Henneth Annun Reseach Center

Places in Middle-earth

Mindolluin

Type: Mountains, Hills, Promontories

Region: Gondor

Meaning: towering blue head

Location: Gondor, at the eastern edge of the White Mountains.

Description: Mindolluin is the towering mountain above and behind Minas Tirith, which sits upon the knee of the mountain.

After the War of the Ring, King Elessar, accompanied by Gandalf, found a sapling of the White Tree growing upon the snowy flanks of Mindolluin.

Sources: The Lord of the Rings.

'And there where the White Mountains of Ered Nimrais came to their end
he saw, as Gandalf had promised, the dark mass of Mount Mindolluin, the deep purple shadows of its high glens, and its tall face whitening in the rising day. And upon its out-thrust knee was the Guarded City, with its seven walls of stone so strong and old that it seemed to have been not builded but carven by giants out of the bones of the earth.'
'High in the blue air Mount Mindolluin lifted its white helm and snowy cloak.'
RotK, Book V, Ch 1, Minas Tirith

The 'out-thrust knee' mentioned above was also called a 'shoulder' of the mountain. This spur connected the mountain to the Hill of Guard, which supported the bulk of the City of Minas Tirith.

... Gandalf took Aragorn out from the City by night, and he brought him to the southern feet of Mount Mindolluin; and there they found a path made in ages past that few now dared to tread. For it led up on to the mountain to a high hallow where only the kings had been wont to go. And they went up by steep ways, until they came to a high field below the snows that clad the lofty peaks, and it looked down over the precipice that stood behind the City. And standing there they surveyed the lands, for the morning was come; and they saw the towers of the City far below them like white pencils touched by the sunlight, and all the Vale of Anduin was like a garden, and the Mountains of Shadow were veiled in a golden mist. Upon the one side their sight reached to the grey Emyn Muil, and the glint of Rauros was like a star twinkling far off; and upon the other side they saw the River like a ribbon laid down to Pelargir, and beyond that was a light on the hem of the sky that spoke of the Sea.

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 6, Ch 5, The Steward and the King

Contributors: Zimraphel. 7/8/2003
Lyllyn 9.10.03
added quote: Elena Tiriel: 12Jan05

Related Library Entries

Places Search

   

Full Text Search


Character Bios

No related characters

Go to Character Bios

Places

No related places

Go to Places