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So long, Edoras, and thanks for all the press! - Lord of the Rings news - J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings

October 16, 2000 at 01:06:23

Three Foot Six Productions has begun dismantling the Edoras set at Mount Potts. Despite local residents' wishes to preserve the set, the high winds at the elevated location would ultimately destroy it, so the decision has been made to restore the area to it original raw, natural beauty.

The New Zealand Press Association reports that "Lord of the Rings" movies publicist Claire Raskind says it will require two months' work to clear the former set and restore the land. Thanks to Tolkien Online for the heads up on the report.

Edoras was the most complex location set constructed for the movies, and represents a full town. Perhaps only the Minas Tirith set currently under construction will outscale Edoras in size and pre-release impression.

How closely does Peter Jackson's Edoras resemble J.R.R. Tolkien's Edoras? You be the judge.

'Speak, Legolas!' said Gandalf. 'Tell us what you see there before us!'

Legolas gazed ahead, shading his eyes from the level shafts of the new-risen sun. 'I see a white stream that comes down from the snows,' he said. 'Where it issues from the shadow of the vale a green hill rises upon the east. A dyke and mighty wall and thorny fence encircle it. Within there rise roofs of houses; and in the midst, set upon a green terrace, there stands aloft a great hall of Men. And it seems to my eyes that it is thatched with gold. The light of it shines far over the land. Golden, too, are the posts of its doors. There men in bright mail stand; but all else within the courts are yet asleep.'

'Edoras those courts are called,' said Gandalf, 'and Meduseld is that golden hall. There dwells Theoden son of Thengel, King of the Mark of Rohan. We are come with the rising of the day. Now the road lies plain to see before us. But we must ride more warily; for war is abroad, and the Rohirrim, the Horse-lords, do not sleep, even if it seem so from afar. Draw no weapon, speak no haughty word, I counsel you all, until we are come before Theoden's seat.'

That's Legolas' first impression of the city on the hill. The stream was lined with willow-trees, according to the text, and Gandalf and his companions crossed the stream by a ford which opened onto a "rutted track" (a dirt road) that led to the city, passing through the green mounds where Rohan's former kings lay buried.

At the foot of the walled hill the way ran under the shadow of many mounds, high and green. Upon their western sides the grass was white as with a drifted snow: small flowers sprang there like countless stars amid the turf....

Following the winding way up the green shoulders of the hills, they came at last to the wide wind-swept walls and the gates of Edoras.

There sat many men in bright mail, who sprang at once to their feet and barred the way with spears....

The dark gates were swung open. The travellers entered, walking in file behind their guide. They found a broad path, paved with hewn stones, now winding upward, now climbing in short flights of well-laid steps. Many houses built of wood and many dark doors they passed. Beside the way in a stone channel a stream of clear water flowed, sparkling and chattering. At length they came to the crown of the hill. There stood a high platform above a green terrace, at the foot of which a bright spring gushed from a stone carved in the likeness of a horse's head; beneath was a wide basin from which the water spilled and fed the falling stream. Up the green terrace went a stair of stone, high and broad, and on either side of the topmost step were stone-hewn seats. There sat other guards, with drawn swords laid upon their knees. Their golden hair was braided on their shoulders; the sun was blazoned upon their green shields, their long corslets were burnished bright, and when they rose taller they seemed than mortal men.

Citatiosn were taken from "The King of the Golden Hall" in The Two Towers.