Cirith Ungol: Difference between revisions
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m (Added information that the pass of Cirith Ungol was previously called the pass of Critith Dúath and provided a reference for it.) |
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{{disambig-more|Cirith Ungol|[[Cirith Ungol (disambiguation)]]}} | {{disambig-more|Cirith Ungol|[[Cirith Ungol (disambiguation)]]}} | ||
{{location infobox | {{location infobox | ||
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| image=[[File:Rob Alexander - Cirith Ungol.jpg|250px]] | | image=[[File:Rob Alexander - Cirith Ungol.jpg|250px]] | ||
| caption="Cirith Ungol" by Rob Alexander | | caption="Cirith Ungol" by Rob Alexander | ||
| pronun= | | pronun=[[Sindarin|S]], {{IPA|[ˈkiriθ ˈuŋɡol]}} | ||
| othernames= | | othernames= | ||
| location=[[Ephel Dúath]] | | location=[[Ephel Dúath]] | ||
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'''Cirith Ungol''' was a pass through the [[Ephel Dúath]] that led into [[Mordor]]. | '''Cirith Ungol''' was a pass through the [[Ephel Dúath]] that led into [[Mordor]]. | ||
The pass | ==History== | ||
The pass was first called '''''Cirith Dúath''''' ("Shadow Cleft"). It was used during the [[War of the Last Alliance]], when [[Isildur]] sent his sons Aratan and Ciryon to [[Minas Ithil]] to prevent the forces of Sauron from passing through the pass.<ref>{{UT|7a}}, pp. 279-280, note 11</ref> After the War, upon Cirith Dúath was built a tower, later called [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]], set by the [[Men of Gondor]] as an eastern outpost of the defences of [[Ithilien]] to keep enemies in Mordor.<ref name=Tower/> | |||
The pass was located in a cleft on the slope of the mountain on the left side of the [[Morgul Pass]]. It could be reached by climbing the [[Stairs of Cirith Ungol]] at the beginning of the [[Morgul Vale]],<ref name=Stairs>{{TT|Stairs}}</ref> passing through a tunnel,<ref name=Lair>{{TT|Lair}}</ref> and taking a long flight of broad, shallow steps to the cleft<ref name=Choices>{{TT|Choices}}</ref> with the crown of the pass after which the road turned left and plunged steeply down.<ref name=Tower>{{RK|Tower}}</ref> | |||
The pass of Cirith Ungol was probably named after the giant [[spiders|spider]] [[Shelob]], who dwelt there.<ref>{{RK|Index}}, "Cirith Ungol [Pass of the Spider]"</ref> It was also referred to as the "high pass".<ref>{{TT|Gate}}</ref><ref>{{TT|Pool}}</ref><ref Name=Choices/> | The pass of Cirith Ungol was probably named after the giant [[spiders|spider]] [[Shelob]], who dwelt there.<ref>{{RK|Index}}, "Cirith Ungol [Pass of the Spider]"</ref> It was also referred to as the "high pass".<ref>{{TT|Gate}}</ref><ref>{{TT|Pool}}</ref><ref Name=Choices/> | ||
During the [[War of the Ring]], in [[March]] {{TA|3019}}, [[Gollum]] led [[Frodo Baggins]] and [[Samwise Gamgee]] up the Stairs of Cirith Ungol,<ref name=Stairs/> into [[Shelob's lair]].<ref name=Lair/> | |||
During the [[War of the Ring]], in [[March]] {{TA|3019}}, [[Gollum]] led [[Frodo Baggins]] and [[Samwise Gamgee]] up the Stairs of Cirith Ungol<ref name=Stairs/> into [[Shelob's lair]].<ref name=Lair/> | |||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
{{Pronounce|Cirith Ungol.mp3|Ardamir}} | {{Pronounce|Cirith Ungol.mp3|Ardamir}} | ||
''Cirith Ungol'' | ''Cirith Ungol'' is [[Sindarin]] for "Cleft of the Spider", composed of ''[[cirith]]'' and ''[[Spiders#Names|ungol]]''.<ref>{{HM|N}}, p. 767</ref> | ||
{{References}} | {{References}} | ||
Revision as of 11:34, 24 March 2021
| Cirith Ungol | |
|---|---|
| Pass | |
 | |
| "Cirith Ungol" by Rob Alexander | |
| General Information | |
| Pronunciation | S, [ˈkiriθ ˈuŋɡol] |
| Location | Ephel Dúath |
| Type | Pass |
| People and History | |
| Inhabitants | Men, Orcs, Shelob |
| Events | Quest of the Ring |
| Gallery | Images of Cirith Ungol |
Cirith Ungol was a pass through the Ephel Dúath that led into Mordor.
History
The pass was first called Cirith Dúath ("Shadow Cleft"). It was used during the War of the Last Alliance, when Isildur sent his sons Aratan and Ciryon to Minas Ithil to prevent the forces of Sauron from passing through the pass.[1] After the War, upon Cirith Dúath was built a tower, later called Tower of Cirith Ungol, set by the Men of Gondor as an eastern outpost of the defences of Ithilien to keep enemies in Mordor.[2]
The pass was located in a cleft on the slope of the mountain on the left side of the Morgul Pass. It could be reached by climbing the Stairs of Cirith Ungol at the beginning of the Morgul Vale,[3] passing through a tunnel,[4] and taking a long flight of broad, shallow steps to the cleft[5] with the crown of the pass after which the road turned left and plunged steeply down.[2]
The pass of Cirith Ungol was probably named after the giant spider Shelob, who dwelt there.[6] It was also referred to as the "high pass".[7][8][5]
During the War of the Ring, in March T.A. 3019, Gollum led Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee up the Stairs of Cirith Ungol,[3] into Shelob's lair.[4]
Etymology
 | Cirith Ungol.mp3 |
| By Ardamir. (Help; more articles) | |
Cirith Ungol is Sindarin for "Cleft of the Spider", composed of cirith and ungol.[9]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields", "Notes", pp. 279-280, note 11
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Tower of Cirith Ungol"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Shelob's Lair"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Choices of Master Samwise"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Index", "Cirith Ungol [Pass of the Spider]"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Black Gate is Closed"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Forbidden Pool"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 767
