[Thuriniel]

Is there any information about where the Silent Street (and consequently "The House of Kings") would be ubicated in Minas Tirith? I don't seem to find if it would've been in the city itself, or in the outskirts.

Considering that Medieval Kings were often buried in churches, I would assume that The House of Kings would've been in the city itself ... but just in case, I thought I'd rather ask .

[SpaceWeavil]

According to the Atlas of ME, it was just off the fourth level, at the top of the 'shoulder of the Hill of Guard'. It was reached via the Fen Hollen, the 'Closed Door' on the sixth circle, with a 'porter's house' next to that door and a little winding path going down to the level of the fourth circle and to the Rath Dinen.

Does that make any sense at all?

[Thuriniel]

It makes LOTS of sense ... thank you very much, you've been of great help !

[NancyBrooke]

This from "The Siege of Gondor," ROTK:

"Then they went on through the Citadel gate... Turning westward they came at length to a door in the rearward wall of the sixth circle. Fen Hollen it was called, for it was kept ever shut save at times of funeral ... beyond it went a winding road that descended in many curves down to the narrow land under the shadow of Mindolluin's precipice where stood the mansions of the dead Kings and of their stewards.

A porter sat in a little house beside the way ... At the Lord's command he unlocked the door and silently it swung back... Their slow feet echoed as they walked down, down, until at last they came to the Silent Street, Rath Dinen, between pale domes and empty halls and images of men long dead; and they entered into the House of the Stewards and set down their burden."


* Fen = door, threshold in Sindarin; Hollen = closed.

So it would seem to be sort of down behind the city, as it were, down and to the West. The question I have is how you turn westward out of the citadel gate; assuming the citadel gate faces east, then to turn westward would be to turn 180.

[SpaceWeavil]

Again looking at the drawing, which according to the author is based on Tolkien's sketches, the Fen Hollen is westward from the tunnel entrance - you know, the one that goes up to the Citadel? According to the drawing, you come out of that tunnel, pass by the stables on your left and the Houses of Healing on the right, then the Fen Hollin is straight ahead of you.