Science Fair Project Encyclopedia Founded by Elendil and his
sons at the end of the Second Age, Osgiliath straddled the Great
River Anduin at a point approximately half way between the
cities of Minas Anor to the west and Minas Ithil to the east.
After Minas Ithil fell and became Minas Morgul, Osgiliath came
under siege and was eventually abandoned, and the capital was
moved to Minas Anor - now renamed Minas Tirith. During the War
of the Ring the men of Gondor were hard pressed to prevent the
enemy from breaking through at Osgiliath and were eventually
forced to abandon it, shortly before the Battle of the Pelennor
Fields. After the destruction of the One Ring, Osgiliath was
rebuilt, but it never became as great as it once was. Minas
Tirith remained the capital and King's city. The name
"Osgiliath" is Sindarin for "Dome of Stars", referring to the
city's most prominent building, a great dome which once housed
the city's Palantír. (Osgiliath's Palantír was lost in the
river, during the Kin-strife in the time o