Board Thread:General Mod Discussion/@comment-30303386-20170417200211/@comment-28794147-20170419125842

MrHobit1234 wrote:

Jimmy Dude 21 wrote: I believe that Gondor was based more on the Byzantine empire. Gondor/Arnor used to be a massive empire like the old Roman empire used to be, and then Gondor/Arnor split like west/east Rome split. Then, Arnor eventually was overwhelmed by hordes like west Rome was overrun by barbaric tribes, while Gondor survived but slowly declined over the rest of the age like the Byzantine empire slowly declined throughout the medieval era. Tolkien thought Gondor and Arnor more like ancient Egypt. Not only that, but the Greeks thought the Coptics (Egyptians) were descended from the Men of Atlantis. That's quite the parralel.

In addition to that, both nations made great works of stone. Both Gondor and Egpyt were attacked so many times (Egpyt faired somewhat worse).

Also, Tolkien hated allegories. Which is why he never based his things in the books off of in real life problems or other things.