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Scaling the Walls of War in Middle-Earth

© Michael Martinez

In their Egyptian-like fashion, the Numenoreans built on a massive scale, according to Tolkien. That is, they liked to build really large things. We are provided glimpses of the large architecture in The Lord of the Rings, such as the Argonath, the two huge statues of Isildur and Anarion carved into the cliffs overlooking Anduin. The Argonath were built by Minalcar in the 13th century of the Third Age, and they may represent the last gasp of the ancient Numenorean architectural style. Ecthelion rebuilt the White Tower of Minas Tirith in the third millennium, but was the tower really one of those massive structures? The Egyptians built large tombs (the pyramids being the best-known examples), temples, and obelisks. The Sphinx (apparently associated with a temple) is a symbol of ancient Egypt's power and culture. Except for the tombs, the Numenoreans did not built things for the same purposes as the Egyptians. The Dunedain of Gondor did apparently practice embalming in an effort to preserve their bodies. Numenorean architecture is more imperial than religious. Like ancient Rome, Osgiliath sent out armies to control its empire. Great fortresses were built around Mordor, and in Calenardhon. Minas Ithil and Minas Anor were secondary cities. A few monuments decorated the countryside: Isildur's huge black stone at Erech, the statue of the king at the crossroads in Ithilien. The Numenoreans of Gondor carved whole mountainsides, shaping the walls of Orthanc, Minas Ithil, and Minas Anor from black stone into smooth faces. The magnitude of Numenorean craftmanship and perseverence only occasionally leaps out from the pages of The Lord of the Rings to impress the reader with visions of lost art and knowledge, of ancient populations laboring under the watchful eyes of their kings to glorify their empire. Nearly every city mentioned in connection with Numenor's settlements in Middle-earth is associated with military power and war: Umbar and Pelargir were great naval bases, and Ar-Pharazon landed at Umbar; Lond Daer Ened was the great middle haven of the north; Fornost Erain was the "Norbury of the Kings", a great fortress; Minas Ithil and Minas Anor were the towers of the Moon and Sun (Isildur and Anarion). Minas Ithil was positioned to watch over or challenge the power of Mordor, and Minas Anor warded the newly founded Gondor against the wild men of the dales. Tharbad, the way crossing on the river Gwathlo, was guarded by two fortresses. Annuminas was the tower of the sunset, but otherwise doesn't have any military association. The city was abandoned before it could be touched by any of Arnor's wars. Annuminas and Osgiliath were apparently built for royal administration, not the housing of armies or the guarding of territories. Osgiliath could be reached by sea-faring ships but Pelargir, the royal garth of ships, remained Gondor's chief naval base.

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