<P> In letters to Rayner Unwin Tolkien considered naming the two as Orthanc and Barad - dûr , Minas Tirith and Barad - dûr , or Orthanc and the Tower of Cirith Ungol . However , a month later he wrote a note published at the end of The Fellowship of the Ring and later drew a cover illustration , both of which identified the pair as Minas Morgul and Orthanc . In the illustration , Orthanc is shown as a black tower , three - horned , with the sign of the White Hand beside it ; Minas Morgul is a white tower , with a thin waning moon above it , in reference to its original name , Minas Ithil , the Tower of the Rising Moon . Between the two towers a Nazgûl flies . </P>
<P> In letters to Rayner Unwin Tolkien considered naming the two as Orthanc and Barad - dûr , Minas Tirith and Barad - dûr , or Orthanc and the Tower of Cirith Ungol . However , a month later he wrote a note published at the end of The Fellowship of the Ring and later drew a cover illustration , both of which identified the pair as Minas Morgul and Orthanc . In the illustration , Orthanc is shown as a black tower , three - horned , with the sign of the White Hand beside it ; Minas Morgul is a white tower , with a thin waning moon above it , in reference to its original name , Minas Ithil , the Tower of the Rising Moon . Between the two towers a Nazgûl flies . </P>
what were the names of the two towers
what were the names of the two towers
Minas Morgul Orthanc
Minas Morgul Orthanc