Minas Ithil.

City of the Moon.

Minas Morgul.

Tower of the Moon.

Tower of the Rising Moon.

Minas Ithil was a walled city built by the first Kings of Gondor, Isildur and Anarion, but it often is refered to as the tower, its most prominent building and the mark of the city. Renamed to Minas Morgul in Third age 2002. " The walled city Minas Ithil, that was the city of the Moon in the days of old. Amidst it stood a tall tower that looked beuatyful." The city was build upon a spur of Ephel Dúath in a valley at the Westside of the mountains at a Southern outtrusted knee, across a white bridge over Morgulduin, of the Cleft of Cirith Ungol.

The gate of the city was placed in the most Northern-facing wall and the road that lead up to the gate of the city went through shadowy meads filled with pale white flowers and the white bridge had cunningly carven figures in shapes of humans and beasts.

It seems from the Tale of the Years in Second Age that the Tower of Minas Ithil was finished in the year Second age 3320, the same year as the foundation of the realms in exile; Arnor and Gondor. There in the tale it says that the sons of Elendil ( Isildur and Anarion ) "take four ( of the Palantiri ) and set them in Minas Ithil, at Minas Anor, at Osgiliath, and at Orthanc." In Minas Ithil was also planted the seedling of Nimloth the Fair that Elendil had brought out of Númenor. At least the Tower of Minas Ithil was built in white stone and above its top pinnacle was set a thin waning moon. But the peace in Minas Ithil did not last long for Sauron being ready again makes war upon Gondor and comes forth and and assails Minas Ithil in Second age 3429 and he destroys the White Tree but Isildur, with a seedling of it and with his wife and sons, escapes to Minas Anor ( Later Minas Tirith ) and plants the seedling there. He sails down Anduin to his father Elendil in Arnor and there they with Gil-Galad forms the Last Alliance while Anarion defends Minas Anor. It may be marked that at this time Sauron did not, of unknown reasons, capture the Palantiri.

It is explecitly told that Minas Ithil was recaptured during the War of the Last Alliance ( Second age 3434 - 3441 ) and before the flight of Sauron and following the line of the history of the War of the Last Alliance it is told that Isildur sends Aratan and Ciryon to Minas Ithil which is recaptured before the siege of Barad-Dûr. After the war and the end of the Second age Gondor built fortresses ( the Tower of Cirith Ungol, Durthang and the Teeth-Towers. ) further into the East in order to guard and protect " The Easternmost outpost of the defence of Ithilien and Minas Ithil."

Nothing else is told of Minas Ithil and what happened in the that city during the next 1640 years until the Great Plague that devastated Gondor ( Third age 1636 - 1640 ) and forced the realm to leave Mordor unguarded and allowed the Lord of the Ringwraiths to gather his brethren there in Third age 1980. When they were ready they issued from Mordor and besieged Minas Ithil which was bravely defended for two hole years but at last fell benieth them in the Third age 2002 and they captured the Palantir in the tower.

Minas Ithil became a place of dread and fear and was renamed to Minas Morgul. In the city everything had been defiled and on every corner and stone the carved figures were turned into evil faces and signs of horror.

After the War of the Ring and the passing of Sauron it was the duty of the new appointed Steward Faramir to clear Minas Morgul of the dread and horror that still lurked in the city.

Related Links.: Battles.: War of the Last Alliance.