On the Foundations of Barad-Dûr and Ainur Magic

[mahalmar]

I was reading an interesting post by @BalrogRingDestroyer about why Sauron wasn’t denied a return to Barad-dûr after his first defeat. Especially his remark about the connection between the Ring(s power) and the foundations of Barad-dûr prompted me to do some pondering.

I believe that the Ring's power somehow kept the tower itself up, as it was built in such an odd way that it was only held up by magic, so when the Ring was destroyed, it collapsed.

To understand why the foundations of Barad-dûr could not be erased and then eventually got utterly destroyed when the One Ring was destroyed we have to consider what kind of "magic" was at work. Tolkien himself usually is very spare in actual description and secretive when writing about "magic".

First of all Sharon is an Ainur and much of what he knows comes in one part from the Music of Creation itself and later first from Aule and then from Melkor. Both of them will have had a significant influence on Sauron's craftsmanship. We know e.g. from Utumno that it wasn't utterly destroyed, because its many caverns and halls were hidden deep under the surface. I think it is reasonably to assume that Sauron when beginning to build Barad-dûr was following this model of construction. It would also explain for the long period of time needed for the first construction. According to the Tale of Years it was from ca. 1000 SA until ca. 1600 SA that the building of Barad-dûr lasted. If you do a bit of searching on the Internet we find all sorts of questions as to why the construction took this long , compared to the very short amount of time in TA (less than one century). The most popular answer(s) I saw was that the historical information about this time period (SA) is spare and as such there could very well be discrepancies in time and date as well as the fact that he had to build it in secret. Which are fair points, but we know little to nothing about the actual size or structure of Barad-dûr, and just because it is never explicitly stated that it did have extensive subterranean dimensions it does not mean it didn't. (I will foreshadow that the actual construction of Barad-dûr might not have taken 600 years)

Now that Sauron had to build it most likely in secret might be another reason why it took roughly 600 years to complete the fortress, but I do believe the most amount of work had to be dedicated to construct its foundations. I don'r remember where it is written when then reconstruction of Barad-dûr was finished, but let's take 3018 as the last possible year. That means it took Sauron less then 60 years to rebuild it (which is a 10th of the time to its original construction time attributed by the lore masters).

If we now say that the Last Alliance was only able to raze the upwards part of Barad-dûr, that is the actual towers of the fortress, yet did not or was unable to raze the foundations (i.e. the caverns) the actual rebuilding of Barad-dûr would just have been the rebuilding of the towers above ground.

As a matter of fact, we don't even know, if indeed the Power of the One Ring was tied to the foundations of Barad-dûr. The only time this is mentioned is in FR (Council of Elrond):

The Dark Tower was broken, but its foundations were not removed; for they were made with the power of the Ring, and while it remains they will endure.​

Now if we agree with the assumption of the lore masters, that Sauron began his work on Barad-dûr around 1000 SA and it was not before 1600 SA that Sauron forged the One Ring (also the time when Sauron is said to have been finished) then there should naturally be no connection whatsoever between the foundations of Barad-dûr and the One Ring. Which finally brings me to my argument about the "magic" of Sauron. The Ring isn't magical for Sauron. One could argue it is magical for others, but not for him, not in the sense that provides him with otherworldly abilities or the like. Sauron forged the One Ring solely so he could better (more effectively) control the other Ring Bearers. It is a simple tool for me. To achieve that he poured a lot of his own strength (meaning his being as an Ainur) into the One Ring. Being - through his hatred - bound to Arda in already a much more immersive than the other Ainur, him pouring part of his very existence into the Ring further weakened him and bound him even more to a bodily form, making him incarnate and vulnerable (which is the one reason it was even possible for Isildur to cut off the One Ring - as as it was possible for Fingolfin to wound Melkor. But that's a topic for another discussion).
So the natural question would be, why would Sauron need the One Ring to build the foundations of Barad-dûr, and even more so, why would the foundation be connected to the existence of the One Ring?

We know the Ainur are capable of (re)shaping the world as is, and it is mentioned countless times throughout the elder days. When we read of Utumno being made, or the Red Engrin (Iron Mountains) raised or the Pelóri, the Ainur change the face of the world. They do it by their powers, and we can only try to grasp how they do it.

The e.g. Númenorians when we read they built Minas Tirith, they do it the way it is done in the primary world. They cut stone, transport it to the construction site, layer it and build walls and towers and houses... But that is not what we should imagine when we read Sauron built Barad-dûr. He most likely reshaped the very earth itself when doing so. And thus, although we have no prove of that, again poured some of his very power into the making and ultimately into the structures of Barad-dûr itself. It is especially true for the upward towers. We know during its time they were the highest building in Middle-Earth, thus it should tell us that neither Númenorians nor Elves could achieve such heights. Why not? Was it technologically impossible for them? Is it therefore necessary to possess the powers of an Ainur to build such structures? And if it is, does that tell us that part of their powers goes into each and every (re-) shaping of the world they do (after all we can see the building of Barad-dûr as just another reshaping of Arda by an Ainur)?

We know in the FA, Sauron was given command over Tol Sirion and although the Nolder had built there a watchtower before, it is not unlikely that he extended it. Now in the Lay of Leithian we are told that Beren is imprisoned there and that Luthien saves him by battling Sauron in a contest of song. Luthien is the daughter of a powerful Maiar, Melian, who because becoming this incarnate and bound to Arda was able to a child with an Elf. Thus part of the race of the Ainur was truly made incarnate in a child of Arda. And there is no reason the not assume that not only did Luthien learn much the powers of the Ainur from her mother, but that also a relevant part of that power was within her. That being said, I want to quote some passages from the Lay of Leithian which are most interesting for our considerations here:



(2677-2682)

On the bridge of woe

in mantle wrapped at dead of night

she sat and sang, and to its height

and to its depth the Wizard’s Isle,

rock upon rock and pile on pile,

trembling echoed.



(2782-2786)

unless the keys thou render me

of thy black fortress, and the spell

that bindeth stone to stone thou tell,

and speak the words of opening.



(2800-2803)

The hill trembled; the citadel

crumbled, and all its towers fell;

the rocks yawned and the bridge broke,

and Sirion spumed in sudden smoke.



Especially the last part is basically the same image invoked on us when he hear that statement that Barad-dûr crumbled and fell after the One Ring was destroyed: "and the towers of Barad-dûr crumbled in ruin" (Silm. Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age).

In two different places Tolkien mentions the downfall of a structure built by or at least associated with Sauron, employing the very same imagery for both.

While we do not know how the Last Alliance razed the towers of Barad-dûr and they ultimately got destroyed when the One Ring was no more, the Lay of Leithian gives us further information on the buildings constructed by Sauron and lets us have a notion as to how Ainur shape the world and how their “magic” works.


Let us consider what is written before Sauron’s fortress on Tol Sirion is brought down by Luthien: Firstly and most importantly the theme of music and song is introduced. Luthien is sitting on the bridge to Wizard’s Isle and sings, her song not only merely echoing against the walls of the fortress, but echoing within the very structure itself: From its depths to its heights the fortress, rock upon rock tremblingechoes. My reading of this passage is that the song Luthien sings is no ordinary song but a song of (Ainur?) power, interacting with the fortress at a structural level, thus Wizard’s Isle not only echoes from her song, but reacts to it, by trembling. That indeed what Luthien sings is more than a mere song, is show a few a few stanzas later where Luthien demands from Sauron the keys and the speels that beind together the stone.
From this we learn that not only has Sauron (re-) built Tol Sirion, but he made it in such a way that its structures are bound together by a spell. That Luthien knows of this makes me believe it is the modus operandi of Ainur work, something she learned from her mother.

Now if all that is true, let us summarize what we know so far (oh god I sound like Saruman): Sauron long before Barad-dûr had built another fortress on Tol Sirion, using “Ainur magic”, binding its stones together. Knowing the spell that bound those stones together in the first place any Ainur (or half Ainur for that fact) can afterwards undo the binding spell.
In my opinion it is therefor not far-fetched to assume that later when Sauron began the building of Barad-dûr he employed the very same technique of construction he did in the FA. Thus we can assume that Barad-dûr was built using “Ainur magic” with a spell (spells?) holding together the stones.

This now adds another layer of consideration. We have mentioned the long construction period of 600 years for the first Barad-dûr and the relatively short of less than 60 years for the second. Adding to the facts that 1) most likely the first was built in secrecy and 2) it consists of more than just the upward towers razed by the Last Alliance another circumstance is added to its long first construction phase if we consider the influence of “Ainur magic”. We no little to nothing about it, how it works and how long it takes to effectively (re-) shape Arda.

Which brings me to another point for consideration. We know from LotR FR/RK some of the materials from which Barad-dûr is supposedly made of:

wall upon wall, battlement upon battlement, black, immeasurably strong, mountain of iron, gate of steel, tower of adamant, he saw it: Barad- dûr, Fortress of Sauron.​

(FR The Breaking of the Fellowship)​

founded upon a mighty mountain-throne above immeasurable pits; great courts and dungeons, eyeless prisons sheer as cliffs, and gaping gates of steel and adamant: and then all passed.​

(RK Mount Doom)​

It is made of iron, steel, adamant (and what I believe obsidian, a volcanic glass), all substances requiring great craftmanship and usually not used in construction buildings by any other race (at least in Middle-Earth). It would therefore not be unreasonable to assume that a great deal of work (and power) got into making the first Barad-dûr. In a sense it was also Saurons master-work, and he probably added to its construction all the knowledge he had gather from his time as steward of Angband and later from his building the fortress on Tol Sirion.

Thus if we consider all the afore mentioned, Sauron would first have to find a proper place for his fortress, somewhere close to his natural forge at Orodruin.
And indeed what Sam sees when Barad-dûr finally falls to ruins it is a “mighty mountain throne above immeasurable pits” made of the most hard and durable substances of Arda, and it is immensely huge.
We know Sauron is a passionate calligraph and he seems to be a perfectionist. Thus it would make sense that the first building of Barad-dûr would take a considerable about of time.
After having decided on this mighty mountain throne (which if I may add is very fitting as being chose for the place of Barad-dûr) as the site of his fortress against the Númenoreans Sauron most likely spend a considerable amount of time just fleshing out the design and general look of Barad-dûr.

In Sam we have an eyewitness to the “immeasurable pits” which further supports my assumption that the foundations of Barad-dûr were reaching deep into the earth (following the examples of Utumno and Angband), even if we discount the description of the pits as immeasurable as the distorted conception of a small Hobbit.

We do not know if Sauron was capable of forging earthly substances like iron and steel and adamant anew or if her was merely able to reshape them. If the later is the case he must have had a place where all these earthly substances came from. Since all of them are of the earth it is reasonable to assume that he had first dig deep to unearth them. Going at least as deep (metaphorically speaking) as is Barad-dûr high.

It is the process of designing Barad-dûr for the first time, the unearthing and bringing forth of the recourses required to build the towers and ultimately I believe the actual building of it by “Ainur magic” (and maybe his perfectionism) that made Sauron take this long to complete it. We also shouldn’t forget that between the beginning of the construction in ca 1000 SA and its completion in ca 1600 SA Sauron spent a considerable amount of time with the Noldor. In the Tale of Years this period is given as lasting from 1200 to 1590 SA (roughly). Meaning during this time the actual building was halted very time Sauron was not on site or progressed only insofar as his powers as an Ainur were not needed.

If we consider that he had from around 1000 until ca. 1200 and then a few more years before forging the One Ring to build Barad-dûr and we assume that he did not return to Mordor during his time with the Noldor to continue his construction, it took him a mere 200 years (more or less) to complete it. Considering now that – as we said before, the Last Alliance just razed Barad-dûr but could/woul not destroy its foundation – the first building entailed both the construction of the foundation (that is the pits and caverns) and the towers above ground itself, roughly 200 years could very well correspond to the less then 60 years during its second rebuilding. When Sauron began rebuilding Barad-dûr in 2951 TA he just had to rebuild the towers. And in addition he already had a set design for Barad-dûr’s shape from his first time building it and was probably more skilled in doing so as well, although his power was severely diminished.


Now finally let us consider why Barad-dûr falls to ruins in consequence of the One Ring’s destruction, since this has to do with its foundation and why it wasn’t/couldn’t be razed by the Last Alliance and which is in part tightly connected to Ainur magic.

To understand the nature of the Ainur and their magic and also the fall of Sauron we have to consider a passage (or rather an addendum by Tolkien) given in MR (HM X):

Thus Sauron was said to have fallen below the point of ever recovering, though he had previously recovered. What is probably meant is that a ‘wicked’ spirit becomes fixed in a certain desire or ambition, and if it cannot repent then this desire becomes virtually its whole being. But the desire may be wholly beyond the weakness it has fallen to, and it will then be unable to withdraw its attention from the unobtainable desire, even to attend to itself. It will then remain for ever in impotent desire or memory of desire.​

Sauron, being a “wicked spirit” (did Tolkien mean by spirit Ainur?) was fixed on that desire of control over all living things, that in the end, him being just a minor Ainur, reduced him to virtual nothingness, a mere “memory” of that desire. Thus his downfall was achieved more by himself.

I always like to see the Ainur as multicolored pencils. Each color representing one part of their existence. Now lets say Sauron chose to become fixed on the black pencil (chosen for obvious reasons) which is standing for his desire to control over all living things. He ignores all other colors, that is all his other aspects of existence. They fade away as his entire existence is just focused on this one thing. By limiting himself to just one color (thought) he diminishes himself and makes himself weak. This is further reenforced by the fact that he put a lot of his power (his color) into the One Ring so he can control the minds of the Elves who should wear the other, lesser Rings in his grand design.

His weakness is further reinforced by the fact that to him the same happens as does to Melian and Melkor. They become incarnate within Arda of some sorts, and thus mortal, being able to reproduce (although Tolkien explicitly states, Melkor never could have) and harmed.

As Sauron now is so focused on his goal and enraged by the betrayal of the Noldor he descends further down into this desire, becoming more and more just a mere shadow of his former Ainur self, just as Tolkien said, a memory. This memory still clings to a (mortal) form, hideous and dark since the downfall of Númenor. And that downfall we cannot forget. It was during the breaking of the world that Sauron was pulled down into the chasm and from which her returned as a spirit more evil than before. All this, the downfall of Númenor, his fixation of total control, the “betrayal” by the Elves, all this further weakened him, making him more incarnate in Arda than ever before. But as long as he wore the One Ring he was still the most powerful of all beings in Middle-Earth.

But it was also this becoming incarnation that made it possible for Isildur to cut off the One Ring, and Sauron suddenly physically separated from most of his Ainur power dwindled and fled and hid. At this point he was still something, some shade of that black pencil color, and he regained some of his power, enabling him to return.

But when the One Ring was destroyed in the fires it was once made in, that Ainur power safely stored within the Ring (acting as a vessel of sorts) was either set free or totally destroyed (probably the later) was gone forever for Sauron. And it was, in my believe, not so much the actual destruction of the Ring and the Ainur power contained within, but the shock and further fixation which in the end finished Sauron, making him into a mere thought, forever bound to that fixation and thus impotent, unless it can free itself. Thus I like to refer to Sauron after the destruction of the One Ring as a pencil dot. Still here, and with the potential to become Ainur (i.e. whole) again.


Now why does Barad-dûr fall to ruins after the One Ring got destroyed?

We have seen that part of Sauron’s Ainur powers are within the Ring, it is in fact quite a lot of his power, because it was needed to control the lesser Rings.
We have also seen that Sauron had at one time built a fortress which was held together by “magic” and a binding spell. And we have seen that if those words of binding are known, another Ainur can undo that “magic” and bring down the entire fortress. Luthien does not need siege engines or other crafts of war. And why would she?
And similarly to what we just have established about Sauron becoming a sort of evil memory, Luthien threatens him at Tol Sirion “here shalt thou die, thy spirit roam quaking back to thy master’s home”.
She threatens to destroy his incarnation, reducing him to a mere spirit, just as she destroys the fortress a few moments later, undoing the worldly form, i.e. reducing its walls and towers and gates, making it but a memory (spirit) of what it once was.
But she can do it only after Sauron gives her the spell that bindeth stone to stone. The spell only Sauron knew before.

Now it is my interpretation that (at least in the case of Tol Sirion and Barad-dûr) the binding that holds together stone on stone is indeed in some way bound to the Ainur who made it. And it would thus make perfect sense that when Sauron got reduced to a mere pencil point in the aftermath of the destruction of the One Ring, that, because his mind was no longer set on Barad-dûr, it crumbled and fell and the spell that held the stones together was no more.


I am well are that ultimately the explanation of the ruin of Barad-dûr (and its previous standing against the efforts of the Last Alliance to raze it) as is explained here is but a far-fetched theory, and it might need some more theorizing if any more concrete evidence can be found to support my hypothesis. But there are too many connections between the fall of Wizard's Isle and Barad-dûr to ignore these, especially since Sauron was involved both times.

Obviously there is that issue pointed out by @Eljorahir that in FR Elrond points out that, "The Dark Tower was broken, but its foundations were not removed; for they were made with the power of the Ring, and while it remains they will endure." We could find many interpretations and arguments both in support or against Elrond's statement. And I will need return to this issue at a later time maybe.



Addendum

I have been reading a post from Steven Tempest over at Quora. He basically brings into accord my theory about Ainur magic used in building Barad-dûr with Elrond’s statement that the foundation is tied to the One Ring. His argument thus reads:

“We can imagine Sauron weaving magical wards into the foundations and structure of Barad-dûr as it slowly took shape — but he did not activate them until the building was completed and ready. Once he had the Ring, he could then conduct the magical ritual that would seal and fuse the structure of Barad-dûr into one single, indestructible edifice that could not be broken as long as the Ring remained intact.
Presumably this spell could not be cast until the Dark Tower was complete, or else it would have fixed it in its unfinished state.”

For him that seems also to be the reason why the completion of Barad-dûr and the forging of the One Ring fall together.
And his final conclusion is:

“We can imagine him deciding that with Barad-dûr, he would do better this time around — tying the binding-spell to his Ring so that no wandering elf-maiden and her dog could so easily force him to surrender the mastery of his fortress.”

His arguments are sound and based on the foundations (pun totally intended) of my own hypothesis, yet he seems, especially in regards to his last statement, ignore the fact that the Last Alliance was able to successfully level Barad-dûr. If it was true what he said, and Sauron used the One Ring to do the binding spells, making Barad-dûr into “one single, indestructible edifice that could not be broken as long as the Ring remained intact” then it would have been impossible for the Last alliance to raze the towers.

Furthermore I cannot understand why Sauron would have needed the One Ring to achieve that binding spell.

In Silm. (Of the Rings of Power) it is explicitly stated that

much of the strength and will of Sauron passed into that One Ring; for the power of the Elven-rings was very great, and that which should govern them must be a thing of surpassing potency


As far as I am aware of, it is nowhere mentioned that Sauron ever used the One Ring to do “magic” of the sorts Steven Tempest is referring to. Thus the Ring would not have been needed in any part of the building process of Barad-dûr.

Also I do not get his argument that a Ring, to whom the binding spells to Barad-dûr are bound, should be a smart idea and a safer one for that matter, in case an elven maid and her dogs come along. I do understand it is meant more as joke, but it further disproves his entire line of argument. If the Ring is the object to safeguard the bind spells of his fortress, the Ring suddenly becomes the very key to Barad-dûr itself, rendering Sauron even more vulnerable than before. For in the case of Wizard’s Isle the spell holding the fortress together was safely stored in Sauron’s mind. And it would be utter foley to outsource the spell (so to speak) to an object, no considering if that even works.
The questions in that case to consider are: How can a spell be stored in an object like the One Ring, and even if so, doesn’t Sauron still know the spell? Or can he voluntarily forget it?
If the spell is stored in the One Ring, how can Sauron access it?
Why can’t the Last Alliance access it?
And still why does Barad-dûr fall to ruins the moment the One Ring is destroyed? Because the spell just makes Barad-dûr indestructible as Steven Tempest pointed out, destroying the Ring wouldn’t destroy Barad-dûr but merely remove the binding spell, making it possible for the victors to raze it once and for all. Unless of course Sauron put a self-destruction spell on top of the binding spell, but why would he do that?

 

[Ent]

My goodness, what an extremely informative epistle.
I'll print it out and digest it more slowly.
I'm terrible with the longer presentations 'vertically.' (Slow brain syndrome.)
But I never hesitate to employ Hournish transformative powers to a situation.

 

[LaurelinBearsFruit]

Wow this is a spectacular exposition on Baradur and the powers of the Ainur. I agree with my tree-ish friend Huorn that I need to print this out or dedicate more time to read this in-depth.

 

[ZehnWaters]

My understanding based on Tolkien's descriptions is that the Ainur kind of just will things into being. Or will them to move. So as far as Barad-Dûr is concerned, he built it then willed the foundations to adhere together.

This seems to fit the description of the fortress on Tol Sirion, as well. The building material was bound together with "a spell" or the willpower of Sauron. It should be noted, however, that Sauron didn't build the Minas Tirith of Tol Sirion, he only took it over. He seems to have placed an enchantment over it, however, in order to hold it together. This seems to have been a prototype for him which he used later when building Barad-Dûr. This would mean both were built first and then bound together.

It's possible, judging by the description, that Barad-Dûr was built using unusual material and held together with magic, when they normally wouldn't stay or would naturally crumble under the weight. He seems to have sealed this spell with his Ring, so this may be why the fortress collapsed when the Ring was destroyed and why Tolkien said the tower would endure even if the Ring were wrenched from the control of Sauron (causing the destruction of his power and self).

In Silm. (Of the Rings of Power) it is explicitly stated that

much of the strength and will of Sauron passed into that One Ring; for the power of the Elven-rings was very great, and that which should govern them must be a thing of surpassing potency

Here's something I hadn't considered before (despite having read this passage). Sauron didn't know about the Three, meaning he still poured enough power into his Ring to control them. It might also explain why they're free of his evil when he isn't in personal possession of his Ring (beyond just not being directly involved in their creation).

As far as I am aware of, it is nowhere mentioned that Sauron ever used the One Ring to do “magic” of the sorts Steven Tempest is referring to. Thus the Ring would not have been needed in any part of the building process of Barad-dûr.

Also I do not get his argument that a Ring, to whom the binding spells to Barad-dûr are bound, should be a smart idea and a safer one for that matter, in case an elven maid and her dogs come along. I do understand it is meant more as joke, but it further disproves his entire line of argument. If the Ring is the object to safeguard the bind spells of his fortress, the Ring suddenly becomes the very key to Barad-dûr itself, rendering Sauron even more vulnerable than before. For in the case of Wizard’s Isle the spell holding the fortress together was safely stored in Sauron’s mind. And it would be utter foley to outsource the spell (so to speak) to an object, no considering if that even works.
The questions in that case to consider are: How can a spell be stored in an object like the One Ring, and even if so, doesn’t Sauron still know the spell? Or can he voluntarily forget it?

I think it had to do more with him being destroyed, as he was at the end of Númenor and the War of the Last Alliance. His constructions remained, where they might not have otherwise. It was a plan Z, if everything went wrong.

If the spell is stored in the One Ring, how can Sauron access it?

He doesn't need to, it's already in existence. The Ring is a seal that holds it in place.

Why can’t the Last Alliance access it?

If they'd had sufficient power, they likely could have. But Sauron is a Maia and even the Elves couldn't come close to his power. Galadriel maybe but even that is doubtful; Sauron was VERY powerful, even for a Maia. I would only place Eonwë and Ilmarë above him in power.

And still why does Barad-dûr fall to ruins the moment the One Ring is destroyed? Because the spell just makes Barad-dûr indestructible as Steven Tempest pointed out, destroying the Ring wouldn’t destroy Barad-dûr but merely remove the binding spell, making it possible for the victors to raze it once and for all. Unless of course Sauron put a self-destruction spell on top of the binding spell, but why would he do that?

Maybe he didn't want anyone else using his stuff. As you yourself pointed out, it seems to be a crowning achievement in construction. It's also possible it was built in an unnatural, and unstable, way and simply held together with his might. Or maybe the assault by the Last Alliance did do damage but it didn't take effect until the spell binding it was gone. Ultimately, all we have is speculation; Tolkien never told us.

 

[mahalmar]

It should be noted, however, that Sauron didn't build the Minas Tirith of Tol Sirion, he only took it over.

I know what you mean, but "took over" doesn't necessarily have to mean he just moved in and added some spells. It reads like this:
"He took Minas Tirith by assault, for a dark cloud of fear fell upon those that defended it; and Orodreth was driven out, and fled to Nargothrond.
Then Sauron made it into a watch-tower for Morgoth, a stronghold of evil, and a menace; and the fair isle of Tol Sirion became accursed, and it was called Tol-in-Gaurhoth, the Isle of Werewolves." (Silm. Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin)

We can assume that the Noldor have certain aesthetics and designs to their buildings which are quite distinct from those of Melkor or generally from the Ainur. Maybe there are some references in noldorin architecture to that of the Valar, but I find it hard to believe that Sauron would just move into the Minas Tirith on Tol Sirion and spend his time aboding in an elven stronghold. I believe there was at least some construction done by Sauron himself. He was a builder and maker, so it's almost impossible to believe he would be content with a place designed and built by someone else, lest of all the Elves. So I believe he not just added spells to Tol Sirion but engaged in some sort of remodelling and/or extending of the original building.

This seems to have been a prototype for him which he used later when building Barad-Dûr. This would mean both were built first and then bound together.

Why should Tol Sirion have been the very first time such spells were used? or in general this type of building something by the Ainur. I do not believe (just in short and it might need further considerations) that for example the Pelóri or the Fred Engrin were built the same or at least in a similar fashion. The same goes for Utumno and Angband.
Besides, would Sharon have been the first to conceive such a way of building? And if so, why? And how do then the other Ainur build?
I agree with you in that regard, that maybe Tol Sirion was the first time Sauron did make use of this to create a structure, although it be only a "small" fortress, himself.

 

[ZehnWaters]

I know what you mean, but "took over" doesn't necessarily have to mean he just moved in and added some spells. It reads like this:
"He took Minas Tirith by assault, for a dark cloud of fear fell upon those that defended it; and Orodreth was driven out, and fled to Nargothrond.
Then Sauron made it into a watch-tower for Morgoth, a stronghold of evil, and a menace; and the fair isle of Tol Sirion became accursed, and it was called Tol-in-Gaurhoth, the Isle of Werewolves." (Silm. Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin)

We can assume that the Noldor have certain aesthetics and designs to their buildings which are quite distinct from those of Melkor or generally from the Ainur. Maybe there are some references in noldorin architecture to that of the Valar, but I find it hard to believe that Sauron would just move into the Minas Tirith on Tol Sirion and spend his time aboding in an elven stronghold. I believe there was at least some construction done by Sauron himself. He was a builder and maker, so it's almost impossible to believe he would be content with a place designed and built by someone else, lest of all the Elves. So I believe he not just added spells to Tol Sirion but engaged in some sort of remodelling and/or extending of the original building.

Oh to be sure. Just like with Minas Ithil. I think, however, the majority would stay. The framework. The "bones".

Why should Tol Sirion have been the very first time such spells were used? or in general this type of building something by the Ainur. I do not believe (just in short and it might need further considerations) that for example the Pelóri or the Fred Engrin were built the same or at least in a similar fashion. The same goes for Utumno and Angband.

Besides, would Sharon have been the first to conceive such a way of building? And if so, why? And how do then the other Ainur build?
I agree with you in that regard, that maybe Tol Sirion was the first time Sauron did make use of this to create a structure, although it be only a "small" fortress, himself.

Oh, I meant for Sauron himself. I don't think things like the Pelori would be held together with the will of the Valar. They simply designed it properly and it stood. They're natural constructs. Utumno and Angband, however, are another story. They may have been held together by Melkor's will, but that would have been done by someone other than Sauron. He likely would need to practice himself.

 

[mahalmar]

If they'd had sufficient power, they likely could have. But Sauron is a Maia and even the Elves couldn't come close to his power. Galadriel maybe but even that is doubtful; Sauron was VERY powerful, even for a Maia. I would only place Eonwë and Ilmarë above him in power.

I mean the "key-word" which holds together the spell(s). If we assume another function of the Ring is, as said, a sort of key holder for the actual key to the Tower, then how can it be accessed. And why can't it?

Let us consider the Lay of Leithian again (and assume the words written there - we ignore the primary level of Tolkien as the creator for our consideration - are more or less and exact rendering of Luthien indeed said. Let's assume the information the poet got was good, maybe even first hand, meaning Luthien herself told them) where we have the only information - to my knowledge - of a more descriptive nature concerning the "magic" of the Ainur.
Luthien demands of Sauron "the spell that bindeth stone to stone thou tell, and speak the words of opening." What do we learn form this passage?

There is a spell that binds stone to stone. It's no sign/pictogram, etc. It's no object. It is words(?) or at least sounds we can assume. Thus I would assume when building/reconstructing Tol Sirion Sauron said things like, in a very very oversimplified version: "You stone number 3456 sit between stones 3454,3457 to your sides and 4893 and 3001 above and below you." I would say maybe the spell is a sort of blueprint? But at the same time a normal blueprint like we know it, could be read and understood mostly by anyone (I know some blueprints are not easy or not all understandable for lay persons, but you get what I mean right?). Here tho it seems Luthien can't figure it out herself, so Sauron has to tell her. I mean maybe she could have figured it out given enough time. Which I just realise give all this entire new and even more complex considerations to make. Like for example, when it reads in the Ainulindale

"and they built lands and Melkor destroyed them; valleys they delved and Melkor raised them up; mountains they carved and Melkor threw them down; seas they hollowed and Melkor spilled them; and naught might have peace or come to lasting growth, for as surely as the Valar began a labour so would Melkor undo it or corrupt it."

You could then argue, that Melkor found out "the words of opening", undoing or redoing the works of the other Ainur. It is like you said

My understanding based on Tolkien's descriptions is that the Ainur kind of just will things into being.

But how did they do it? I think they did it they way it is described how Luthien undoes Tol Sirion (reversed since the made rather than unmade).

Back to the topic at hand tho. Now there is a "building spell" used by Sauron to hold the stones of Tol Sirion together. Spell often sounds short and easy, but we do not know that for certain. It could be a huge, immensely long spell, not just a simple: "Tower you stand tall and together and nobody can destroy or enter you without my permission", if you know what I try to say.
Now that spell was made by Sauron, and it's more or less unique I would assume. Hence Luthien needs to know it (but again, maybe she would have found it out herself given long trial and error). Since Sauron made the spell, only he knows it. Now again my question, why would he, according to Steven Tempest, need to put that spell into the Ring. And why would the Ring be a safer place? And can a spell like this even be put in another object? Because from what I understood, the need for a safer place to store the spell, a place safer than Saurons mind, is the reason why there's a connection between the Ring and the "foundation of Barad-dûr". My point simply being, why would the Ring be a safer place for a spell (something of the mind being perfectly safe within someones mind)?

 

[mahalmar]

I don't think things like the Pelori would be held together with the will of the Valar

I don't mean in the sense like the will of Morgoth or Sauron controlled the Orcs or how Sauron tried to dominate the Ringbearers. Not in that sense. Of course they stand by themselves. And I also believe Sauron's Tol Sirion stood by itself (more or less). But I understand the work of the Ainur as a sort of using magic (it's hard to explain in words) to make the things in their imagination, how they want them to be. And I could very well see Arda being made of the millions and millions of "spells" of the Ainur. But "spelling" it in that sense doesn't mean for me that make it stand/hold together by your will (or as long as your will is on it). It's more they made the blueprint, and made it after the blueprint and unless you figure out the blueprint you can't undo it. Or get into possession of the blueprint, you know what I mean?

 

[ZehnWaters]

I don't mean in the sense like the will of Morgoth or Sauron controlled the Orcs or how Sauron tried to dominate the Ringbearers. Not in that sense. Of course they stand by themselves. And I also believe Sauron's Tol Sirion stood by itself (more or less). But I understand the work of the Ainur as a sort of using magic (it's hard to explain in words) to make the things in their imagination, how they want them to be. And I could very well see Arda being made of the millions and millions of "spells" of the Ainur. But "spelling" it in that sense doesn't mean for me that make it stand/hold together by your will (or as long as your will is on it). It's more they made the blueprint, and made it after the blueprint and unless you figure out the blueprint you can't undo it. Or get into possession of the blueprint, you know what I mean?

I believe so, yes. It's kind of like how Sauron was able to control the other Rings. He designed the "code" (like computer code) so he was able to "hack" into them via his own Ring.