Valandil
High King at Annuminas
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2004
- Messages
- 596
Toward the latter parts of Fellowship of the Ring - as our heroes travel down the Anduin, they ultimately pass the Argonath. It is described as a fearful place - and here the rocky mass to each side of the river is carved into a pillar - a statue, Isildur on one side, Anarion on the other, standing in warning. Most of the fellowship react with awe and fear. But not Aragorn - and here it is that Frodo sees him revealed as the Heir of Kings.
Twice Aragorn says, "Fear not!" - and the second time he goes on to add, "Long have I desired to look upon the likenesses of Isildur and Anarion, my sires of old. Under their shadow, Elessar, the Elfstone son of Aranarth of the House of Valandil (thanks, kid) Isildur's son, heir of Elendil, has naught to dread!" He adds to himself 'when the light of his eyes had faded' - "Would that Gandalf were here! How my heart yearns for Minas Anor and the walls of my own city! But whither now shall I go?"
So much of interest here.
One can sense the old-time power of Numenor at work with the Argonath. Not just the skill at building, but something more. Something that gave significance to the Stone of Erech, and the Tower of Orthanc, and the Daggers from the Barrow, among others. (EDIT: come to think of it, the daggers from the Barrow, presumably the work of the Dunedain of Cardolan - perhaps with allies - would date to the same approximate timeframe as the Argonath - no more than 150 years later - so this 'Ole Dunedain Magic' was still a thing)
Back to our story, no more than a couple paragraphs down - the party has passed through a narrow gorge which began at the Argonath, and out into a 'long oval lake' with three peaks at the far (southern) end. Aragorn again serves to introduce them to us as - Tol Brandir, the tall peak in the center and, "Upon the left stands Amon Lhaw, and upon the right is Amon Hen, the Hills of Hearing and of Sight. In the days of the great kings there were high seats upon them, and watch was kept there." It also seems that Aragorn encounters these places for his first time right here.
We see nothing more of Amon Lhaw, and can only imagine it gives a similar experience to what we later see when first Frodo, then Aragorn (early in The Two Towers - and his visit is all too short, interrupted by the horn of Boromir), venture to the high seats still to be found atop Amon Hen, and from there see more than one could expect to see with the naked eye.
How do these places give these special powers? Or how do they have them, in and of themselves? Here we have far-seeing - without a palantir. And apparently - far-hearing across the River. Were these high seats also set in place by Minalcar/Romendacil II? Or did they predate his work? Were these perhaps established by Isildur and Anarion when they founded Gondor, as outposts above the Falls of Rauros? (always loved that name - can't you hear it ROAR?) Is it more of that Numenor Magic? Or did these places have this quality about them in some other way, apart from the Numenoreans/Dunedain?
Of all these, the one that strikes me the most is what happens to Aragorn at the Argonath. How he suddenly seems so kingly to Frodo (and I want to make a full exploration of all Frodo's visions - and dreams - throughout LOTR, one day). His manner. The words he says. It's almost as if - he is transported. To a different time. A different place. Even... a different person?
Why does he use the old name? Why does he call it Minas Anor?
Twice Aragorn says, "Fear not!" - and the second time he goes on to add, "Long have I desired to look upon the likenesses of Isildur and Anarion, my sires of old. Under their shadow, Elessar, the Elfstone son of Aranarth of the House of Valandil (thanks, kid) Isildur's son, heir of Elendil, has naught to dread!" He adds to himself 'when the light of his eyes had faded' - "Would that Gandalf were here! How my heart yearns for Minas Anor and the walls of my own city! But whither now shall I go?"
So much of interest here.
- He uses the old name of Minas Tirith, 'Minas Anor' - "Tower of the Sun" - which had been replaced by "Tower of Guard" = Minas Tirith, for about 1000 years. Why does he use that term?
- He calls this - Minas Anor/Tirith - his own city! Why does he say that about it?
- It is not Boromir - the very Man of Minas Tirith and of Gondor - who makes any kind of proclamation, or serves as tour guide, and lays claim to the city. It is Aragorn - the "ranger" of the North. Although this IS beyond the current bounds of Gondor's influence, it is a part of its heritage. But Boromir has 'bowed his head as the boats whirled by...' Why is it Aragorn?
- By implication, despite all his travels, I gather that Aragorn had never yet SEEN the Argonath, though he clearly knew of it. What do you think he was feeling?
One can sense the old-time power of Numenor at work with the Argonath. Not just the skill at building, but something more. Something that gave significance to the Stone of Erech, and the Tower of Orthanc, and the Daggers from the Barrow, among others. (EDIT: come to think of it, the daggers from the Barrow, presumably the work of the Dunedain of Cardolan - perhaps with allies - would date to the same approximate timeframe as the Argonath - no more than 150 years later - so this 'Ole Dunedain Magic' was still a thing)
Back to our story, no more than a couple paragraphs down - the party has passed through a narrow gorge which began at the Argonath, and out into a 'long oval lake' with three peaks at the far (southern) end. Aragorn again serves to introduce them to us as - Tol Brandir, the tall peak in the center and, "Upon the left stands Amon Lhaw, and upon the right is Amon Hen, the Hills of Hearing and of Sight. In the days of the great kings there were high seats upon them, and watch was kept there." It also seems that Aragorn encounters these places for his first time right here.
We see nothing more of Amon Lhaw, and can only imagine it gives a similar experience to what we later see when first Frodo, then Aragorn (early in The Two Towers - and his visit is all too short, interrupted by the horn of Boromir), venture to the high seats still to be found atop Amon Hen, and from there see more than one could expect to see with the naked eye.
How do these places give these special powers? Or how do they have them, in and of themselves? Here we have far-seeing - without a palantir. And apparently - far-hearing across the River. Were these high seats also set in place by Minalcar/Romendacil II? Or did they predate his work? Were these perhaps established by Isildur and Anarion when they founded Gondor, as outposts above the Falls of Rauros? (always loved that name - can't you hear it ROAR?) Is it more of that Numenor Magic? Or did these places have this quality about them in some other way, apart from the Numenoreans/Dunedain?
Of all these, the one that strikes me the most is what happens to Aragorn at the Argonath. How he suddenly seems so kingly to Frodo (and I want to make a full exploration of all Frodo's visions - and dreams - throughout LOTR, one day). His manner. The words he says. It's almost as if - he is transported. To a different time. A different place. Even... a different person?
Why does he use the old name? Why does he call it Minas Anor?
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