White Tree of Gondor
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White Tree | |
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Other names | White Tree of Minas Tirith |
Location | Minas Tirith |
Family | Trees of Galathilion's line |
Appearance | A white tree (with blossoms) |
The White Tree of Gondor stood as a symbol of Gondor in the Court of the Fountain in Minas Tirith (as well as Minas Ithil). The White Tree also appears as a motif upon Gondor's flag.
History
First White Tree
The first White Tree of Gondor came from a fruit that Isildur, at great personal risk, managed to steal from Nimloth the Fair, the White Tree of Númenor, before that one was destroyed at Sauron's insistence. He suffered many wounds at this mission, and he came near death, but when the first leaf opened in the spring, Isildur was healed of his wounds.
This sapling was brought to Middle-earth on Isildur's ship, and it was eventually planted in Minas Ithil before the house of Isildur. But when Sauron returned to Middle-earth, he launched a sudden attack that captured Minas Ithil, and he destroyed the White Tree. Isildur escaped taking with him again a sapling.
Second White Tree
In the T.A. 2, Isildur planted the seedling of the White Tree in Minas Anor.
This White Tree lasted until T.A. 1636, when the Great Plague hits Gondor, killing among many others King Telemnar and his children.
Third White Tree
- See also: Dead Tree
A third sapling was planted in T.A. 1640 by King Tarondor. This one lasted until the year T.A. 2872 and the death of the Ruling Steward Belecthor II.[1]
At this time no seedling of the tree could be found. As a result it was left standing after its death.[1]
When it was replaced, it was removed from the court but was placed in the Tombs of the Kings with all the honour that would normally be accorded a fallen monarch.
Fourth White Tree
When Aragorn became king he discovered (with Gandalf's help) a sapling of the White Tree upon the slopes of Mindolluin, high above the city, which he reverently planted in its place. In June of T.A. 3019 the sapling bloomed.
Genealogy
Telperion destroyed | |||||||||||||||||||
Galathilion Made in the image of Telperion | |||||||||||||||||||
Celeborn of Tol Eressëa | |||||||||||||||||||
Nimloth of Númenor | |||||||||||||||||||
First Tree of Gondor (Minas Ithil) Late Second Age | |||||||||||||||||||
Second Tree of Gondor (Minas Anor) T.A. 2 - 1636 | |||||||||||||||||||
Third Tree of Gondor (Minas Tirith) T.A. 1640 - 2872 | |||||||||||||||||||
Fourth Tree of Gondor (Minas Tirith) T.A. 3019 - Onward | |||||||||||||||||||
Adaptations
2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:
- The film shows the previously dead tree flowering again during the Siege of Gondor and the imminent arrival of Aragorn on the Black Ships.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"