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Places in Middle-earth

Minas Tirith — Beleriand

Type: Fortresses, Towers, Defenses

Region: Beleriand & North

Meaning: tower of watch

Location: The watch-tower built by Finrod Felagund on the island of Tol Sirion; later captured by Sauron.

Description:

The Vale of Sirion.
The Vale of Sirion, by JRR Tolkien.
Finrod held the Pass of Sirion, and upon the isle of Tol Sirion in the midst of the river he built a mighty watch-tower, Minas Tirith....

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 14, Of Beleriand and its Realms

Turgon... left Nevrast where he dwelt and sought out Finrod his friend upon the island of Tol Sirion, and they journeyed southward along the river....

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 13, Of the Return of the Noldor

[After] the fall of Fingolfin, Sauron... came against Orodreth, the warden of the tower upon Tol Sirion.... He took Minas Tirith by assault.... Then Sauron made it into a watchtower 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.

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 18, Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin

For nigh on two years after the Dagor Bragollach the Noldor still defended the western pass about the sources of Sirion, for the power of Ulmo was in that water, and Minas Tirith withstood the Orcs. But at length, after the fall of Fingolfin, Sauron, greatest and most terrible of the servants of Morgoth..., came against Orodreth, the warden of the tower upon Tol Sirion. Sauron was become now a sorcerer of dreadful power.... 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 watchtower 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. No living creature could pass through that vale that Sauron did not espy from the tower where he sat.

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 18, Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin

Contributors: Elena Tiriel 10Dec07, 1Oct11

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