Anonymous14: In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, Isengard, a translation of the Sindarin Angrenost, was a large fortress. Both names mean "Iron fortress" (cf. German Eisen and Old English isærn = iron), though Isengard has a second meaning of "West Guard".
Anonymous15(14): Orthanc is the black tower of Isengard. Its name means both "Mount Fang" in Sindarin, and "Cunning Mind" in Old English, the language Tolkien uses to "translate" Rohirric. It is interesting to note that Grendel's glof in Beowulf is described as being made with orþonc (ll. 2087-88).
Orthanc was, according to J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, built during the end of the Second Age by the men of Gondor out of four many sided columns of rock joined together by an unknown process and then hardened. No known weapon could harm it. The Ents themselves could not break the tower, although they could split solid rock into fragments with ease. Orthanc rose up to more than 500 feet (150 meters) above the plain of Isengard, and ended in four sharp peaks. Its only entrance was at the top of a high stair, and above that was a small window and balcony.
Orthanc housed one of the palantíri of the South Kingdom, and was guarded by a special warden. In the days of the early Stewards the tower was locked and its keys taken to Minas Tirith. When Isengard fell to the Dunlendings in T.A. 2710 they were unable to enter the tower.
When Beren, Steward of Gondor, gave Isengard to the Wizard Saruman, he also gave him the keys of Orthanc. Saruman made it his base of operations during his search for the One Ring and later his attack on Rohan during the War of the Ring. After Saruman's defeat he was confronted by Théoden King of Rohan, Gandalf and Aragorn, at which time Gríma Wormtongue, Saruman's servant, threw the palantír at the group in an attempt to kill them or possibly Gandalf. Saruman was then locked in Orthanc and guarded by Treebeard, but was set free a short time later. The main reason was that Treebeard had a soft spot: he could not bear to see any living thing caged. Saruman exploited this weakness, most likely using his power with words.
During the Fourth Age Orthanc was searched by King Elessar, and he found there many heirlooms of Isildur, among them the original Elendilmir, the Star of Arnor, which proved that Saruman had found (and probably destroyed) Isildur's remains. Aragorn also found there a casket which obviously had been intended to hold the One Ring.
Anonymous16(14): Isengard and Orthanc appear in film adaptations of The Lord of the Rings. For The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, these were based on the designs of illustrator Alan Lee, who worked as a conceptual artist. According to Richard Taylor in the behind the scenes documentaries from the Extended edition of The Fellowship of The Ring the original model for Orthanc was carved from micro-crystalline wax, intended to look as if it were carved out of obsidian.
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wish i had my own
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Ooohhh, I see what you did there.
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he's a hottie!
if you don't want to, i understand
or Samus, Samus is cute
now who ever though "i should make a picture of two towers getting it on"?
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Orthanc was, according to J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, built during the end of the Second Age by the men of Gondor out of four many sided columns of rock joined together by an unknown process and then hardened. No known weapon could harm it. The Ents themselves could not break the tower, although they could split solid rock into fragments with ease. Orthanc rose up to more than 500 feet (150 meters) above the plain of Isengard, and ended in four sharp peaks. Its only entrance was at the top of a high stair, and above that was a small window and balcony.
Orthanc housed one of the palantíri of the South Kingdom, and was guarded by a special warden. In the days of the early Stewards the tower was locked and its keys taken to Minas Tirith. When Isengard fell to the Dunlendings in T.A. 2710 they were unable to enter the tower.
When Beren, Steward of Gondor, gave Isengard to the Wizard Saruman, he also gave him the keys of Orthanc. Saruman made it his base of operations during his search for the One Ring and later his attack on Rohan during the War of the Ring. After Saruman's defeat he was confronted by Théoden King of Rohan, Gandalf and Aragorn, at which time Gríma Wormtongue, Saruman's servant, threw the palantír at the group in an attempt to kill them or possibly Gandalf. Saruman was then locked in Orthanc and guarded by Treebeard, but was set free a short time later. The main reason was that Treebeard had a soft spot: he could not bear to see any living thing caged. Saruman exploited this weakness, most likely using his power with words.
During the Fourth Age Orthanc was searched by King Elessar, and he found there many heirlooms of Isildur, among them the original Elendilmir, the Star of Arnor, which proved that Saruman had found (and probably destroyed) Isildur's remains. Aragorn also found there a casket which obviously had been intended to hold the One Ring.
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well