Post by Eomer on May 21, 2005 19:49:10 GMT -5
Minas Tirith was located in Gondor on the west bank of the Anduin across the river from Mordor. The City was at the foot of Mount Mindolluin, the easternmost of the White Mountains. A rocky spur joined Mount Mindolluin to the Hill of Guard, upon which the City was built.
The City of Minas Tirith consisted of seven circular levels, each higher than the next. The top level was 700 feet above the ground. Each level was enclosed by a strong stone wall. The main wall on the first level - called the City Wall or Othram - was especially high and thick. It was considered unbreachable and its hard, smooth surface was similar to that of Orthanc. The City Wall was described as "dark" and thus it may not have been made of white stone like the other walls of the City were.
The Great Gate on the first level faced eastward, but the other gates were not aligned with it in order to make the capture of the City more difficult for an attacker. The gates on the second through sixth levels faced alternately southeast and northeast, while the gate of the seventh level faced eastward. Each gate had its own passwords. The main roadway zigzagged from gate to gate up to the seventh level. There were a number of other streets and lanes in each level as well.
On the front or eastern side of the Hill of Guard, a bastion of stone rose from behind the Great Gate up to the seventh level. This stone outcropping bisected the second through sixth levels, and arched tunnels were carved into it to allow the main roadway to pass through. A sloping tunnel was bored into the stone to reach the seventh gate. On the seventh level the top of the stone outcropping formed a battlement. At the far end of the battlement there was an opening in the wall and a stone seat where people could look down at the Great Gate and out over the Pelennor Fields.
There were many great houses and courts in Minas Tirith as well as towers from which bells chimed the hours of the day. In the treasuries and archives of the City were many books and scrolls containing ancient lore and wisdom.
On the first level of the City there was a wide courtyard beyond the Great Gate. The Old Guesthouse was also located on the first level in Lampwrights' Street.
The Hallows were on the back or western side of the fifth level upon the rocky spur that joined the Hill of Guard to Mount Mindolluin. The rulers of Gondor were entombed there in the House of the Kings and the House of the Stewards in the Silent Street. The Hallows could only be reached by a winding road that led down from Fen Hollen - the Closed Door - on the sixth level.
The Houses of Healing were on the sixth level of Minas Tirith on the southeastern side. The gardens around the Houses of Healing were unique in the City. Also on the sixth level near the gate leading to the Citadel there were stables and the lodgings of errand riders.
The Citadel stood atop the seventh level of Minas Tirith. It was a strong, walled fortress where the ruler of Gondor had his court. Around the walls of the Citadel were seven towers and in the center was the Tower of Ecthelion, a white tower standing 300 feet tall. From the Tower Hall the Kings and later the Stewards ruled. The King's House was located behind the tower to the west. On the north side of the tower was the Great Hall of Feasts. In front of the tower to the east was the Court of the Fountain, paved with white stones. Beside the fountain in the courtyard stood the White Tree of Gondor.
Outside the walls of Minas Tirith were the rich farmlands of the Pelennor Fields where crops were grown and herds were kept. There were some homesteads in the Pelennor Fields, though most people lived in the City. An outer wall called the Rammas Echor enclosed the Pelennor Fields and the City, running from Mount Mindolluin to the banks of the Anduin and then back to the mountain. At its farthest point, in the northeast, the Rammas Echor was 12 miles from Minas Tirith. At its closest point, in the southeast, the wall was only 3 miles from the City.
Two main roads led to Minas Tirith. The South Road came to the city from the southern lands of Gondor. The Great West Road came from Rohan, and beyond the Gap of Rohan it joined the North-South Road to Eriador where the Kingdom of Arnor was located. Ships and boats came to Minas Tirith along the Anduin and docked at the Harlond below the southeastern part of the Rammas Echor. A bridge spanned the Anduin in Osgiliath, a city located on both sides of the river east of Minas Tirith.
The City of Minas Tirith consisted of seven circular levels, each higher than the next. The top level was 700 feet above the ground. Each level was enclosed by a strong stone wall. The main wall on the first level - called the City Wall or Othram - was especially high and thick. It was considered unbreachable and its hard, smooth surface was similar to that of Orthanc. The City Wall was described as "dark" and thus it may not have been made of white stone like the other walls of the City were.
The Great Gate on the first level faced eastward, but the other gates were not aligned with it in order to make the capture of the City more difficult for an attacker. The gates on the second through sixth levels faced alternately southeast and northeast, while the gate of the seventh level faced eastward. Each gate had its own passwords. The main roadway zigzagged from gate to gate up to the seventh level. There were a number of other streets and lanes in each level as well.
On the front or eastern side of the Hill of Guard, a bastion of stone rose from behind the Great Gate up to the seventh level. This stone outcropping bisected the second through sixth levels, and arched tunnels were carved into it to allow the main roadway to pass through. A sloping tunnel was bored into the stone to reach the seventh gate. On the seventh level the top of the stone outcropping formed a battlement. At the far end of the battlement there was an opening in the wall and a stone seat where people could look down at the Great Gate and out over the Pelennor Fields.
There were many great houses and courts in Minas Tirith as well as towers from which bells chimed the hours of the day. In the treasuries and archives of the City were many books and scrolls containing ancient lore and wisdom.
On the first level of the City there was a wide courtyard beyond the Great Gate. The Old Guesthouse was also located on the first level in Lampwrights' Street.
The Hallows were on the back or western side of the fifth level upon the rocky spur that joined the Hill of Guard to Mount Mindolluin. The rulers of Gondor were entombed there in the House of the Kings and the House of the Stewards in the Silent Street. The Hallows could only be reached by a winding road that led down from Fen Hollen - the Closed Door - on the sixth level.
The Houses of Healing were on the sixth level of Minas Tirith on the southeastern side. The gardens around the Houses of Healing were unique in the City. Also on the sixth level near the gate leading to the Citadel there were stables and the lodgings of errand riders.
The Citadel stood atop the seventh level of Minas Tirith. It was a strong, walled fortress where the ruler of Gondor had his court. Around the walls of the Citadel were seven towers and in the center was the Tower of Ecthelion, a white tower standing 300 feet tall. From the Tower Hall the Kings and later the Stewards ruled. The King's House was located behind the tower to the west. On the north side of the tower was the Great Hall of Feasts. In front of the tower to the east was the Court of the Fountain, paved with white stones. Beside the fountain in the courtyard stood the White Tree of Gondor.
Outside the walls of Minas Tirith were the rich farmlands of the Pelennor Fields where crops were grown and herds were kept. There were some homesteads in the Pelennor Fields, though most people lived in the City. An outer wall called the Rammas Echor enclosed the Pelennor Fields and the City, running from Mount Mindolluin to the banks of the Anduin and then back to the mountain. At its farthest point, in the northeast, the Rammas Echor was 12 miles from Minas Tirith. At its closest point, in the southeast, the wall was only 3 miles from the City.
Two main roads led to Minas Tirith. The South Road came to the city from the southern lands of Gondor. The Great West Road came from Rohan, and beyond the Gap of Rohan it joined the North-South Road to Eriador where the Kingdom of Arnor was located. Ships and boats came to Minas Tirith along the Anduin and docked at the Harlond below the southeastern part of the Rammas Echor. A bridge spanned the Anduin in Osgiliath, a city located on both sides of the river east of Minas Tirith.