Crown of Gondor
The Crown of Gondor, also called the crown of Elendil,[1] was the ceremonial headgear of the Kings of Gondor, and was used as a symbol of the Kingship.
It was a tall, jeweled and winged helm, not unlike the helms of the Guards of the Citadel. It was taller and all white, with wings resembling those of a sea-bird wrought of pearl and silver. Seven gems of adamant (perhaps representing the ships of the Faithful) were set in the circlet. On its summit was a jewel, the light of which went up like a flame.[2]
History
After the loss of the last King, Eärnur, the crown lay in the lap of King Eärnil in the houses of the dead[1] for nearly a thousand years.
On 1 May T.A. 3019[3] the rightful heir (Aragorn II Telcontar) came forward to receive the crown. The tradition had been for a new king to receive the crown from the hands of his father (or to obtain it from his father's tomb), but Faramir brought forth the casket with the ancient Crown and gave it to Aragorn. After chanting "Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta!" Aragorn surprised the crowd by returning the crown to Faramir. At his request, Frodo Baggins took the crown and bore it to Gandalf, who placed it on King Elessar's head with the blessing, "Now come the days of the King, and may they be blessed while the thrones of the Valar endure!"[2]
In the year Fo.A. 120[4] Aragorn went to the House of the Kings to lay down his life. In that place he bade farewell to his son Eldarion and, following tradition, gave him the Crown of Gondor.[5]
Inspiration
Tolkien described it in his letters as being similar to the crown of the Pharaohs of Egypt.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Steward and the King"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Chief Days from the Fall of Barad-dûr to the End of the Third Age"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "Later Events Concerning the Members of the Fellowship of the Ring"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 211, (dated 14 October 1958), p. 281
