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{{location
{{disambig-more|Ecthelion|[[Ecthelion (disambiguation)]]}}
| image=[[Image:John Howe-Ecthelion.jpg|250px]]
{{location infobox
| name=Tower of Ecthelion
| name=Tower of Ecthelion
| image=[[File:Jef Murray - The Tower of Ecthelion.jpg|250px]]
| caption="The Tower of Ecthelion" by [[Jef Murray]]
| pronun=
| othernames=White Tower
| location=[[Minas Tirith]], above the [[Tower Hall]]
| type=Tower
| type=Tower
| location=[[Minas Tirith]]
| description=
| inhabitants=[[Gondorians]]
| regions=
| realms=[[Gondor]]
| towns=
| description=White Tower
| inhabitants=[[King of Gondor]]
| othernames=
| created={{TA|1900}}
| etymology=
| destroyed=
| events=
| events=
| references=[[The Two Towers]], [[The Return of the King]]
}}
|}}
The '''Tower of Ecthelion''',<ref name=MT751>{{RK|MT}}, p. 751</ref><ref>{{App|Stewards}}, entry for Steward Denethor II, p. 1057</ref> also known as the '''White Tower'''<ref name=MT752>{{RK|MT}}, p. 752</ref> or the '''Tower of Denethor'''<ref name=Palantir>{{TT|Palantir}}, p. 600</ref> was the chief tower of the [[Citadel of Gondor|Citadel]] of [[Minas Tirith]].<ref>{{HM|UI}}, p. 514</ref>
{{Pronounce|Ecthelion.mp3|Ardamir}}
 
Though a [[White Tower]] had graced the highest point of [[Minas Tirith in Gondor|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]].
==Description==
[[File:Ted Nasmith - At the Court of the Fountain.jpg|left|thumb|''At the Court of the Fountain'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
The Tower of Ecthelion stood in the centre of the Citadel<ref name=SD>{{SD|Partings}}, p. 67 citing from a plan of the Citadel that was drawn by J.R.R. Tolkien on a manuscript</ref> on the topmost seventh circle of walls of the city. The tower was 300 feet tall with a banner at the top.<ref name=MT752/> 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 name=MT751/> At the base of the tower was the [[Tower Hall]], a great hall where the throne<ref>{{HM|UI}}, entry ''Tower Hall'', p. 543</ref> of the [[Kings of Gondor|King of Gondor]] stood upon a dais of many steps, and at the foot the dais on the lowest step was a black stone chair where the [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward of Gondor]] sat<ref>{{RK|MT}}, p. 754</ref>. The tower also contained a high chamber<ref>{{RK|MT}}, p. 765</ref> where probably the [[Palantíri|palantír]] of Minas Tirith, the [[Anor-stone]], was kept<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 522</ref>.


==Overview==
In front (i.e. east) of the tower was the [[Court of the Fountain (Minas Tirith)|Court of the Fountain]]<ref name=MT752/> where the [[White Tree of Gondor]] grew<ref>{{RK|MT}}, p. 753</ref>. To the right (i.e. north) of the tower was [[Merethrond]], the Great Hall of Feasts and behind (i.e. west) of the tower was the [[King's House]].<ref name=SD/>
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.
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.


==History==
==History==
The White Tower was first built by King [[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}}.<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 1900, p. 1086</ref> In {{TA|2698}}, the White Tower was rebuilt by Steward [[Ecthelion I]].<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 2698, p. 1088</ref>
 
On March 9, 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.  
On [[March 9]], {{TA|3019}},<ref>{{App|Great}}, entry for the year 3019, March 9, p. 1093</ref> [[Peregrin Took]] got his first glimpse of the Tower of Ecthelion as he rode with [[Gandalf]] to [[Minas Tirith]].<ref name=MT751/>


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.
On [[May 1]], {{TA|3019}},<ref>{{App|Chief}}, entry for the year 3019, May 1, p. 1095</ref> [[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}}, p. 968</ref>


==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.
{{Pronounce|Ecthelion.mp3|Ardamir}}
 
After the Steward Ecthelion I rebuilt it, it was often called the Tower of Ecthelion.<ref>{{PM|Third}}, T4, entry for the year 2698</ref> Also called the Tower of Denethor during the reign of Denethor II.<ref name=Palantir/>
==Sources==
*[[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
*Appendix B of [[The Lord of the Rings]]: "[[The Tale of Years]]," p. 367, 369


{{references}}


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

Latest revision as of 12:38, 1 May 2023

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
Jef Murray - The Tower of Ecthelion.jpg
"The Tower of Ecthelion" by Jef Murray
General Information
Other namesWhite Tower
LocationMinas Tirith, above the Tower Hall
TypeTower
People and History
InhabitantsKing of Gondor
CreatedT.A. 1900

The Tower of Ecthelion,[1][2] also known as the White Tower[3] or the Tower of Denethor[4] was the chief tower of the Citadel of Minas Tirith.[5]

Description[edit | edit source]

At the Court of the Fountain by Ted Nasmith

The Tower of Ecthelion stood in the centre of the Citadel[6] on the topmost seventh circle of walls of the city. The tower was 300 feet tall with a banner at the top.[3] 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] At the base of the tower was the Tower Hall, a great hall where the throne[7] of the King of Gondor stood upon a dais of many steps, and at the foot the dais on the lowest step was a black stone chair where the Steward of Gondor sat[8]. The tower also contained a high chamber[9] where probably the palantír of Minas Tirith, the Anor-stone, was kept[10].

In front (i.e. east) of the tower was the Court of the Fountain[3] where the White Tree of Gondor grew[11]. To the right (i.e. north) of the tower was Merethrond, the Great Hall of Feasts and behind (i.e. west) of the tower was the King's House.[6]

History[edit | edit source]

The White Tower was first built by King Calimehtar in T.A. 1900.[12] In T.A. 2698, the White Tower was rebuilt by Steward Ecthelion I.[13]

On March 9, T.A. 3019,[14] Peregrin Took got his first glimpse of the Tower of Ecthelion as he rode with Gandalf to Minas Tirith.[1]

On May 1, T.A. 3019,[15] 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.[16]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

After the Steward Ecthelion I rebuilt it, it was often called the Tower of Ecthelion.[17] Also called the Tower of Denethor during the reign of Denethor II.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", p. 751
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", "The Stewards", entry for Steward Denethor II, p. 1057
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", p. 752
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Palantír", p. 600
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Unfinished index for The Lord of the Rings", in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 514
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Sauron Defeated, "Part One: The End of the Third Age: VII. Many Partings", p. 67 citing from a plan of the Citadel that was drawn by J.R.R. Tolkien on a manuscript
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Unfinished index for The Lord of the Rings", in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, entry Tower Hall, p. 543
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", p. 754
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", p. 765
  10. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 522
  11. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", p. 753
  12. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 1900, p. 1086
  13. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2698, p. 1088
  14. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for the year 3019, March 9, p. 1093
  15. ↑ 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", entry for the year 3019, May 1, p. 1095
  16. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Steward and the King", p. 968
  17. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VIII. The Tale of Years of the Third Age", T4, entry for the year 2698
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