Orthanc

After a restless night Gandalf, Theoden, and the rest of the company set out for Isengard. They passed through Nan Curunir, the Wizard's Vale but could see little do to the mists that shrouded the land. Nan Curunir was once fair and green but now it was a barren wasteland due to the abuse by Saruman. They could make out a tall dark shape ahead of them. "Beneath the mountain's arm within the Wizard's Vale through years uncounted had stood that ancient place that Men called Isengard" (p. 159, The Two Towers).

The tall tower of Orthanc was surrounded by a great stone wall in the form of a circle. Only one entrance was to be found in the wall which measured one mile in length from side to side. Inside it was once green and fair but not so while Saruman reached his height of power. The land had been cleared for many houses and armories to store troops and weapons. The ground had been dug deeply for smithies and furnaces. "Iron wheels revolved their endlessly, and hammers thudded. At night plumes of vapour steamed from the vents, lit from beneath with red light, or blue, or venemous green" (p. 160, The Two Towers). While Saruman had many faults, with pride paramount and deceit a close runner-up, you get the idea at times in Tolkien's writing that his greatest sin, if you will, was the destruction and pollution and general disregard for nature and the earth. Perhaps a lesson can be learned for us today.

Orthanc meant "Mount Fang" in Elvish and "Cunning Mind" in the tongue of Rohan. While it was once used by Gondor for communication purposes and watching stars Saruman had made it into a fortress that he, in his pride, felt could rival Barad-dur in Mordor. In this he was deceived by Sauron. The Dark Lord feared not Isengard and let it be while he attended to other matters.

Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, March 5th
Today's reading comes from: The Two Towers, pages 158-161