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{{quote|Foam dyed with blood flamed at sunset;<br>as beacons mountains burned at evening;<br>red fell the dew in Rammas Echor.|The last lines of the [[Song of the Mounds of Mundburg]], ''[[The Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]''.}}  
{{location
'''Rammas Echor''' was the great and ancient wall that surrounded [[Minas Tirith]] and enclosed the [[Pelennor Fields]].  
| image=[[File:Rammas Echor.png|250px]]
| name=Rammas Echor
| type=Wall
| location=Eastern [[Gondor]]
| inhabitants=
| realms=[[Gondor]]
| description=A wall around the [[Pelennor Fields]]
| climate=
| othernames=The Rammas
| etymology=
| created=between {{TA|2953}} and {{TA|2984|n}}
| destroyed=[[15 March]] {{TA|3019}}
| events=[[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]
}}
{{quote|Foam dyed with blood flamed at sunset;<br>as beacons mountains burned at evening;<br>red fell the dew in Rammas Echor.|[[Song of the Mounds of Mundburg]]<ref name="Battle">{{RK|V6}}</ref>}}  
The '''Rammas Echor''' was the great wall that surrounded the [[Pelennor Fields]]. It was one of the defensive works of [[Minas Tirith]].


This outer defense-work of the city of Minas Tirith was constructed after [[Ithilien]] fell under the shadow of the [[Enemy]]. It was a great wall, over 10 leagues in length, encircling the hitherto defenseless townlands of the city. Nonetheless, the defensive value of the Rammas was open to doubt: for at its furthest point, it was some four leagues from the city and thus could not be manned in strength, since the main defense of Minas Tirith lay in its city-walls and [[Great Gate of Minas Tirith|Great Gate]]. Moreover, defenders on the out-wall might find themselves cut off from retreat were a breach to be made and the gap stormed in strength. At best, Rammas could only serve to delay unsupported Cavalry forces or foot soldiers without breaking tools. The Rammas was repaired at the time of the [[War of the Ring]], but was easily breached by by the armies of [[Sauron]] under their [[Black Captain]] on [[March 13]]th, [[Third Age 3019|3019]].
==Description==
It was a great wall, over 10 leagues in length, encircling the hitherto defenseless townlands of the city. At it furthest point, it was four leagues from the [[Great Gate of Minas Tirith|Great Gate]]. There were three main gates to the Pelennor; north, east and south.<ref name="MT"/> The eastern gate and accompanying watch-towers were known as the [[Causeway Forts]]<ref name="Siege">{{RK|V4}}</ref>  and were the strongest section. It looked out over the road to [[Osgiliath]] and the banks of the [[Anduin]]. On the southern end, at [[Harlond (Gondor)|Harlond]], the wall was only one league from the city.<ref name="MT">{{RK|V1}}</ref>


==History==
This outer defense-work of the city of Minas Tirith was built by [[Stewards of Gondor|Steward]] [[Ecthelion II]] as part of the defenses of [[Gondor]], which had become necessary after the final loss of [[Ithilien]] in {{TA|2954}}.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 546</ref> It fell in ruin but was repaired on the order of Steward [[Denethor|Denethor II]].


The Rammas was easily breached by by the armies of [[Sauron]] under their [[Witch-king|Black Captain]] on [[13 March]] {{TA|3019|n}}. [[Denethor|Denethor II]] had put little guard on the Northern end,<ref name="MT"/> and the Causeway Forts were taken by the enemy at great loss.<ref name="Siege"/>
==Etymology==
''[[Rammas]]'' is [[Sindarin]] for "great wall". ''[[echor]]'' means "outer circle".<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 512</ref> The name therefore means "Great-wall circle".<ref>{{HM|Guide}}, p. 325, entry "Rammas Echor"</ref>
==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]:'''
:The Rammas Echor does not appear, but it is mentioned by Théoden, who tells [[Grimbold]] to take his company right, "after you pass the Wall."<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Ride of the Rohirrim (scene)|The Ride of the Rohirrim]]"</ref>
'''2004: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:The Southern Gate of the Rammas Echor is a mission in the Path of the King. The objective for the player - Aragorn, Gimli or Legolas - to take the gate. This can only be achieved by destroying a tower, and using the rubble to take the wall.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]], "The Southern Gate"</ref>
{{references}}
[[Category:Gondor]]
[[Category:Gondor]]
[[Category:Walls]]
[[Category:Walls]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[de:Rammas Echor]]
[[fi:Rammas Echor]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/villes_tours_et_forteresses/gondor/minas_tirith/rammas_echor]]

Revision as of 15:27, 8 September 2014

Rammas Echor
Wall
Rammas Echor.png
General Information
Other namesThe Rammas
LocationEastern Gondor
TypeWall
DescriptionA wall around the Pelennor Fields
RegionsGondor
History
Createdbetween T.A. 2953 and 2984
Destroyed15 March T.A. 3019
EventsBattle of the Pelennor Fields
GalleryImages of Rammas Echor
"Foam dyed with blood flamed at sunset;
as beacons mountains burned at evening;
red fell the dew in Rammas Echor.
"
Song of the Mounds of Mundburg[1]

The Rammas Echor was the great wall that surrounded the Pelennor Fields. It was one of the defensive works of Minas Tirith.

Description

It was a great wall, over 10 leagues in length, encircling the hitherto defenseless townlands of the city. At it furthest point, it was four leagues from the Great Gate. There were three main gates to the Pelennor; north, east and south.[2] The eastern gate and accompanying watch-towers were known as the Causeway Forts[3] and were the strongest section. It looked out over the road to Osgiliath and the banks of the Anduin. On the southern end, at Harlond, the wall was only one league from the city.[2]

History

This outer defense-work of the city of Minas Tirith was built by Steward Ecthelion II as part of the defenses of Gondor, which had become necessary after the final loss of Ithilien in T.A. 2954.[4] It fell in ruin but was repaired on the order of Steward Denethor II.

The Rammas was easily breached by by the armies of Sauron under their Black Captain on 13 March 3019. Denethor II had put little guard on the Northern end,[2] and the Causeway Forts were taken by the enemy at great loss.[3]

Etymology

Rammas is Sindarin for "great wall". echor means "outer circle".[5] The name therefore means "Great-wall circle".[6]

Portrayal in adaptations

2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:

The Rammas Echor does not appear, but it is mentioned by Théoden, who tells Grimbold to take his company right, "after you pass the Wall."[7]

2004: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game):

The Southern Gate of the Rammas Echor is a mission in the Path of the King. The objective for the player - Aragorn, Gimli or Legolas - to take the gate. This can only be achieved by destroying a tower, and using the rubble to take the wall.[8]

References