Gate of Silver

The location of the Gate of Silver within the Orfalch Echor (not to scale)

To one of the rare travellers who entered the secret passage leading to Gondolin, the way would lead them into the narrow cleft of the Orfalch Echor. After passing through the Gates of Wood, Stone, Bronze and Writhen Iron, such a traveller would reach the first of two Gates that were dedicated to the Two Trees of Valinor.

The first of these two Gates was the Gate of Silver, the Fifth Gate that guarded the Orfalch. It took its theme from the Silver Tree Telperion, and also from the Moon, the last silver flower of that Tree. The Gate itself was constructed as a circular opening, patterned with silver and pearl to represent the face of the Moon, and it was set into a wall of pale marble. Along the top of this wall ran a series of globes, and from the central globe grew up a Silver Tree, representing lost Telperion. In common with the other Gates of Gondolin, the guards of the Gate of Silver were liveried to match the Gate that they guarded, being armoured in silver mail and white-crested helmets. Each carried a bow, a weapon particularly associated with the Moon and the huntsman Tilion who became its steersman.