Yes, I think it must be something like that… X)

I´m afraid that now and then I feel an urge to lift the lid and blow a dozen shiny soap bubbles over all the heavy fatefulness. As much as I love the book, it was written in a different time. A time of war and looming death, of course, but also a time of dusty traditions and century-old “Because that´s the way we always did it”. Nowadays (which is only sixty years later. Dude, how swiftly time flies!) some ideas (particularly regarding war, honour, female roles) seem a little bit out-of-date to me. As Terry Pratchett once wrote: “Just because somebody´s able to work his way through a thorny thicket and kiss a sleeping princess that doesn´t mean he will make a good king.”
Indeed, teasing is a sign of affection. X)

ANTI-GOLLUM SPRAY. WITH HANDY VAPORIZER AND REFILL PACK. SUCCESS GUARANTEED.

Well, if I had a pool like that, waterfall included and all, I wouldn’t want to have Gollums swimming in it either. Just imagine how much it would cost to sanitise the thing afterwards!

Seriously speaking, I had always got the impression that it was something spiritual/ something to do with the pool being sacred, etc. I don’t see any reason why it would be though, given that Gondor does not come across as religious in that way. I mean, they do look to the West before they eat, but its not like they have shrines where they pray, they don’t make sacrifices or wear symbols of their faith, right? It did seem good in a medieval sort of way though, kind of spooky and harsh – “look upon this puddle, and DIE! No one cares why.”

Thanks for your comment! :) Yes, that would make sense to me… I read it that way that the ban pointed distinctively to the pool itself – and I have to admit my interpretation was born from a high-percentage booze night so I wouldn´t insist on it´s verity. ;)

Okay, the interpretation made me snicker. I always thought that it was forbidden because it was so close to the stronghold—anyone getting that close couldn’t be allowed to leave. I have no idea where I got that or if it was my own interpretation.