Background:

The creation story in Middle-earth tells of the Two Trees that gave Light to the Blessed Realm; and the light that they radiated was the Flame Imperishable, the source of life, the Flame of Ilúvatar [God].

• Telperion was the Silver Tree.
• Laurelin was the Golden Tree.

The Trees were destroyed by Melkor [a fallen Vala, or angelic being: he would become known as Morgoth] and Ungoliant, an evil form of life. The Light of the Two Trees was captured in the Silmarils, the great hallowed jewels made by Feanor, greatest of the Elven craftsmen.

The Silmarils were then stolen by Melkor and taken to Middle-earth. Many of the Elves living in the Blessed Realm then rebelled and forsook the Undying-lands, and passed into exile to re-claim the Silmarils. They passed into the East.

Before the Two Trees died however, their last flower and fruit were made by the Valar into the Moon and the Sun [the enemies of darkness].

And Elbereth [Queen of the Valar], had previously made the Stars of Heaven with the dews of the White Tree, Telperion.

Even though the elder tree, Telperion did not survive, it was not the last of the White Trees. Yavanna [another angelic being of the Valar] had made an 'image' of it in Tirion, called Galathilion.

Many thousands of years later a sapling of this tree was gifted to the Númenoreans from the Elves of Eressëa which was part of the Blessed Realm [those who had remained and not forsaken Valinor] while the Númenoreans lived on the island of Númenor off the coast of the Eressëa.

The Encyclopedia of Arda give an account of this time:

" In the early days of Númenor, its people still had the friendship of the Elves of Eressëa. Among the gifts the Eldar gave to the early Númenóreans, one of the greatest was a white seedling of the tree Celeborn that stood in the middle of their island. Planted in the King's Court in Armenelos, the seedling grew into a fine White Tree that came to be known as Nimloth. Its blossoms appeared as the Sun set, and their perfume filled the night in Númenor's royal city. "

" The tree of Tol Eressëa, Celeborn, was itself descended from Galathilion, the White Tree that stood in Tirion that was made by Yavanna herself. Its descendant Nimloth stood in the courts of Armenelos for thousands of years. " [arda].

So the Númenoreans had in their possession, an image of the White Tree, Teleperion. They also received the Seven Seeing Stones [Palantíri] from the elves at this time, as well as beautiful singing birds and many other gifts of exquisite nobility and integrity.

The Númenoreans are Aragorn's ancestors and received this abode off the coast of the Undying-lands for the help they had given in the wars against Morgoth during the First Age. The Númenoreans were descended from unions of the Three Houses of the Edain [Edain = Men] and the High Elves, the Eldar.

The Men of Númenor rose in great power and wisdom from what they had received from the Elves and from the Elven blood that was in them. Through enlightenment from the Elves of the Blessed Realm, they gave honour and reverence to Eru, the One God and to the Valar.

During this time Sauron began to stir in Middle-earth. The Númenoreans became aware of this and sailed to Middle-earth with a force so great and powerful that Sauron surrendered and his armies were scattered. They foundered harbours along the coasts Middle-earth. But the King in his pride took Sauron captive and returned to Númenor with him.

Sauron soon deceived the King with a honey tongue and fostered in him a jealousy of the Elves who had immortal life.

" Sauron gained control of Númenor's government and saw the White Tree as a link to his enemies the Valar, and ordered it destroyed. So the White Tree of Númenor was cut down and burned on the altar-fire of Sauron's temple. " [arda].

The King, being poisoned by this influence, lead the island of Númenor in a revolt against the Blessed Realm. The Valar became aware of this and besought Eru to provide a solution. As the great armada of Númenoreans ships came near the Coast of Valinor, a huge tidal wave rose up, destroyed the ships and engulfed Númenor.

But, during this time of corruption and evil in Númenor, there remained a remnant called the Faithful, who still revered Eru and the Valar; and loved the Elves. They fled Númenor as the great armada left for Valinor, and sailed to Middle-earth. They took with them, the sceptre of the King, the Seven Seeing Stones, a fruit of the White Tree and other royal artifacts. Elendil and his sons were the leaders of this remnant but more importantly, there were of the royal family, and hence setup the Kingdom of Númenor in Middle-earth [Gondor and Arnor] and claimed the Kingship.

" But the line of Galathilion did not end in Sauron's flames. Isildur the son of Elendil had stolen a fruit from the Tree before it was lost. The fruit grew into a seedling that Isildur carried to Middle-earth with him after the Downfall of Númenor. That seedling was planted in Minas Ithil, and was destroyed before the end of the Second Age. Its seedling in turn grew into the first of the White Trees of Minas Tirith, a line that was to outlast Sauron himself." [arda].

Sauron then returned to Middle-earth.

The Seven Seeing Stones were kept in Seven of the Towers & Cities in the Númenorean Kingdom [Three in Gondor & Three in Arnor, and Isengard].

In three abodes in the North were:

• Annúminas - 'Sunset-Tower' [arda]
• Tower of Amon Sûl
• Tower of Elostirion

The three cities in the south were:

• Minas Anor, Tower of the Setting Sun.
• Minas Ithil, Tower of the Rising Moon.
• Osgiliath, Citadel of the Stars.

[Osgiliath was the chief of these cities where the master stone was kept].

The Sun, Moon and Stars in Middle-earth were all made from some element coming from the Two Trees [their fruit, and dew]. Tolkien explains that these [Sun, Moon and Stars] were the enemies of Darkness, not just in a physical sense but also an eternal sense. [Gollum and Orcs hate the sunlight and moonlight].

The Númenoreans, having had contact with the Elves from the Blessed Realm while in Númenor, and having a reverence of Eru and the Valar, would have understood this significance and named the Cities in honour and reverence of these great sources of light for the world. And hence honoured the creation of them and the source of them; the Two Trees that radiated the Light of the Imperishable Flame, the breath of life from Ilúvatar.

These heavenly lights; Sun, Moon and Stars are caught up heavily in the mythology of the Lord of the Rings, but are extremely symbolic in the Good versus Evil arena that is set up in the story.

Osgiliath was destroyed in the ensuing wars against the evil forces of Sauron. Sauron took Minas Ithil and burned the White Tree growing there, [Minas Ithil was renamed Minas Morgul, Tower of Spells] but Minas Anor remained and was renamed Minas Tirith, the Tower of Guard and became the Seat of Power in the Kingdom.

The Steward and the King.

In the Lord of the Rings, Minas Tirith [and also the Kingdom of Gondor] is similar in symbolism to the Church and the New Jerusalem in Heaven. It has Seven Levels and is the centre of the Kingdom with the White Tree Telperion in the courtyward of the King where the fountain flows.

[This is further developed in Priest Prophet & King], and embedded in this, are even more parallels, particularly in reference to the Trees of Life [as already outlined in First and Last things].

As pointed out in Women of Middle-earth, the Pilgrimage of Faith of the Church and its faithful here on earth is often compared with the imagery of the Church being a Boat on a voyage in dangerous seas, with Mary helping in bringing the boat home to safe shores. This imagery is very traditional, spiritual and theological.

Tolkien describes Minas Tirith in detail in his book. Twice he mentions it being like a large sea-going vessel:

" For partly in the primeval shaping of the hill, partly by the mighty craft and labour of old, there stood up from the rear of the wide court behind the gate, a towering bastion of stone, its sharp edge as a ship-keel facing east " [LotR p.735].

" Up it rose, even to the level of the top most circle, and there it was crowned by a battlement; so that those in the Citadel might, like mariners in a mountainous ship, look at its peek sheer down upon the Gate seven hundred feet below. " [LotR p.735].

The Numenoreans were exceptional mariners so this also ties in with their heritage, but it is interesting considering Tolkien's love for the Church.

When Osgiliath was destroyed, the King took up his abode in Minas Anor and renamed it Minas Tirith. All his house and heirlooms were removed also, including the descendant of the White Tree that had been kept living in the Courtyard of the King. The last White Tree was replanted in the Courtyard of Minas Tirith and there it remained.

In time, the line of Kings failed and the Stewards took up the responsibility of ruling the Kingdom. They were of noble but not royal blood. Symbolically the White Tree in the Courtyard died after the line of Kings failed, but its withered root stood in the courtyard until the time of the War of the Ring. The Stewards fulfilled an almost Pope-like duty; seeing over the Kingdom until the King came again.

The origins of the office of the Pope are found in the historical tradition of the Church from the very first years of Christendom, and are backed up by the Gospel account where Jesus says to Peter,

" ...you are my Rock, on this Rock I will build my Church. And the gates of Hell will never prevail against it. To you I give the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven." [Mat 16:17-19].

The Keys verse comes from Hezekiah, the royal heir to David's throne and King of Israel in Isaiah's day, who replaces his old Prime Minister with a new one. He does this by giving him the Keys of the Kingdom and everyone present understood this institution in the role and primacy as Prime Minister [Isaiah 22.20-22]. In Biblical language and Old Testament understanding, the giving of the Keys of a Kingdom represented the entrustment of responsibility and power for the Kingdom. When Jesus does this to Peter, he is conferring on him a special grace of primacy and responsibility in His Church on earth.

When Aragorn, the rightful and true King is about to enter Minas Tirith, Hurin of the Keys throws open the Gates to Aragorn. The Stewards guardianship is over, the King has come;

" And in that moment all the trumpets were blown and the King Elessar went forth and came to the barrier, and Hurin of the Keys thrust it back; and amid the music of harp and of viol and of flute and the singing of clear voices the King passed through the flower-laden streets and came to the Citadel, and entered in; and the banner of the Tree and the Stars was unfurled upon the top most tower, and the reign of King Elessar began of which many songs have told. " [LotR p.947].

The White Tree:

Just as in the Garden of Eden there were 2 trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, there were two trees in the Blessed Realm [a quasi-Garden of Eden of Arda]. These two trees were destroyed just as the Trees in the Garden were taken away from humanity.

When Aragorn is acclaimed King, he accepts the Throne but waits for a sign, to prove he is the rightful one to truly take the Crown and marry Arwen [Elrond said he can only marry Arwen if he is King]. When Aragorn saves Minas Tirith, he unfurls the Standard of Arwen, displaying the White Tree and the Seven Stars [emblems of the Kingdom, Gondor and Arnor].

Gandalf says, " And Aragorn himself waits for a sign. " [LotR p.949].

He then finds the sapling of the White Tree high above Minas Tirith and outside the Walls of the City. This is the sign.

It is Gandalf who leads him that way,

" Turn your face from the green world and look where all is barren and cold. "

And of the Tree, Gandalf says,

" Verily this is a sapling of the line of Nimloth the fair; and that was a seedling of Galathilion, and that was a fruit of Telperion of many names, Eldest of Trees. Who shall say how it comes here in the appointed hour? But this is an ancient hallow, and ere the King failed or the Tree withered in the court, a fruit must have been set here. For it is said that, though the fruit of the Tree comes seldom to ripeness, yet the life within may then lie sleeping through many long years, and none can foretell the time in which it will awake. Remember this. for if ever a fruit ripens, it should be planted, lest the line die out of the world. Here it is lain hidden on the mountain, even as the race of Elendil lay hidden in the wastes of the North. " [LotR p.949].

The White Tree is planted in the Courtyard of the King in Minas Tirith, where the fountain flows.

As already mentioned in First and Last Things, the Cross of Jesus is the new Tree of Life, that restores the Trees that were taken away from us in the Garden of Eden.

The Sapling found by Aragorn is symbolic of this restoration. But it is found outside the City walls just as Jesus was crucified on the Cross outside the Holy City, Jerusalem. And the tree is also found; " in a cold and barren place... " which is very similar to that of the Cross being on Golgotha.

In Jewish understanding of the time; at Passover when the Paschal Lamb had been sacrificed in the Temple, what remained was deemed to be unworthy and unholy and was thrown outside the walls of the City to be burnt. Very much a precursor to Jesus, the Lamb of God, being rejected by Israel, crucified outside the City, but being the only worthy and pure oblation for sin.

The White Tree on the Standard is raised up as Aragorn comes to save Minas Tirith, just as Jesus was raised up on the Cross,

" When I am raised up, I will draw all men to myself. '' [John 12:32].

The White Tree is a renewal of the Eldest of Trees [Telperion], ,just as the Cross of Christ is the renewal of the Tree of Life from the Garden of Eden.

The above verse is sung by the Eagles as they bring tidings of victory to Minas Tirith.

Tolkien had mentioned that the ennoblement of Men was part of the Divine plan and something that is brought about by the providence of the Creator [Letters p.194]. Once again, the sense of providence in finding the Tree is evident.

It is after the Tree is found, that the restoration of the long sundered Half-Elven lines can proceed, where Aragorn and Arwen marry. The ennoblement of Men is restored according to the Divine Plan, just a Jesus restores Humanity to a Divine level in the Cross.

In summary:

• the King is come.
• the Keys are surrendered.
• the White Tree is found restored.
• Arwen sacrifices her immortality.
• and the City is made new..

There is incredible symbolism here that does reflect in some way the Divine Plan of Salvation of our own God as it has always been understood by His Church.

Next page - Three, Seven & Nine

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