Gondor = Byzantium?

[Ambrosio Spinola]

This requires some pretty intense understanding of the LOTR backstory.

Had this conversation with a friend who thinks that the North South Split between Arnor and Gondor in the LOTR is a direct parallel with the East West split of the Roman/Byzantine empire.

The more I thought of it, the more it made sense.

Minas Tirith = Constantinople surrounding by "Haradrim" etc.

Gondor is imperiled but maintains a high degree of civlization but is rife with political infighting and intrigue, mired in "Byzantine" ritual and processes.

Arnor is fallen but retains the traditions and true "royal" lineage despite the descent of its members into nomadic "barbarians" or rangers.

The Shire is independent but still recognizes the rule of the King who is long since gone.

Lots of parallels really, especially when viewed through the prism of Tolkien's Roman Catholicism.

As Boromir said "By the blood of my people are your lands kept free"

[Petr]

Riders of Rohan acting as less cultured Western Crusaders out to save Byzantium/Gondor...


Petr