Tower of Ecthelion: Difference between revisions

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{{footnotes}}
{{disambig-more|Ecthelion|[[Ecthelion (disambiguation)]]}}
{{disambig-more|Ecthelion|[[Ecthelion (disambiguation)]]}}
{{location
{{location infobox
| image=[[Image:John Howe-Ecthelion.jpg|250px]]
| name=Tower of Ecthelion
| name=Tower of Ecthelion
| image=[[File:John Howe - Minas Tirith.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Minas Tirith" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=
| othernames=White Tower
| location=[[Minas Tirith]], above the [[Tower Hall]]
| type=Tower
| type=Tower
| location=[[Minas Tirith]]
| description=
| regions=
| towns=
| inhabitants=[[Gondorians]]
| inhabitants=[[Gondorians]]
| realms=[[Gondor]]
| created=
| description=White Tower
| destroyed=
| othernames=
| etymology=
| events=
| events=
| references=[[The Two Towers]], [[The Return of the King]]
}}
|}}
{{Pronounce|Ecthelion.mp3|Ardamir}}
{{Pronounce|Ecthelion.mp3|Ardamir}}
Though a [[White Tower]] had graced the highest point of [[Minas Tirith]] since ancient times, it was rebuilt by Steward [[Ecthelion I]] some three centuries before the [[War of the Ring]], and so gained his name. The Tower of Ecthelion was used to bear the standard of the City, and—at least during the last years of the [[Third Age]]—held the [[palantíri|palantír]] known as the [[Anor-stone]].
The '''Tower of Ecthelion''', also known as the '''White Tower''', was a tall white tower atop [[Minas Tirith]] which contained the throne of the [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]] and a secret room housing a ''[[palantíri|palantír]]''. Although a tower had graced the highest point of [[Minas Tirith]] since ancient times, it was rebuilt by Steward [[Ecthelion I]] some three centuries before the [[War of the Ring]], and so gained his name.  


==Overview==
==Overview==
The Tower of Ecthelion was 50 fathoms (300 feet) tall. The plain white standard of the Stewards of Gondor flew from its pinnacle. The Tower stood in the center of the Citadel on the seventh level of the city. In front of the Tower was the [[Court of the Fountain (Minas Tirith)|Court of the Fountain]] where the [[White Tree of Gondor]] grew.
[[File:Ted Nasmith - At the Court of the Fountain.jpg|left|thumb|[[Ted Nasmith]] - ''At the Court of the Fountain'']]
In the [[Tower Hall]] was the throne of the King of Gondor upon a dais, and at the foot the dais on the lowest step was a black chair where the Steward of Gondor sat. There was a chamber high in the Tower and above it in the summit there was a secret room where the palantir of Minas Anor.
The Tower of Ecthelion was 50 fathoms (300 feet) tall. The plain white standard of the Stewards of Gondor flew from its pinnacle. The Tower stood in the center of the [[Citadel of Gondor|Citadel]] on the seventh level of the city. In front of the Tower was the [[Court of the Fountain (Minas Tirith)|Court of the Fountain]] where the [[White Tree of Gondor]] grew.
 
Under the sun, the Tower's shapely form shone and glimmered like a spike of crystals, pearl and silver against the sky. White banners waved from its battlements.<ref>{{RK|V1}}</ref>
 
In the [[Tower Hall]] was the throne of the King of Gondor upon a dais, and at the foot the dais on the lowest step was a black chair where the [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward of Gondor]] sat. The royal court must have been also there.<ref>{{HM|Guide}}, entry "White Tower"</ref>
 
There was a chamber high in the Tower and above it in the summit, just under its dome, there was a secret room where the ''palantír'' of Minas Anor, the [[Anor-stone]] was kept.


==History==
==History==
The White Tower was first built by King [[Calimehtar (King of Gondor)|Calimehtar]] in 1900 in order to house the palantir. In 2698, the Tower was repaired and rebuilt by the Steward [[Ecthelion I]], for whom the Tower came to be named.
The White Tower was first built by King [[Calimehtar (King of Gondor)|Calimehtar]] in {{TA|1900}} to house the [[Anor-stone]]. In {{TA|2698}}, the Tower was repaired and rebuilt by the Steward [[Ecthelion I]], for whom the Tower came to be named.


On March 9, 3019, [[Peregrin Took]] got his first glimpse of the Tower of Ecthelion as he rode with [[Gandalf]] to [[Minas Tirith]]:
On [[March 9]], {{TA|3019}}, [[Peregrin Took]] got his first glimpse of the Tower of Ecthelion as he rode with [[Gandalf]] to [[Minas Tirith]].


Then Pippin cried aloud, for the Tower of Ecthelion, standing high within the topmost wall, shone out against the sky, glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver, tall and fair and shapely, and its pinnacle glittered as if it were wrought of crystals; and white banners broke and fluttered from the battlements in the morning breeze, and high and far he heard a clear ringing as of silver trumpets.  
After the fall of [[Sauron]], on [[May 1]], the standard of the Stewards of Gondor was raised for the last time. That day [[Aragorn]] was crowned King and when he entered the Citadel, the [[Livery of Elendil]] bearing the Tree and the Stars was unfurled on the pinnacle of the Tower of Ecthelion.<ref>{{RK|Steward}}</ref>


After the War of the Ring on May 1, the standard of the Stewards of Gondor was raised for the last time. That day [[Aragorn]] was crowned King and when he entered the Citadel, the standard of the Kings of Gondor bearing the Tree and the Stars was unfurled on the pinnacle of the Tower of Ecthelion.
==Etymology==


==Etymology==
Also called the White Tower. It was renamed the Tower of Ecthelion after the Steward Ecthelion I who rebuilt it. Also called the Tower of Denethor during the reign of Denethor II.
Also called the White Tower. It was renamed the Tower of Ecthelion after the Steward Ecthelion I who rebuilt it. Also called the Tower of Denethor during the reign of Denethor II.


==Sources==
{{references}}
*[[The Two Towers]]: "[[The Departure of Boromir]]," p. 19; "[[The Palantir]]," p. 206  
*[[The Two Towers]]: "[[The Departure of Boromir]]," p. 19; "[[The Palantir]]," p. 206  
*[[The Return of the King]]: "[[Minas Tirith  (chapter)]]," p. 23-26 and passim; "[[The Muster of Rohan]]," p. 73; "[[The Siege of Gondor]]," p. 91-92, 94-95, 97, 98-99; "[[The Pyre of Denethor]]," p. 129, 131, 132-33; "[[The Steward and the King]]," 244, 246
*[[The Return of the King]]: "[[The Muster of Rohan]]," p. 73; "[[The Siege of Gondor]]," p. 91-92, 94-95, 97, 98-99; "[[The Pyre of Denethor]]," p. 129, 131, 132-33
*Appendix B of [[The Lord of the Rings]]: "[[The Tale of Years]]," p. 367, 369  
*Appendix B of [[The Lord of the Rings]]: "[[Appendix B|The Tale of Years]]," p. 367, 369  
 


[[Category:Pronounced articles]]
[[Category:Minas Tirith]]
[[Category:Gondor]]
[[Category:Towers]]
[[Category:Buildings]]
[[de:Turm von Ecthelion]]
[[fi:Ecthelionin torni]]

Revision as of 13:00, 11 February 2018

'"How came you by it?" — Thorin
 This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks page numbers and/or inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate.
The name Ecthelion refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Ecthelion (disambiguation).
Tower of Ecthelion
Tower
John Howe - Minas Tirith.jpg
"Minas Tirith" by John Howe
General Information
Other namesWhite Tower
LocationMinas Tirith, above the Tower Hall
TypeTower
InhabitantsGondorians

The Tower of Ecthelion, also known as the White Tower, was a tall white tower atop Minas Tirith which contained the throne of the King of Gondor and a secret room housing a palantír. Although a tower had graced the highest point of Minas Tirith since ancient times, it was rebuilt by Steward Ecthelion I some three centuries before the War of the Ring, and so gained his name.

Overview

Ted Nasmith - At the Court of the Fountain

The Tower of Ecthelion was 50 fathoms (300 feet) tall. The plain white standard of the Stewards of Gondor flew from its pinnacle. The Tower stood in the center of the Citadel on the seventh level of the city. In front of the Tower was the Court of the Fountain where the White Tree of Gondor grew.

Under the sun, the Tower's shapely form shone and glimmered like a spike of crystals, pearl and silver against the sky. White banners waved from its battlements.[1]

In the Tower Hall was the throne of the King of Gondor upon a dais, and at the foot the dais on the lowest step was a black chair where the Steward of Gondor sat. The royal court must have been also there.[2]

There was a chamber high in the Tower and above it in the summit, just under its dome, there was a secret room where the palantír of Minas Anor, the Anor-stone was kept.

History

The White Tower was first built by King Calimehtar in T.A. 1900 to house the Anor-stone. In T.A. 2698, the Tower was repaired and rebuilt by the Steward Ecthelion I, for whom the Tower came to be named.

On March 9, T.A. 3019, Peregrin Took got his first glimpse of the Tower of Ecthelion as he rode with Gandalf to Minas Tirith.

After the fall of Sauron, on May 1, the standard of the Stewards of Gondor was raised for the last time. That day Aragorn was crowned King and when he entered the Citadel, the Livery of Elendil bearing the Tree and the Stars was unfurled on the pinnacle of the Tower of Ecthelion.[3]

Etymology

Also called the White Tower. It was renamed the Tower of Ecthelion after the Steward Ecthelion I who rebuilt it. Also called the Tower of Denethor during the reign of Denethor II.

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith"
  2. ↑ Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, entry "White Tower"
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Steward and the King"
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