History Main / PortalStatuePairs

-->-- ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''

* The entrance of UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler's New Chancellery in UsefulNotes/{{Berlin}} was flanked by [[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1987-003-09A%2C_Berlin%2C_Neue_Reichskanzlei%2C_Innenhof.jpg two 1937 Arno Breker statues]] with HeroicBuild per Fascist/National Socialist artistic canons representing the two pillars of UsefulNotes/NaziGermany, ''The Party'' (the NSDAP, holding a torch) and ''The Army'' ([[UsefulNotes/NazisWithGnarlyWeapons the Wehrmacht]], holding a sword).

* The entrance of UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler's New Chancellery in UsefulNotes/{{Berlin}} was flanked by [[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1987-003-09A%2C_Berlin%2C_Neue_Reichskanzlei%2C_Innenhof.jpg two Arno Breker statues]] with HeroicBuild per Fascist/National Socialist artistic canons representing the two pillars of UsefulNotes/NaziGermany, ''The Party'' (the NSDAP, holding a torch) and ''The Army'' ([[UsefulNotes/NazisWithGnarlyWeapons the Wehrmacht]], holding a sword).

* "The Gate of Giants": Two enormous statues stand on either side of the entrance to Prague castle in the Czech Republic. Each statue actually depicts two Titans, locked in combat.

** The Dark Portal connecting the worlds of Azeroth and Draenor is flanked by reliefs of two hooded, looming figures, holding swords planted tip-first into the ground. (Who or what they represent never gets mentioned.)

* Zuul and Vinz Klortho in ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}'' are definitely of the GateGuardian variety, even able to come to life and attack people.

* ''VideoGame/DungeonKeeper2'': The portal from [[BeneathTheEarth the Underworld]] to the surface lands - the VillainProtagonist's ultimate goal - is flanked by a pair of stone knights. They also [[MistakenForGranite turn out to be the portal's last line of defense]].

* In ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':

[[quoteright:350:[[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lotrargonath_4.png]]]]

[[quoteright:350:[[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lotrargonath.png]]]]

[[folder: Film - Animated]]

[[folder:Films - Live-Action]]

** In ''[[Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheFellowshipOfTheRing The Fellowship of the Ring]]]'', the Argonath, also known as the Gate of Kings or the Pillars of the Kings, was a landmark on the northern edge of Gondor in representing two of the earliest kings of Gondor.

[[quoteright:350:[[Film/TheFellowshipOfTheRing https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lotrargonath.png]]]]

** The Argonath, also known as the Gate of Kings or the Pillars of the Kings, was a landmark on the northern edge of Gondor in representing two of the earliest kings of Gondor.
** The Two Watchers of Cirith Ungol are [[OurGargoylesRock grotesque, three-headed statues]] that flank the gate to the [[EvilTowerOfOminousness corrupted tower of Cirith Ungol]]. They're haunted by phantoms that [[AvoidThisAreaEffect repel trespassers]] with the force of their will and raise the alarm if anyone gets through.

* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', the Dark Portal connecting the worlds of Azeroth and Draenor is flanked by reliefs of two hooded, looming figures, holding swords planted tip-first into the ground. (Who or what they represent never gets mentioned.)

* ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'': The entrance to Armenelos is via a bridge whose pillars are formed of two gigantic statues, resembling [[UsefulNotes/AncientGreec Hellenistic]] {{sculptures}}.

* ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'': The entrance to Armenelos is via a bridge whose pillars are formed of two gigantic statues, resembling the Hellenistic {{sculpture|s}} art.

* ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower'': The entrance to Armenelos is via a bridge whose pillars are formed of two gigantic statues, resembling the Hellenistic sculpture art.

** The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medici_lions Medici Lions]], a pair of lion statues guarding the entrance of the ''Loggia Dei Lanzi'' in [[UsefulNotes/{{Florence}} Florence, Italy]]; one dates back to the Ancient Romans, while its counterpart was produced much later, in the 16th century, by sculptor Flaminio Vacca (commissioned by the Medici Family). Copies of the Medici lions have been made and publicly installed in over 30 other locations.

* Egyptians liked to flank the openings to palaces or temples with two (or sometimes four or more) giant statues of either gods or Pharaohs. (Examples: The temples of Luxor and Abu Simbel.)
** Some historians believe there may have also been a second sphinx at Giza.

* The entrance to Kirkwall in ''VideoGame/DragonAge2'' is flanked by two giant bronze statues of weeping slaves.

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'' entry SCP-531 consists of seven pairs of brass statues of Egyptian-style cats, approximately 2½ feet high. When facing each other, they are relatively benign, however persons near them experience an extreme aversion to passing between them, and as such this psychological barrier is a good deterrent to keeping people out of any rooms beyond. If however the line of sight between the two statues is broken, an observer will feel compelled to meet the gaze of one of the orphaned statues themselves. Once the gaze is met, they will be unable to break their gaze and will be physically transmuted into a duplicate SCP-531 over the course of approximately one hour.