Warning beacons of Gondor

Eilenach, illustration by Matěj Čadil

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In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, the warning beacons of Gondor were an alarm system for the realm of Gondor.

Situated on top of several hills on both sides of the White Mountains, the beacons were great fire-places permanently manned by men of Gondor. Built by the Stewards of Gondor, the beacons linked their capital Minas Tirith with the westernmost provinces of Gondor, thus enabling either to quickly alert the other.

In The Lord of the Rings, only the northern beacons, used to warn the people in Anórien of danger, are mentioned as they are lit. These are, from east to west, the hills Amon Dîn, Eilenach, Nardol, Erelas, Min-Rimmon, Calenhad and Halifirien (also called Amon Anwar). The tomb of Elendil was hidden on the summit of Halifirien, westernmost of the beacon mountains.

Adaptations

The Beacon over Minas Tirith in Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Return of the King

The beacons appear in Peter Jackson's film adaptation of The Return of the King but with a change in function, as the beacons are used to call for Rohan's aid (replacing the Red Arrow). Furthermore, when Gandalf and Pippin ride to Minas Tirith the beacons are not lit, since the despairing Denethor has decided not to send for help. There is a beacon just above the city, and to summon the Rohirrim, Gandalf asks Pippin to evade the guards and light it. Once he has done so, the film depicts the other beacons being lit one by one until the last is sighted in Edoras.

Another change is that there are thirteen displayed beacons as opposed to the seven described in the book, with the suggestion of more by the varying scenes of night and day. Also, the beacons are shown on the summits of mountains in the Ered Nimrais, instead of hills to their north; some are even shown above cloud level. This is mentioned in the DVD commentary, where the cast humorously theorise about guards living in the high mountains tending to the woodpiles for generations until needed.

This adaption is parodied in the Family Guy episode Tiegs for Two, in which said beacons are lit to announce that the character Brian Griffin has had intimate relations with model/actress Cheryl Tiegs. Upon receiving the signal an imitation of Aragorn remarks "Cheryl Tiegs, nice."

References

• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1955), The Return of the King, The Lord of the Rings, Boston: Houghton Mifflin (published 1987), Book 5, chapter 1, ISBN 0-395-08256-0 
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1980), Christopher Tolkien, ed., Unfinished Tales, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Part III, chapter II, "Cirion and Eorl", ISBN 0-395-29917-9