From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Orthanc is a tower in J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy world of Middle-earth, built by the Númenóreans. The tower of black stone stands at the center of Isengard's fortifications. It is the residence of Saruman through most of The Lord of the Rings. After the tower is attacked by Ents, Saruman (and Gríma Wormtongue, who arrives at the tower later) are imprisoned within the tower until eventually released by Treebeard.
In Tolkien's constructed languages, "Orthanc" had a dual meaning: Mount Fang in Elvish and Cunning Mind in Rohan's language.
