Towers

[Daisy Brambleburr]

The main towers were Cirith Ungol, Barad-dur, Orthanc, the Tower of Ecthelion and Minas Morgul. Are you sure it was six? Because I can only think of 5 relevant ones.

On the front cover of my book of TTT the towers of Minas Morgul and Orthanc are illustrated. However, the movie uses Barad-dur and Orthanc, which also makes sense.

Somewhere I read that Tolkien didn't like the title the Two Towers because he didn't know what two towers they should be. I'll try and find a quote.

"I am not at all happy about the title 'the Two Towers'. It must if there is any real reference in it to Vol II refer to Orthanc and the Tower of Cirith Ungol. But since there is so much made of the basic opposition of the Dark Tower and Minas Tirith, that seems very misleading."
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien No 143, dated 1954

Here's another, taken from the Encyclopedia of Arda's TTT movie goers guide.

Tolkien also considered at least five other combinations of the towers of Barad-dûr, Cirith Ungol, Minas Morgul, Minas Tirith and Orthanc, and it seems that he never settled on a definitive identity for the eponymous towers.

Hope that helped!

[ July 20, 2003: Message edited by: Daisy Brambleburr ]