LOTR: Was Minas Tirith based on Jerusalem?

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Crono

Lifer
Aug 8, 2001
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Question for fans of Tolkien and those familiar with the LOTR books: was the Gondorian city of Minas Tirith based on Jerusalem?
Just a question that's entered by mind from time to time.
 

foghorn67

Lifer
Jan 3, 2006
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Question for fans of Tolkien and those familiar with the LOTR books: was the Gondorian city of Minas Tirith based on Jerusalem?
Just a question that's entered by mind from time to time.
I would like to help guess, but I got nothing to prove it.

On one hand, I think yes. Like Old Jerusalem or the Kingdom of Jerusalem when it was built for a siege.

Other part of me says no. I think everything was supposed to be inspired by English history, nothing else since Tolkien longed for English mythology.

Then again, England has a huge history in the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
 

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
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I'd say Asgard was an inspiration. Tolkien loved European paganism. Sharp contrast to his friend and contemporary CS Lewis.
 
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