Great Gate of Minas Tirith: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Gates of Minas Tirith.jpg| | {{location | ||
The '''Great Gate''' was the | | image=[[File:Gates of Minas Tirith.jpg|250px]] | ||
| name=Great Gate | |||
| type=Gate | |||
| location=Eastern point in the [[City Wall]] of [[Minas Tirith]] | |||
| inhabitants= | |||
| realms=[[Gondor]] | |||
| description=Large rolling doors originally made of steel and iron, later ''[[mithril]]'' and steel | |||
| climate= | |||
| othernames= | |||
| etymology= | |||
| created=Late [[Second Age]] | |||
| destroyed=[[15 March]] {{TA|3019}} | |||
| events=[[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] | |||
}} | |||
The '''Great Gate''' was the guarded doorway in the eastern point of the [[City Wall]] of [[Minas Tirith]], the capital city of [[Gondor]]. | |||
==Description== | |||
The Gate itself consisted of large rolling doors made of steel and iron,<ref name="Tirith">{{RK|V1}}</ref> set between towers and bastions of indomitable stone.<ref name="Siege">{{RK|V4}}</ref> Behind the Gate was a wide court that ended at the base of the great "ship-keel" of stone that cut through most of the city.<ref name="Tirith"/> Before the Gate was the [[Gateway]], a short avenue which led to the intersection of roads in the [[Pelennor Fields]].<ref name="Steward">{{RK|VI5}}</ref> | |||
The | ==History== | ||
The city of Minas Tirith (then known as Minas Anor) was built after {{SA|3320}} upon the founding of the realm of Gondor;<ref>{{App|SA}}</ref> presumably the first Great Gate was installed at this time although it is unknown if the fortress-city had all seven of its levels at its earliest stage. | |||
On [[9 March]] {{TA|3019}}<ref name="Great">{{App|Great}}</ref> [[Gandalf]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] passed through the Great Gates on their way to meet [[Denethor|Denethor II]]. Seeing the wizard the men at the Gate knew that "the storm is indeed nigh!" Gandalf did not dissuade them of this conclusion, proclaiming, "It is upon you" and that he had "ridden on its wings".<ref name="Tirith"/> | |||
[[Faramir]] was returning with his men to the city on [[10 March]]<ref name="Great"/> when the [[Nazgûl]] swooped upon them. Just before the Great Gate it appeared that they would reach Faramir when Gandalf rode in and dispelled them. The next day Denethor sent his son to man the [[Rammas Echor]]; when the forces of [[Sauron]] overwhelmed the defenders Faramir was again forced to lead his men back to the city. Again the Nazgûl dove upon the [[Gondorians]]. Not two furlongs from the Great Gate they attacked and this time managed to wound Faramir.<ref name="Siege"/> | |||
In the great [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]], on [[15 March]] {{TA|3019|n}},<ref name="Great"/> the host of Sauron did not attempt to breach the City Wall; instead they concentrated upon breaking the Great Gate. Just before dawn they succeeded by using [[Grond (battering ram)|Grond]], a hundred-foot long battering ram under the command of the [[Witch-king]]; the battering ram smashed the Great Gate three times while the Witch-king spoke words of power. He rode through the Great Gate where Gandalf awaited him, but then he flew away when the [[Rohirrim]] arrived.<ref name="Siege"/> | |||
[[Category: | After the rout of the host of Sauron from the Pelennor, a temporary barricade was erected in place of the Great Gate.<ref name="Steward"/> Later, on [[1 May]], {{TA|3019|n}},<ref>{{App|Chief}}</ref> [[Aragorn]] received the [[Crown of Gondor]] in front of the ruined Gate and then entered the City.<ref name="Steward"/> | ||
[[Category:Doors and | |||
Sometime after the [[War of the Ring]], [[Gimli]] became the Lord of the [[Aglarond]]. He and [[Dwarves]] from [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]] who came south with him built new Gates of [[mithril]] and steel for Minas Tirith.<ref>{{App|Durin}}</ref> | |||
{{References}} | |||
[[Category:Minas Tirith]] | |||
[[Category:Doors and gates]] | |||
[[de:Großes Tor (Minas Tirith)]] | [[de:Großes Tor (Minas Tirith)]] | ||
[[fi:Suuri Portti (Minas Tirith)]] | [[fi:Suuri Portti (Minas Tirith)]] | ||
Revision as of 17:40, 16 June 2012
| Great Gate | |
|---|---|
| Gate | |
| File:Gates of Minas Tirith.jpg | |
| General Information | |
| Location | Eastern point in the City Wall of Minas Tirith |
| Type | Gate |
| Description | Large rolling doors originally made of steel and iron, later mithril and steel |
| Regions | Gondor |
| History | |
| Created | Late Second Age |
| Destroyed | 15 March T.A. 3019 |
| Events | Battle of the Pelennor Fields |
The Great Gate was the guarded doorway in the eastern point of the City Wall of Minas Tirith, the capital city of Gondor.
Description
The Gate itself consisted of large rolling doors made of steel and iron,[1] set between towers and bastions of indomitable stone.[2] Behind the Gate was a wide court that ended at the base of the great "ship-keel" of stone that cut through most of the city.[1] Before the Gate was the Gateway, a short avenue which led to the intersection of roads in the Pelennor Fields.[3]
History
The city of Minas Tirith (then known as Minas Anor) was built after S.A. 3320 upon the founding of the realm of Gondor;[4] presumably the first Great Gate was installed at this time although it is unknown if the fortress-city had all seven of its levels at its earliest stage.
On 9 March T.A. 3019[5] Gandalf and Pippin passed through the Great Gates on their way to meet Denethor II. Seeing the wizard the men at the Gate knew that "the storm is indeed nigh!" Gandalf did not dissuade them of this conclusion, proclaiming, "It is upon you" and that he had "ridden on its wings".[1]
Faramir was returning with his men to the city on 10 March[5] when the Nazgûl swooped upon them. Just before the Great Gate it appeared that they would reach Faramir when Gandalf rode in and dispelled them. The next day Denethor sent his son to man the Rammas Echor; when the forces of Sauron overwhelmed the defenders Faramir was again forced to lead his men back to the city. Again the Nazgûl dove upon the Gondorians. Not two furlongs from the Great Gate they attacked and this time managed to wound Faramir.[2]
In the great Battle of the Pelennor Fields, on 15 March 3019,[5] the host of Sauron did not attempt to breach the City Wall; instead they concentrated upon breaking the Great Gate. Just before dawn they succeeded by using Grond, a hundred-foot long battering ram under the command of the Witch-king; the battering ram smashed the Great Gate three times while the Witch-king spoke words of power. He rode through the Great Gate where Gandalf awaited him, but then he flew away when the Rohirrim arrived.[2]
After the rout of the host of Sauron from the Pelennor, a temporary barricade was erected in place of the Great Gate.[3] Later, on 1 May, 3019,[6] Aragorn received the Crown of Gondor in front of the ruined Gate and then entered the City.[3]
Sometime after the War of the Ring, Gimli became the Lord of the Aglarond. He and Dwarves from Erebor who came south with him built new Gates of mithril and steel for Minas Tirith.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Siege of Gondor"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Steward and the King"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Chief Days from the Fall of Barad-dûr to the End of the Third Age"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
