In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings, the Argonath, also known as the Gate of Kings or the Pillars of the Kings, is a monument comprising two enormous pillars, carved in the likenesses of Isildur and Anￃﾡrion, standing upon either side of the River Anduin at the northern approach to Nen Hithoel. It was originally constructed about T. A. 1240 at the order of Rￃﾳmendacil II to mark the northern border of Gondor, although the realm was greatly diminished in size by the time the Fellowship of the Ring passed the Argonath on February 25, 3019. Each of the two figures was shown wearing a crown and a helm, with an axe in its right hand and its left hand raised in a gesture of defiance to the enemies of Gondor. In Peter Jackson's movie The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), one of the statues holds a sword, and their arms are outstretched. This imagery was displayed prominently in one of the posters that advertised the film in the United States. To create the Argonath, the filmmakers used two large and highly detailed models which were combined with live-action footage of the Kawarau River and Mavora Lakes and digital backgrounds to convey the [ - ]

In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings, the Argonath, also known as the Gate... [ + ]