely obscured by its inheritance through the Gaunt family and their focus on lineage rather than the Peverell history.
- Obscurity of the Hallows Legend: The tale of the Deathly Hallows and the symbol representing them (the vertical line for the Elder Wand, the circle for the Resurrection Stone, and the triangle for the Invisibility Cloak) was considered by most wizards to be merely a fairy tale or a legend for children. Only a select few, like Albus Dumbledore and those who studied the Hallows deeply (like Xenophilius Lovegood), fully understood their reality and significance.
- The Stone's Condition: The Resurrection Stone was embedded in a ring, and its function was specific to recalling the dead, not necessarily an obvious magical property unless specifically used with intent. Its power as a Hallow was subtle compared to, say, an incredibly powerful wand.
- Voldemort's Priorities: Voldemort sought power and immortality through Horcruxes, not mastery over death through the Hallows. Had he known the ring's true identity, he might have sought to understand the Hallows, but his focus remained firmly on living forever.
In conclusion, Voldemort saw the ring as a valuable artifact tied to his ancestry, perfect for a Horcrux due to its historical and magical weight. He remained completely ignorant of its connection to the Resurrection Stone and the Deathly Hallows, focusing instead on its perceived value as a symbol of his pure-blood heritage and a vessel for a piece of his soul.
