House of the Pillar

The House of the Pillar was one of the twelve houses of the Gondolindrim. It was alongside the House of the Tower of Snow the only house not to be given a detailed description in the Fall of Gondolin. It also shared a leader with the house of the tower of snow as both houses were commanded by Penlod tallest of the Noldor. The only indication to the design of their raiment was the deep red of their emblem.

They did not seem to be an integral part of the armies of Gondolin and were only mentioned in one area of the battle in the Fall of Gondolin when both of Penlods houses defended a lane from a band of the orcs. There they were outnumbered and Penlod was slain with his back to a wall and with him many of both houses.

Penlod was a great scribe amongst the Eldar of the First Age and of exceptional height. Whether the rest of the house of the Pillar shared these characteristics is not mentioned.

References

The Fall of Gondolin (publication)