User:KingAragorn/Sandbox2: Difference between revisions

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|image=[[Image:Alan Lee-Orthanc.jpg|250px]]
|image=[[Image:Alan Lee-Orthanc.jpg|250px]]
|name=Orthanc
|name=Orthanc
|etymology=[[Sindarin|S.]] of "Mount Fang"
|type=Tower
|type=Tower
|location=[[Isengard]]
|location=[[Isengard]]
|inhabitants=[[Dúnedain|Exiles of Númenor]], [[Gondorians]], [[Saruman]]
|inhabitants=[[Dúnedain|Exiles of Númenor]], [[Gondorians]], [[Saruman]]
|realms=[[Isengard]] as part of [[Gondor]]<ref name="UTIsen">{{UT|Isen}}, Appendix (ii)</ref>, [[Treegarth of Orthanc]] as part of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]<ref name="RKPartings">{{RK|Partings}}</ref>
|realms=[[Isengard]] as part of [[Gondor]],<ref name="UTIsen">{{UT|Isen}}, Appendix (ii)</ref> [[Treegarth of Orthanc]] as part of the [[Reunited Kingdom]]<ref name="RKPartings">{{RK|Partings}}</ref>
|description=Carved black Tower
|description=Carved black Tower
|events=[[Battle of Isengard]]
|events=[[Battle of Isengard]]
Line 39: Line 38:


===Fourth Age===
===Fourth Age===
[[Image:J.R.R._Tolkien_-_Orthanc.jpg|left|thumb|125px|''Orthanc'' by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]]]
One of [[Aragorn|King Elessar's]] first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of Orthanc. He ordered that the [[Palantíri|palantír]] recovered from [[Saruman]] should be returned to the tower. It was then that the tower was searched and many secrets were revealed. It became clear that Saruman had hoarded many ancient treasures and heirlooms. They found that, with the aid of [[Wormtongue]], Saruman had acquired jewels and heirlooms of [[Eorl]]. With the help of [[Gimli]] a hidden door  was found and opened. Inside a casket found on a shelf they found two precious items. One was a small golden case attached to a chain; this was used by [[Isildur]] to bear the [[One Ring]]. The second item in the casket was the [[Elendilmir]], the "white star of Elvish crystal upon a fillet of [[mithril]]" that had been lost since Isildur's demise. Elessar recieved the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]]. It was clear that Saruman had found the remains of Isildir and that he had probably burned the body.<ref name="UTIsen" />
One of [[Aragorn|King Elessar's]] first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of Orthanc. He ordered that the [[Palantíri|palantír]] recovered from [[Saruman]] should be returned to the tower. It was then that the tower was searched and many secrets were revealed. It became clear that Saruman had hoarded many ancient treasures and heirlooms. They found that, with the aid of [[Wormtongue]], Saruman had acquired jewels and heirlooms of [[Eorl]]. With the help of [[Gimli]] a hidden door  was found and opened. Inside a casket found on a shelf they found two precious items. One was a small golden case attached to a chain; this was used by [[Isildur]] to bear the [[One Ring]]. The second item in the casket was the [[Elendilmir]], the "white star of Elvish crystal upon a fillet of [[mithril]]" that had been lost since Isildur's demise. Elessar recieved the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of [[Arnor]]. It was clear that Saruman had found the remains of Isildir and that he had probably burned the body.<ref name="UTIsen" />


Line 49: Line 47:
''Orthanc'' displays a curious double etymology (co-existing "by design or chance") since it has a meaning both in the "[[Rohirric|language of the Mark of old]]" (rendered as [[Old English]] in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'') and [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s constructed language [[Sindarin]].<ref name=Ui>{{HM|RC}}, p. 243 (citing the "[[Unfinished index]]")</ref><ref name=TTIII8 />
''Orthanc'' displays a curious double etymology (co-existing "by design or chance") since it has a meaning both in the "[[Rohirric|language of the Mark of old]]" (rendered as [[Old English]] in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'') and [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s constructed language [[Sindarin]].<ref name=Ui>{{HM|RC}}, p. 243 (citing the "[[Unfinished index]]")</ref><ref name=TTIII8 />


In Old English, ''Orthanc'' is said to mean "Cunning Mind".<ref name=TTIII8/> [[Wayne G. Hammond|Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull|Scull]] has noted that Old English ''orþanc'' as a noun means "original, inborn thought" or "a skilful contrivance or work, artifice, device, design"; as an adjective it means "cunning, skilfull".<ref name=Ui/>
In Old English, ''Orthanc'' is said to mean "Cunning Mind".<ref name=TTIII8/> [[Wayne G. Hammond|Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull|Scull]] has noted that Old English ''orþanc'' as a noun means "original, inborn thought" or "a skilful contrivance or work, artifice, device, design"; as an adjective it means "cunning, skilful".<ref name=Ui/>


In the published text, ''Orthanc'' is said to mean "Mount Fang" in [[Elvish]].<ref name=TTIII8/> In other sources, the name is glossed as "forked-height".<ref name=Ui/><ref>{{S|Appendix}} (glossed as "Forked Height")</ref> The name is likely supposed to be Sindarin,<ref name=Ui/> consisting of ''[[or]]'' + ''[[thanc]]''.<ref>[http://www.tolkiendil.com/langues/english/i-lam_arth/compound_sindarin_names#o Compound Sindarin Names in Middle-earth] at [http://www.tolkiendil.com/ Tolkiendil.com] (accessed 27 June 2011)</ref>
In the published text, ''Orthanc'' is said to mean "Mount Fang" in [[Elvish]].<ref name=TTIII8/> In other sources, the name is glossed as "forked-height".<ref name=Ui/><ref>{{S|Appendix}} (glossed as "Forked Height")</ref> The name is likely supposed to be Sindarin,<ref name=Ui/> consisting of ''[[or]]'' + ''[[thanc]]''.<ref>{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.tolkiendil.com/langues/english/i-lam_arth/compound_sindarin_names#o|articlename=Compound Sindarin Names in Middle-earth|website=[http://www.tolkiendil.com/ Tolkiendil]|accessed=23-Dec-2011}}</ref>


==Tolkien's changing conceptions of Orthanc==
{{Gallery
|title=Sketches by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]
|height=300
|lines=5
|File:J.R.R._Tolkien_-_Orthanc.jpg|This sketch compliments best Tolkien's description of Orthanc in {{TT|III8}}.
}}


==Portrayal in adaptations==
==Portrayal in adaptations==
Line 67: Line 72:


'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard]]'':'''
'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard]]'':'''
:Orthanc will feature in the new region, [[Isengard]], added to [[Lord of the Rings Online]].<ref>[http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/through-turbines-palantir-developers-outline-lotros-future/ Massively - Through Turbine's palantír: Developers outline LotRO's future] at [http://massively.joystiq.com/ massively.joystiq.com] (accessed 24 April 2011)</ref>
:Orthanc will feature in the new region, [[Isengard]], added to [[Lord of the Rings Online]].<ref>{{webcite|author=Justin Olivetti|articleurl=http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/through-turbines-palantir-developers-outline-lotros-future/|articlename=Through Turbine's palantír: Developers outline LotRO's future|dated=21-April-2011|website=[http://massively.joystiq.com/ MASSIVELY by joystiq]|accessed=23-Dec-2011}}</ref>


==Sea also==
==Sea also==
*[[:Category:Images of Orthanc]]
*[[:Category:Images of Orthanc]]


{{references}}
{{References}}


<!--[[Category:Misty Mountains]]
<!--[[Category:Misty Mountains]]

Revision as of 16:25, 23 December 2011

Orthanc
Tower
File:Alan Lee-Orthanc.jpg
General Information
LocationIsengard
TypeTower
DescriptionCarved black Tower
RegionsIsengard as part of Gondor,[1] Treegarth of Orthanc as part of the Reunited Kingdom[2]
People and History
InhabitantsExiles of Númenor, Gondorians, Saruman
EventsBattle of Isengard
"They came now to the foot of Orthanc. It was black, and the rock gleamed as if it were wet."
J.R.R. Tolkien[3]

Orthanc was the impregnable tower of Isengard built by the Exiles of Númenor during the Second Age.[4]

Description

The tower of Orthanc stood in the centre of the Ring of Isengard, roughly half a mile from the rim. At its peak the tower reached a height of just over five hundred feet. The colour of the rock was a deep, gleaming black. At Orthanc's pinnacle the four piers which composed the tower opened out to form four pinnacles of sharp rock; between these isles of rock there was a narrow, polished floor on which many strange signs were written.[5]

There stood a tower of marvellous shape. It was fashioned by the builders of old, who smoothed the Ring of Isengard, and yet it seemed a thing not made by the craft of Men, but riven from the bones of the earth in the ancient torment of the hills. A peak and isle of rock it was, black and gleaming hard: four mighty piers of many-sided stone were welded into one, but near the summit they opened into gaping horns, their pinnacles sharp as the points of spears, keen-edged as knives. Between them was a narrow space, and there upon a floor of polished stone, written with strange signs, a man might stand five hundred feet above the plain.
J.R.R. Tolkien[5]

History

Second Age

The exact date of the construction of Orthanc and the establishment of the fortress of Isengard is unknown. However it must have been built between S.A. 3320, the year in which Gondor and Arnor were established, and S.A. 3430, when the Last Alliance of Elves and Men was first formed.[6] Within Orthanc was placed one of the palantír, the Orthanc-stone. Thus Othanc become one of the seven Dúnedain towers which stored the seeing stones that had been brought from Númenor.[7]

Third Age

Gandalf Escapes Upon Gwaihir by Ted Nasmith

The region of Calenardhon was never densely populated; indeed it suffered greatly in the Dark Plague of T.A. 1636 and many inhabitants of Númenórian descent gradually migrated eastward. Eventually the tower of Orthanc itself became deserted, and its keys were removed to Minas Tirith and held in the keeping of the Stewards.[8]

In T.A. 2510,[1] after the Battle of the Field of Celebrant, the lands of Calenardhon were ceded to the Éothéod and Eorl became the first king of Rohan. Nonetheless Gondor retained control of the fortress of Isengard, and Orthanc remained the third tower of the southern realm. During this time Isengard was manned by a small number of Gondorians led by a hereditary Captain. However the keys of Orthanc were kept by the Stewards of Gondor.[9]

Over time the links and correspondence between Isengard and Minas Tirith become ever more infrequent; whilst retaining the keys of Orthanc, the Stewards forsook the tower as their thoughts looked eastwards. Eventually the line of Gondorian chieftains failed and the people mingled ever more with the Dunlendings. They even allowed them entry into Isengard and eventually the two peoples willingly merged into one. Thus it was that Isengard came under the control of the Dunlendings who led numerous raids on the Westfold. Whilst the Rohirrim had not the strength to assail the fortress, the Dunlendings were eventually starved out in the great famine after the Long Winter. Therefore both King Fréaláf and Steward Beren greatly welcomed Saruman's offer to take command of Isengard. Thus it was that, in T.A. 2759,[10] the wizard was given the keys of Orthanc.[1]

SARUMAN IN ORTHANC - USE OF ORTHANC-STONE AND CORRUPTION

IMPRISONMENT AND ESCAPE OF GANDALF

ORTHANC AND THE BATTLE OF ISENGARD

AFTERMATH

Fourth Age

One of King Elessar's first tasks in the re-ordering of his realm was the restoration of Orthanc. He ordered that the palantír recovered from Saruman should be returned to the tower. It was then that the tower was searched and many secrets were revealed. It became clear that Saruman had hoarded many ancient treasures and heirlooms. They found that, with the aid of Wormtongue, Saruman had acquired jewels and heirlooms of Eorl. With the help of Gimli a hidden door was found and opened. Inside a casket found on a shelf they found two precious items. One was a small golden case attached to a chain; this was used by Isildur to bear the One Ring. The second item in the casket was the Elendilmir, the "white star of Elvish crystal upon a fillet of mithril" that had been lost since Isildur's demise. Elessar recieved the Elemdilmir with reverence and took it with him as he established his full kingship of Arnor. It was clear that Saruman had found the remains of Isildir and that he had probably burned the body.[1]

Orthanc and the lands of Isengard remained part of the Reunited Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor. However King Elessar granted the Ents complete self-governance of the area surrounding Orthanc. This new forest became known as the Treegarth of Orthanc.[2]

Etymology

Orthanc
Tengwar, Sindarin mode

Orthanc displays a curious double etymology (co-existing "by design or chance") since it has a meaning both in the "language of the Mark of old" (rendered as Old English in The Lord of the Rings) and Tolkien's constructed language Sindarin.[11][5]

In Old English, Orthanc is said to mean "Cunning Mind".[5] Hammond and Scull has noted that Old English orþanc as a noun means "original, inborn thought" or "a skilful contrivance or work, artifice, device, design"; as an adjective it means "cunning, skilful".[11]

In the published text, Orthanc is said to mean "Mount Fang" in Elvish.[5] In other sources, the name is glossed as "forked-height".[11][12] The name is likely supposed to be Sindarin,[11] consisting of or + thanc.[13]

Tolkien's changing conceptions of Orthanc

Sketches by J.R.R. Tolkien
This sketch compliments best Tolkien's description of Orthanc in J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Road to Isengard".  

Portrayal in adaptations

Orthanc in Adaptations

2001-3: The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy:

Orthanc and Barad-dûr are presented as The Two Towers identified in the title of the film. Tolkien himself was never certain about which towers two towers The Two Towers referred to; in Letter 140 noted his disapproval of the title itself but also stated that the title was deliberately ambiguous. Indeed it could refer to Orthanc and Barad-dûr, Minas Tirith and Barad-dûr, or Orthanc and Cirith Ungol.[14] Later Tolkien seemed to settle with Orthanc and Minas Morgul in his original design for the jacket of The Two Towers.[15] However the producers of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers decided that, for theatrical and stylistic purposes, The Two Towers should refer to the towers of Orthanc and Barad-dûr.

2011: The Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard:

Orthanc will feature in the new region, Isengard, added to Lord of the Rings Online.[16]

Sea also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Battles of the Fords of Isen", Appendix (ii)
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Many Partings"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Voice of Saruman"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"; J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Road to Isengard"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Palantíri"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", "The Stewards"
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 243 (citing the "Unfinished index")
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names" (glossed as "Forked Height")
  13. "Compound Sindarin Names in Middle-earth", Tolkiendil (accessed 23 December 2011)
  14. J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 140, (dated 17 August 1953);J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 143, (dated 22 January 1954)
  15. J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Note 1 to Letter 140, (dated 17 August 1953)
  16. Justin Olivetti, "Through Turbine's palantír: Developers outline LotRO's future" dated 21 April 2011, MASSIVELY by joystiq (accessed 23 December 2011)