A Sense of History: Seeing Stones in Dark Towers

In this month's A Sense of History column, Simon J. Cook continues to climb the stairs of various towers in Tolkien's works, both Middle-earth and not. This month, he focuses on the three inland "dark towers" of The Lord of the Rings and how they connect to the palantíri and other modes of seeing and imposing one's will in Middle-earth. These towers provide different insights than the tower at Elostirion, discussed last month, that looks out upon the sea. The dark towers—and later in the story, the Elf-towers as well—take on a different role that looks not outward to the numinous West but concentrates on the machinations that will come to be preserved as the history of Middle-earth.

You can read Simon's article "Seeing Stones in Dark Towers" here.

Posted on 9 March 2024 (updated 13 April 2024) by SWG Moderators