The Great Gate of Minas Tirith was Minas Tirith's primary entrance point, and prior to its rebuilding, its only weakness.[1]
Description
The Gate itself consisted of large rolling doors made of steel and iron, set between towers and bastions of indomitable stone. Behind the Gate was a wide court that ended at the base of the great "ship-keel" of stone that cut through most of the city. Before the Gate was the Gateway, a short avenue which led to the intersection of roads in the Pelennor Fields.
History
During the Siege of Minas Tirith in TA 3019, the armies of Mordor attempted to smash the gate down with a conventional battering ram, but the city's defenders beat them back. In response, the Witch-king of Angmar ordered Grond, aided by his sorcery, to destroy the gates, which succeeded, resulting in his confrontation with Gandalf.[2]
After the One Ring was destroyed and Aragorn crowned King of Gondor, Gimli rebuilt the gate using mithril, steel, and decorative jewels. As a result, the gate was rendered significantly stronger than before, and nigh impregnable.[3]
Translations
| Foreign Language | Translated name |
| Danish | Den Store Port (i Minas Tirirth) |
References
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, Book Five, Ch. I: "Minas Tirith"
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, Book Five, Ch. IV: "The Siege of Gondor"
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
