House of the Kings

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The House of the Kings is a fictional building in the The Lord of the Rings.

The House of the Kings is a burial place of the Kings of Gondor. The House of the Kings was located in Rath Dínen, the Silent Street, in the Hallows on the fifth level of Minas Tirith — which stood on the rocky spur joining the City to Mount Mindolluin. The House of the Stewards was nearby. The Kings of Gondor were laid to rest in tombs covered by marble statues carved in their images. The last King of Gondor to be buried in the House of the Kings in the Third Age was Eärnil II, who died in 2043. Eärnil's son Eärnur went to Minas Morgul in 2050 and was never seen again. The Crown of Gondor remained on Eärnil's tomb in the House of the Kings, and the Stewards ruled Gondor until the end of the Third Age.

During the reign of the Steward Cirion, the remains of Elendil — the first King of Gondor — were moved from the sacred burial site on the hill of Halfirien to the House of the Kings.

In the year 120 of the Fourth Age, Aragorn, King Elessar, went to the House of the Kings, where he passed the kingship to his son Eldarion and lay down to die. He was the first King of Gondor to be buried in the House of the Kings for over 1,000 years. It is said that the Hobbits Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took — who had died some years previously — were moved to rest beside Aragorn in the House of the Kings.

[edit] Sources

• The Return of the King: "The Siege of Gondor," 99-100

• Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion," p. 332-33; "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen," p. 343-44

• Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 378

• Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," p. 310