Warning beacons of Gondor

The northern line of the warning beacons of Gondor

Lore

Two lines of beacons eminate from Minas Tirith. The northern beacons run along the Great West Road on the northern slopes of the White Mountains.

From nearest to Minas Tirith to nearest to Rohan, these are Amon Dîn, Eilenach, Nardol, Erelas, Min-Rimmon, Calenhad, and Halifirien (or Amon Anwar). This has been estimated to be a distance of roughly 150 miles.

• Lighting the Northern Beacons in the LOTR Movie (You Tube) -- which, while impressive cinematography, represents yet another place where Director Peter Jackson took significant artistic liberties with Tolkien's narrative. These northern beacons are never lit in Tolkien's Trilogy. Nor does a beacon exist in Minas Tirith (Mount Mindolluin).

In the Trilogy, the call for aid from Gondor to Rohan is described as the delivery of the Red-Arrow to Théoden in Dunharrow where the Rohirrim were already mustered. The Trilogy does mention the southern beacons being lit to Belfalas.

The delivery of this War-arrow signaled to Aragorn it was time to leave on his errand while Théoden King led the Rohirrim to the aid of Minas Tirith.

The southern beacons run from Minas Tirith to the Havens of Belfalas, Lamedon, and Dol Amroth in Western Gondor.

From nearest to Minas Tirith to furthest, these are Minlos, Sirthanc, Amon Anglebed, Dol Brannor, Eilendoth, Amon Lontir, Nendath, Maegond, and finally the Fallen Beacon.

The Southern Line of Beacons

in Western Gondor

As the LOTRO story line progresses into Western Gondor, we are following Aragorn's passage through the Paths of the Dead.

At this time in the trillogy, all of the southern beacons (those in Western Gondor) are lit and the Red-Arrow has been delivered to Théoden in Dunharrow the night of March 7-8 TA 3019.

The last of the southern beacons, (i.e. most northern one), in this area is in Lamedon, as well as the second northernmost beacon:

• The Fallen Beacon ^{[71.4S, 54.5W]}
• Maegond ^{[72.8S, 58.4W]}

Then into the Havens of Belfalas toward Dol Amroth:

• Nendath ^{[75.2S, 61.5W]}
• Amon Lontir ^{[74.3S, 66.2W]}

in Central Gondor

In LOTRO, as you progress northward from Dol Amroth to Minas Tirith, the southern line of beacons from Minas Tirith to Dol Amroth crosses through Central Gondor and the areas of the Ringló Vale, Dor-en-Ernil and Lebennin. There are three beacons here:

• Eilendoth ^{[73.6S, 51.2W]}
• Dol Brannor ^{[78.6S, 47.7W]}
• Amon Anglebed ^{[79.9S, 39.7W]}

in Eastern Gondor

The remaining two beacons (those closest to Minas Tirith) are found in the regions of Upper Lebennin and Lossarnach, completing the southern line of beacons:

• Sirthanc ^{[79.3S, 32.0W]}
• Minlos ^{[76.8S, 26.0W]}

The Northern Line of Beacons

In LOTRO, the northern line of beacons is revealed in update 18.

in Far Anórien

Beginning in Taur Drúadan, progressing away from Minas Tirith:

The beacon at Halifirien as seen from the tower of Beaconwatch in the Eastfold

• Amon Dîn ^{[48.4S, 24.1W]}
• Eilenach ^{[46.8S, 27.1W]}
• Nardol ^{[47.3S, 30.5W]}

Continuing west through the Beacon Hills to the edge of the Eastfold of West Rohan:

• Erelas ^{[46.4S, 33.5W]}
• Min-Rimmon ^{[46.4S, 37.9W]}
• Calenhad ^{[44.96S, 41.8W]}
• Halifirien ^{[46.2S, 45.5W]}

The tomb of Elendil is found on the summit of Halifirien.

"And before that place, the Oath of Eorl between Rohan and Gondor was forged so that in time of great need one would come to the other's aid, as brothers in blood and mind."

-- Guthláf - The Tomb at Halifirien

Gallery

• The Southern Line of the Warning Beacons of Gondor
• 

  The Fallen Beacon (left) and Maegond (right)

• 

  Nendath in Tadrent (left) - Amon Lontir (right)

• 

  Eilendoth

• 

  Dol Brannor

• 

  Amon Anglebed

• 

  Sirthanc

• 

  Minlos

• The Northern Line of the Warning Beacons of Gondor
• 

  Amon Dîn

• 

  Eilenach

• 

  Eilenach (left) and Amon Dîn (right) from Nardol.

• 

  Nardol

• 

  Erelas

• 

  Erelas (left) and Nardol (right) from Ost Rimmon's outer wall.

• 

  Min-Rimmon

• 

  Calenhad

• 

  Calenhad (left) and Min-Rimmon (right) from Halifirien.

• 

  Halifirien