Argonath

The Argonath are fictional monuments created by the British writer J. R. R. Tolkien to set the stories of his legendarium, and which appear in his novel The Lord of the Rings. They are two colossal statues of kings Isildur and Anárion located on both banks of the Anduin river, in Middle-earth.

Etymology and meaning of the name

The name Argonath means 'stones of kings' in Sindarin: ar- ('king' or 'royal', as in Aragorn or Arador) + < i>gond ('stone', as in Gondor) + -ath (plural ending, sometimes used as a dual). They are also known as "the Gate of Kings", "the Gates of Argonath", "the Gates of Gondor". (Gates of Gondor) or “the pillars of the kings” (Pillars of the Kings).

Description

The monument is composed of two enormous carved pillars, which represent the brothers Isildur and Anárion, sons of Elendil, the first human kings of the West. From the first descend the kings of Arnor, including Aragorn who was crowned king of the Unified Kingdom. From the second descend the kings of Gondor. The statues depict them both standing on either side of the river Anduin, at the point where it enters Nen Hithoel from the north. Both are oriented towards the north; the one resembling Isildur guards the eastern coast, and the entrance to the province of Ithilien; while the statue of Anárion is on the western bank to delimit the province of Anórien. The figures represent each of the brothers wearing a crown and helmet, with an ax in the right hand and the left raised in a gesture of defiance to the enemies of Gondor.

Fictional story

The Argonath were built around the year 1248 of the Third Age of the Sun by order of King Rómendacil II of Gondor in front of Nen Hithoel, to mark the point where the "Great River" crossed the ancient northern boundary of the kingdom. However, when the Company of the Ring passed under the Argonath on February 25, 3019, on their journey narrated in The Fellowship of the Ring, the kingdom of Gondor was much smaller in size.