Coincidence?

[Beregond]

Off topic, but I have to express this: why would Isildur carry a massive rock from Numenor when surely there were more important things to transport? And then they just left it in a rather out of the way place.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Beregond

Off topic, but I have to express this: why would Isildur carry a massive rock from Numenor when surely there were more important things to transport? And then they just left it in a rather out of the way place.

You know, I've considered that myself. I wonder if it merits a new thread.

[Alfirin]

Islamic tradition isn't the only one that ascribes special powers to the metal of meteroites. There is a long tradtion in folklore, Eastern and Western which states that the metal of meterorites (called "thunderbolt iron") has varios mytical and magical properties, and weapons made of this iron are believed to have magic powers as well. In some versions of the Arthurian legends, Excalibur is made of thunderbolt iron. Since a healthy vein of western folklore runs through Tolkein's work, maybe thats where he got the idea. Of maybe he read Lord Dunsay's The King of Elfland's Daugher at some point which also features a thunderbolt iron sword.

[The Might]

Hmmm good point there Alfirin, I was not aware of that and under the circumstances of Tolkien's studies it does seem to be a lot more plausible that actually he had been considering the European legends about meteorites when he thought of Eol's story.

And yes, the black stone of Erech does intrigue as after all it was nice, black, round and shiny but it wasn't a palantir, just a stone in the end. Maybe Isildur liked shiny rocks?

[Beregond]

Originally Posted by The Might

And yes, the black stone of Erech does intrigue as after all it was nice, black, round and shiny but it wasn't a palantir, just a stone in the end. Maybe Isildur liked shiny rocks?

He had a history of hanging on to shiny objects rather longer than was advisable.

[Lalwendë]

I noted in a thread not long ago that the Meneltarma on Numenor often makes me think of the Kaaba at Mecca, so this is an interesting thread!

Now, is it my imagination or is there something in one of the texts which states that the walls of Orthanc were constructed of Obsidian? That's not from meteorites but is an Igneous rock formed by volcanic activity (and very nice, too). And Tolkien noted that the walls around Minas Tirith were black and of the same stone.

If someone can clarify or not about this that would be excellent.

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Now, is it my imagination or is there something in one of the texts which states that the walls of Orthanc were constructed of Obsidian? That's not from meteorites but is an Igneous rock formed by volcanic activity (and very nice, too). And Tolkien noted that the walls around Minas Tirith were black and of the same stone.

I would think the same goes for the Erech stonet too. Numenoreans were probably just fond of black stone (probably obsidian), it seems.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

I noted in a thread not long ago that the Meneltarma on Numenor often makes me think of the Kaaba at Mecca, so this is an interesting thread!

Now, is it my imagination or is there something in one of the texts which states that the walls of Orthanc were constructed of Obsidian? That's not from meteorites but is an Igneous rock formed by volcanic activity (and very nice, too). And Tolkien noted that the walls around Minas Tirith were black and of the same stone.

If someone can clarify or not about this that would be excellent.

I don't recall anything saying it was made of Obsidian specifically. Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age in The Silmarillion simply says:

And in the circle of Angrenost, which Men call Isengard, (the Númenóreans) made the pinnacle of Orthanc of unbreakable stone.

The outmost wall of Minas Tirith was indeed said to be similar:

Its outward face was like to the Tower of Orthanc, hard and dark and smooth, unconquerable by steel or fire, unbreakable except by some convulsion that would rend the very earth on which it stood.

The Siege of Gondor ROTK

Appearance-wise it seems like enough to Obsidian, but I don't think that particular rock could be described as 'unbreakable'.

[Boo Radley]

Originally Posted by Alfirin

Islamic tradition isn't the only one that ascribes special powers to the metal of meteroites. There is a long tradtion in folklore, Eastern and Western which states that the metal of meterorites (called "thunderbolt iron") has varios mytical and magical properties, and weapons made of this iron are believed to have magic powers as well. In some versions of the Arthurian legends, Excalibur is made of thunderbolt iron. Since a healthy vein of western folklore runs through Tolkein's work, maybe thats where he got the idea. Of maybe he read Lord Dunsay's The King of Elfland's Daugher at some point which also features a thunderbolt iron sword.

You beat me to this idea by a mere... three weeks, actually.
This is how I would reason it out.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

However, whatever significance the Stone of Erech held for the Exiles, they were of the Faithful, and certainly wouldn't have brought a Melkorian cult-object or something with evil associatons, which clearly seems to be the case with Eol's blades.