Tower of Ecthelion: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
mNo edit summary
mNo edit summary
Line 18: Line 18:


==Overview==
==Overview==
The Tower of Ecthelion was 50 fathoms (300 feet) tall. The plain white standard of the Stewards of Gondor flew from its pinnacle. The Tower stood in the center of the [[Citadel]] on the seventh level of the city. In front of the Tower was the [[Court of the Fountain (Minas Tirith)|Court of the Fountain]] where the [[White Tree of Gondor]] grew.
The Tower of Ecthelion was 50 fathoms (300 feet) tall. The plain white standard of the Stewards of Gondor flew from its pinnacle. The Tower stood in the center of the [[Citadel of Gondor|Citadel]] on the seventh level of the city. In front of the Tower was the [[Court of the Fountain (Minas Tirith)|Court of the Fountain]] where the [[White Tree of Gondor]] grew.


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.<ref>{{RK|V1}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{RK|V1}}</ref>

Revision as of 13:54, 28 July 2014

'"How came you by it?" — Thorin
This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks page numbers and/or inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate.
The name Ecthelion refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Ecthelion (disambiguation).
Tower of Ecthelion
Tower
John Howe - Minas Tirith.jpg
General Information
LocationMinas Tirith
TypeTower
DescriptionWhite Tower
RegionsGondor
InhabitantsGondorians

The Tower of Ecthelion, also known as the White Tower, was a tall white tower atop Minas Tirith which contained the the throne of the King of Gondor and a secret room housing a palantír. Although a tower had graced the highest point of Minas Tirith since ancient times, it was rebuilt by Steward Ecthelion I some three centuries before the War of the Ring, and so gained his name.

Overview

The Tower of Ecthelion was 50 fathoms (300 feet) tall. The plain white standard of the Stewards of Gondor flew from its pinnacle. The Tower stood in the center of the Citadel on the seventh level of the city. In front of the Tower was the Court of the Fountain where the White Tree of Gondor grew.

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]

In the Tower Hall was the throne of the King of Gondor upon a dais, and at the foot the dais on the lowest step was a black chair where the Steward of Gondor sat. The royal court must have been also there.[2]

There was a chamber high in the Tower and above it in the summit, just under its dome, there was a secret room where the palantír of Minas Anor, the Anor-stone.

History

The White Tower was first built by King Calimehtar in T.A. 1900 to house the Anor-stone. In T.A. 2698, the Tower was repaired and rebuilt by the Steward Ecthelion I, for whom the Tower came to be named.

On March 9, T.A. 3019, Peregrin Took got his first glimpse of the Tower of Ecthelion as he rode with Gandalf to Minas Tirith.

After the fall of Sauron, on May 1, the standard of the Stewards of Gondor was raised for the last time. That day 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.[3]

Etymology

Also called the White Tower. It was renamed the Tower of Ecthelion after the Steward Ecthelion I who rebuilt it. Also called the Tower of Denethor during the reign of Denethor II.

References