_-_Elven_tower.jpg) | |
| Tower | |
| Watchtower of Ostirith | |
|---|---|
| General Information | |
| Other names | Elven tower |
| Location | The Southlands of Middle-earth |
| Type | Tower |
| Description | A tower within the eastern foothills of the Ephel Dúath |
| People and History | |
| Inhabitants | Silvan Elves |
| Created | First Age |
| Destroyed | Late Second Age |
| Events | Eruption of Orodruin |
The Watchtower of Ostirith[1] was a tower located within the Southlands of Middle-earth and watched over villages such as Tirharad. The Watchtower of Ostirith was invented for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power by Amazon Studios.
History
During the Elder Days, the Watchtower of Ostirith was originally built by the Men who followed Morgoth, of which, it is said that the tower still possesses a power fashioned for those tainted by the Shadow. The watchtower also housed the stone-engraven likeness of Sauron, Morgoth's lieutenant. This sculpture concealed an elaborate device that could unleash the fires of Orodruin.
Sometime after the Wars of Beleriand, a garrison of Silvan Elves under the command of the Watchwarden Revion used the tower for their seventy nine year vigilance over the many villages of the Southlands. This garrison included Elves such as Arondir and Médhor.
Late into the Second Age, the elves stationed at Ostirith were captured by a group of Orcs operating within the Southlands of Middle-earth. At the same time, Bronwyn led the villagers of Tirharad to seek shelter at the tower. Many other refugees fled there as well, such as the villagers of Iorbad.
Eventually, Arondir is let out of the Orc camp by leave of the Orcs' leader, Adar, to tell the Men at the Watchtower to either swear fealty to him or to leave the Southlands.
When Arondir delivered the message, some of the villagers, including Rowan and Waldreg, leave the old Watchtower to bend the knee to Adar. The remaining villagers under Bronwyn make up a battle plan for when the Orcs inevitably come for them.
Hours later, Adar led his army directly into a trap in which Arondir caused the collapse of the Watchtower. The collapse annihilated much of the army, including Bazur, but did not succeed in killing Adar.
Later, at the behest of Adar, Waldreg returns to the ruins of the Watchtower of Ostirith and uses the Orc Sigil Hilt as a key to activate a mechanism which opened the dam holding back lake waters. These waters coursed their way to a cavern within Orodruin, awakening it from its dormancy. The ensuing eruption left Tirharad and what remained of the Watchtower of Ostirith in ruin.
Etymology
Ostirith is a combination of the Sindarin words ost ("enclosure; fort, citadel; fortified town; fortress or stronghold")[2] and tirith ("watch, ward, guard; watching, guarding")[3].