The State of the Argonath

The Argonath, known in the Common Speech as the Pillars of the Kings and the Gate of Kings, are two immense stone statues that stand on either side of the River Anduin, marking the northern entrance to the long lake of Nen Hithoel. They are the most dramatic and enduring monuments of the ancient power of Gondor, and their state—at once ruinous and majestic—serves as a powerful symbol of the long-vanished kingdom they once guarded.

Identity and Setting

The Argonath are not natural rock formations but the deliberate work of the Men of Gondor in the days of their glory. They are carved into the living stone of the cliffs that rise sheer from the river, taking the form of two great kings of stone. Each figure is seated upon a vast pedestal founded in the deep waters, with the left hand raised palm outward in a gesture of warning, and the right hand holding an axe. Upon each head is a crumbling helm and crown. They are the likenesses of Isildur and Anárion, the sons of Elendil, who founded the realms of Gondor and Arnor in exile after the Downfall of Númenor. The statues stand at the point where the river narrows into a dark chasm, and they are the first great landmark that travellers encounter as they approach the southern lands.

The Passage of the Fellowship

The Fellowship of the Ring passes between the Argonath on the tenth day of their journey down the Anduin, after navigating the rapids of Sarn Gebir. As the boats are borne towards the statues, they appear as towering giants, vast grey figures that are silent but threatening. Frodo Baggins, seeing them clearly for the first time, is filled with awe and fear, and he cowers down, shutting his eyes and not daring to look up as the boat draws near. Even Boromir, a man of Gondor, bows his head as the boats whirl by, frail and fleeting as little leaves, under the enduring shadow of the sentinels of Númenor. The passage is a moment of profound transition, marking the point where the Fellowship leaves the relative safety of the northern wilds and enters the lands that are directly threatened by the power of Mordor.

The State of the Monuments

The Argonath are described as having been worn by the suns and rains of forgotten years. Their features are blurred, their brows crannied, and their crowns and helms are crumbling. Despite this decay, they still preserve the mighty likenesses in which they were hewn, and they retain a great power and majesty. They are the silent wardens of a long-vanished kingdom, and their state reflects the decline of Gondor itself. The statues are not merely weathered; they are also a testament to the enduring nature of the Númenórean legacy, even as that legacy fades. The awe and fear they inspire in Frodo and Boromir is a measure of the power that once was, and the loss that has been suffered.

Narrative and Thematic Significance

The Argonath serve as a powerful symbol of the past glory of Gondor and the weight of its history. They are a reminder of the Last Alliance and the defeat of Sauron, and of the long vigil that the Men of the West have kept against the Shadow. For Aragorn, they are the likenesses of his own sires, and he feels a deep connection to them, seeing himself as the heir of their legacy. The passage between the statues is a moment of both fear and hope, as the Fellowship moves closer to the heart of the conflict. The Argonath are a threshold, a gate that separates the world of the North from the world of the South, and their state—both ruined and imposing—captures the central tension of the story: the struggle to preserve a fading greatness against an encroaching darkness.