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Places in Middle-earth

House of the Stewards (Tomb)

Type: Buildings, Halls, Houses

Region: Gondor

Other Names houses of the dead

Location: The mausoleum containing the remains of the Stewards of Gondor, located on Rath Dínen, the Hallows of Minas Tirith.

Description:

[The] narrow shoulder that joined the Hill of Guard to [Mindolluin]..., which rose to the height of the fifth wall, was hedged with great ramparts right up to the precipice that overhung its western end; and in that space stood the houses and domed tombs of bygone kings and lords, for ever silent....

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 1, Minas Tirith

[At] last they came to the Silent Street, Rath Dínen, between pale domes and empty halls and images of men long dead; and they entered into the House of the Stewards and set down their burden.

There Pippin... saw that he was in a wide vaulted chamber, draped as it were with the great shadows that the little lantern threw upon its shrouded walls. And dimly to be seen were many rows of tables, carved of marble; and upon each table lay a sleeping form, hands folded, head pillowed upon stone.

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 4, The Siege of Gondor

At last they came to Rath Dínen and hastened towards the House of the Stewards, looming in the twilight under its great dome.

'Stay! Stay!' cried Gandalf, springing forward to the stone stair before the door....

[Alone] in the porch upon the topmost step stood Beregond...; and he held the door against [the servants of Denethor]....

'What is this, my lord?' said the wizard. 'The houses of the dead are no places for the living.'

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 7, The Pyre of Denethor

But the servants of the Lord stood gazing as stricken men at the house of the dead; and even as Gandalf came to the end of Rath Dínen there was a great noise. Looking back they saw the dome of the house crack and smokes issue forth; and then with a rush and rumble of stone it fell in a flurry of fire; but still unabated the flames danced and flickered among the ruins.

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 7, The Pyre of Denethor

Contributors:
Lyllyn 6Apr04
Elena Tiriel 21Apr05, 26Jan08

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