In The Lord of the Rings, the great Elven city of Gondolin was one of Tolkien’s most spectacular additions to the mythos of Middle-earth. It was known for many things during its reign in the First Age of Middle-earth. First and foremost, it was known for the secrecy of its location. Only a few outside the city itself knew of its location or how even to find it, which is why Morgoth both feared the Elves of Gondolin and sought to destroy it.
However, one of the lesser-known features of the city of Gondolin, but by far one of the city's most important features, was the seven gates built into the secret path of Orfalch Echor, a great ravine which was the only way of getting to the Hidden City. Each gate was bigger and grander than the one that came before it, and each was stationed with its own guard to protect it from attack. Tolkien’s The Fall of Gondolin follows Tuor, a man who is tasked with finding the city by one of the Valar, Ulmo, the Lord of Waters. In his travels to warn the King of Gondolin about its impending doom, Tuor witnesses the seven gates of Gondolin firsthand and is enamored by them.
What Was the Significance of Gondolin in LOTR?
Gondolin, the last remaining of three hidden Elven cities, was a beacon of hope against evil in the First Age. Gondolin (Sindarin for "Hidden Rock") was the greatest of the Elven cities in Middle-earth. It was said to rival the City of Tirion, an Elven city in Valinor, which was the basis for Gondolin, built in the northern parts of Middle-earth. It stood as a threat to Morgoth’s evil that threatened to sweep over the land.
Gondolin’s significance came not from the city's beauty but what it meant to Morgoth. Gondolin was hidden from his sight, which caused him to fear the Elves who lived within its walls because he could not know what they were planning, when they would attack or even the size of Gondlindrim, Gondolin’s army. Throughout the First Age of Middle-earth, Morgoth attempted to find the secret location of Gondolin. He even went so far as to torture Huran for years in an attempt to find the city, which only led to him knowing its general location.
What Were the Seven Gates of Gondolin?
The first gate and the smallest of the seven that Tuor came across was the Gate of Wood. It was built at the entrance of Orfalch Echor, the hidden ravine that formed the passage to Gondolin, in the shape of a portcullis. It was also referred to as the "dark gate" by some, made of wood and iron and formed into an arch with two pillars on either side to support it. The Dark Guard, or the Outer Guard, protected the gate and was the first line of defense.
The second gate was the Gate of Stone, which stood half a league from the Gate of Wood. It was built into the shape of a wall with two stone towers. The gate's opening was made of a large slab of dark stone that rotated to allow people to pass. In the courtyard behind the gate stood guards clothed in gray armor, ready to defend it.
The third gate Tuor was led through was the Gate of Bronze -- a large wall with three towers, their roofs built with copper, shining brightly in the dark. Bronze shields hung between the towers and glittered like fire due to the many red lamps hung about the gate. In the center of the wall was set a large double door. A more significant force of Elves than the previous gates stood in bronze armor and mail that seemed to glow. They carried red-bladed axes and were mostly comprised of the Sindar Elves.
The fourth gate was the Gate of Writhen Iron. King Turgon built it at the highest point of the ravine, which widened and allowed grass and flowers to grow. It was the thickest of all the seven gates, with four large towers built into a black iron wall. Unlike the Bronze Gate, there were no lamps hung on its ramparts. A statue of the Lord of Eagles, Thorondor stood between the two inner towers. The gate was made of three layers of iron formed into the likeness of trees adorned with flowers, forming a grate that allowed light to pass through, which puzzled Tuor at first glance. The Iron guard at the gate wore black mail and carried long shields. Their helmet visors were shaped like eagle beaks.
The fifth gate was the Gate of Silver. Its wall was made of silver and white marble and was low and broad. On top of the wall sat five globes made of marble. The center orb had a silver tree made in the likeness of the white tree Telperion, one of Valinor's two trees, placed on top of it. Its gate was circular, symbolizing the moon. 200 Elves were stationed behind the gate, armed with bows and draped in silver armor and white crescent helms in a white courtyard.
The sixth gate was the Gate of Gold. The wall was made of yellow marble and the parapet was made of gold. Six orbs made of red gold were placed on the top of the wall, and a pyramid with a gold tree made in the likeness of Laurelin, the second of the great trees of Valinor, stood in the center of it. Many golden discs made in the sun's image adorned the gate itself. 300 Elves defended the entrance with bows and gold shields. They were clad in gilded armor and wore helmets with large plums.
The seventh and final gate was the Gate of Steel. It was built at the end of the Orflach Echor some centuries after the first seven by the Elf Maeglin, where the ravine exited into a vast field. The Gate of Steel was a great fence with two towers, seven needle-like pillars and seven crossbars with 49 vertical rods that filled in the gaps between the seven. It encompassed the whole of the Orflach Echor. On the center pillar was placed an image of King Turgon’s helm. A host of Gondolin’s armies stood at the gate, with representatives of all the previous gates.
The Fall of the City of Gondolin
Though Tuor passed through the seven gates of Gondolin, the great king did not heed his warnings of the fall of his great city, though this would not happen for some time. The city eventually fell to Morgoth’s armies after Maeglin betrayed his people and told Morgoth of its location after he was promised power and his cousin’s hand in marriage, who had fallen in love with Tuor.
In the end, the seven gates could not protect the Hidden City. Once he knew of its location, Morgoth opted to traverse the mountains surrounding the city instead of going through the gates. Though not directly mentioned, it is assumed that all seven gates were destroyed during the Fall of Gondolin and became nothing more than legend. If Morgoth had found the hidden path to the city, the gates may have prevented the destruction of Gondolin or, at the very least, prolonged it.