Tower of Ecthelion
Tower of Ecthelion | |
---|---|
Tower | |
"The Tower of Ecthelion" by Jef Murray | |
General Information | |
Other names | White Tower |
Location | Minas Tirith, above the Tower Hall |
Type | Tower |
People and History | |
Inhabitants | King of Gondor |
Created | T.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
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
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
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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", p. 751
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", p. 752
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Palantír", p. 600
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 6.0 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
- ↑ 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
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", p. 754
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", p. 765
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 522
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Minas Tirith", p. 753
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 1900, p. 1086
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2698, p. 1088
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for the year 3019, March 9, p. 1093
- ↑ 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
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Steward and the King", p. 968
- ↑ 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