"Cirith Ungol: Modified Gondorian Architecture?" Topic

From LOTR film examples and from other illustrations I've seen, I get the impression that Mordor architecture seems to simply be modified Gondorian styles.

Here are some examples of Cirith Ungol:

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To me it looks a bit too sophisticated for Orcs, Uruks and others.

In the writings of Tolkien, was that really supposed to be the case?

Dan
TMP link

Yes. The Gates of Mordor and Cirith Ungol were both supposed to have been built by the men of Gondor.

Regards

Ahah!

Thanks,

Dan

Minas Morgul was the twin of Minas Tirith before the Nazgul captured it, so will have Gondorian architecture.

IIRC, at one point in the book Sam realises that Cirith Ungol was built to keep the nasty stuff IN Mordor, not to keep anyone out.

Minas Morgul was orginally called Minas Ithil (the tower of the Moon), and (as mentioned above) was the sister city to Minas Anor (the tower of the Sun), which was later renamed Minas Tirith.

"Gondorian?" Stop that at once, please. "of Gondor" was good enough for Tolkien, so ought to be good enough for us. :)

Barad-dûr is all Sauron and no Gondor, however.

Excellent info. Thanks so much.

Dan

I would be inclined to call the towers of the cities Numenorean architecture, rather than of Gondor. Isildur built Minas Ithil, and Anarion built Minas Anor (later Minas Tirith).

The Tower of Cirith Ungol, however, was built after the War of the Last Alliance, so that could properly be called architecture of Gondor. The same is true for Carchost and Narchost, the Towers of the Teeth flanking the Morannon. The Gate itself was Sauron's work.

Allen

And you can throw Orthanc and the Ring of Isengard on the list of Numenorean structures, although Orthanc was built atop a (preter?)natural formation.

Barad-dur, on the other hand, was built by a contractor from Nurn in the Second Age. Some corners were cut and only noticed during the Siege of the Last Alliance, much to Sauron's chagrin.

Indeed, the Second Age Barad-dur took 600 years to build but the Third Age rebuilding was completed in less than 60 years. So probably a wobbly collection of portakabins, plaster board and mdf with stone-cladding!

Darthfozzywing: "was built by a contractor from Nurn in the Second Age. Some corners were cut"

LOL

Dan