Minas Morgul: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
===Second Age=== | ===Second Age=== | ||
After the destruction of [[Númenor]], [[Isildur]] and [[Anárion]], the sons of [[Elendil]], landed in [[Gondor]]. Isildur built Minas Ithil near the mountainous border of [[Mordor]] from where he would rule the fief of [[Ithilien]]; while Anárion built [[Minas Anor]] to rule over the fief of [[Anórien]]. Minas Ithil housed a ''[[palantír]]'', the [[Ithil-stone]]. | After the destruction of [[Númenor]], [[Isildur]] and [[Anárion]], the sons of [[Elendil]], landed in [[Gondor]]. Isildur built Minas Ithil near the mountainous border of [[Mordor]] from where he would rule the fief of [[Ithilien]]; while Anárion built [[Minas Anor]] to rule over the fief of [[Anórien]]. Minas Ithil housed a ''[[Palantíri|palantír]]'', the [[Ithil-stone]]. | ||
When [[Sauron]] returned after escaping [[Númenor]]'s destruction, he attacked the exiles of Númenor, and his forces [[Fall of Minas Ithil|took Minas Ithil]] by storm. When the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] defeated Sauron in the year {{SA|3429}}, Minas Ithil was restored as a watchtower. | When [[Sauron]] returned after escaping [[Númenor]]'s destruction, he attacked the exiles of Númenor, and his forces [[Fall of Minas Ithil|took Minas Ithil]] by storm. When the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] defeated Sauron in the year {{SA|3429}}, Minas Ithil was restored as a watchtower. | ||
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Minas Ithil was occupied by fell creatures, and it changed into a foul, evil place. As a result, it came to be called Minas Morgul, which in the [[Gondor Sindarin|tongue of Gondor]] means "Tower of Dark Sorcery". The [[Ithil-stone]], was captured and later used by Sauron to influence [[Denethor|Denethor II]] during the War of the Ring. | Minas Ithil was occupied by fell creatures, and it changed into a foul, evil place. As a result, it came to be called Minas Morgul, which in the [[Gondor Sindarin|tongue of Gondor]] means "Tower of Dark Sorcery". The [[Ithil-stone]], was captured and later used by Sauron to influence [[Denethor|Denethor II]] during the War of the Ring. | ||
During the [[Watchful Peace]] the lords of Morgul had secretly bred the [[Uruk-hai]], and in {{TA|2475}} these creatures assailed and overran Ithilien. | |||
During the [[War of the Ring]], a host from Minas Morgul set forth toward [[Minas Tirith]]. The host was witnessed by Frodo, Sam and Gollum. After some [[Faramir's defense of Osgiliath|opposition in Osgiliath]], the Morgul-host proceeded to [[Pelennor Fields]] and lay [[Siege of Gondor|siege]]. However the host, including the city's garrison was devastated during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]. | |||
Following the battle, the [[Army of the West]] pulled down the bridge leading to [[Morgul Vale]] and set its fields aflame. They met no opposition as the entire city's garrison had been killed at the Battle. | |||
After the War of the Ring, [[Faramir]] was made [[Prince of Ithilien]] by King [[Aragorn|Elessar]], who advised him to make his abode in the [[Emyn Arnen]] southeast of Minas Tirith for even though Minas Morgul was completely abandoned, the land was such a terror on the minds of Men that it would not be fit for habitation or even Mannish contact for many years. Eventually, the city was rebuilt as Minas Ithil and the evil that tainted the land was at last gone. | |||
[[File:Matthew Burton - Minas Morgul.jpg|350px|thumb|Matthew Burton - ''Minas Morgul'']] | |||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
In its prime, Minas Ithil was a beautiful place. The moon cast silver light throughout the courtyards and streets, and reflected off the marble walls, so that it seemed to shine. The houses also shone white. The city also had one tall tower, with many windows, that rotated slowly. The city was accessed by a road, which was said to gleam like the city's white marble walls, running over a bridge as it crossed [[Imlad Morgul]]. Large meadows were placed on both banks of the stream. | |||
When it was taken by the forces of evil, the beauty was replaced by terror. The lovely white light was replaced by a sickly corpse-pale light, the meadows were filled with sick pale flowers, and Imlad Morgul began to steam cold poisonous vapours. At the head of the bridge crossing the stream the bestial and human figures that stood there were corrupted. <ref>{{TT|Stairs}}</ref> | |||
{{blockquote|Not the imprisoned moonlight welling through the marble walls of Minas Ithil long ago, Tower of the Moon, fair and radiant in the hollow of the hills. Paler indeed than the moon ailing in some slow eclipse was the light of it now, wavering and blowing like a noisome exhalation of decay, a corpse-light, a light that illuminated nothing.|[[The Stairs of Cirith Ungol]]}} | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
* [[:Category:Images of Minas Morgul|Images of Minas Morgul]] | * [[:Category:Images of Minas Morgul|Images of Minas Morgul]] | ||
{{References}} | |||
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages]] | |||
[[Category:Fortresses]] | |||
[[Category:Mordor]] | [[Category:Mordor]] | ||
[[Category:Sieges]] | [[Category:Sieges]] | ||
[[de:Minas Morgul]] | [[de:Minas Morgul]] | ||
[[fi:Minas Morgul]] | [[fi:Minas Morgul]] | ||
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/villes_tours_et_forteresses/mordor/minas_morgul]] | [[fr:encyclo/geographie/villes_tours_et_forteresses/mordor/minas_morgul]] |
Revision as of 10:57, 30 December 2014
This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality. |
Minas Morgul | |
---|---|
Tower/City | |
General Information | |
Other names | Minas Ithil, Tower of the Moon, Tower of the Rising Moon, Moon-tower, Tower of Black Sorcery, Dead City. |
Location | on Ephel Dúath, Western Mordor |
Type | Tower/City |
Regions | Mordor |
Inhabitants | Gondorians, Orcs |
Gallery | Images of Minas Morgul |
Minas Morgul (originally called Minas Ithil) was the twin city of Minas Tirith before its fall to the forces of Sauron in the Third Age.
History
Second Age
After the destruction of Númenor, Isildur and Anárion, the sons of Elendil, landed in Gondor. Isildur built Minas Ithil near the mountainous border of Mordor from where he would rule the fief of Ithilien; while Anárion built Minas Anor to rule over the fief of Anórien. Minas Ithil housed a palantír, the Ithil-stone.
When Sauron returned after escaping Númenor's destruction, he attacked the exiles of Númenor, and his forces took Minas Ithil by storm. When the Last Alliance of Elves and Men defeated Sauron in the year S.A. 3429, Minas Ithil was restored as a watchtower.
Third Age
In T.A. 1980, the Nazgûl returned to Mordor (after the defeat of the Witch-king of Angmar in the north of Middle-earth).
The Ringwraiths laid siege to Minas Ithil shortly after their return, in T.A. 2002, and they took the city for their master, Sauron (who was still hidden at the time).
Minas Ithil was occupied by fell creatures, and it changed into a foul, evil place. As a result, it came to be called Minas Morgul, which in the tongue of Gondor means "Tower of Dark Sorcery". The Ithil-stone, was captured and later used by Sauron to influence Denethor II during the War of the Ring.
During the Watchful Peace the lords of Morgul had secretly bred the Uruk-hai, and in T.A. 2475 these creatures assailed and overran Ithilien.
During the War of the Ring, a host from Minas Morgul set forth toward Minas Tirith. The host was witnessed by Frodo, Sam and Gollum. After some opposition in Osgiliath, the Morgul-host proceeded to Pelennor Fields and lay siege. However the host, including the city's garrison was devastated during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
Following the battle, the Army of the West pulled down the bridge leading to Morgul Vale and set its fields aflame. They met no opposition as the entire city's garrison had been killed at the Battle.
After the War of the Ring, Faramir was made Prince of Ithilien by King Elessar, who advised him to make his abode in the Emyn Arnen southeast of Minas Tirith for even though Minas Morgul was completely abandoned, the land was such a terror on the minds of Men that it would not be fit for habitation or even Mannish contact for many years. Eventually, the city was rebuilt as Minas Ithil and the evil that tainted the land was at last gone.
Description
In its prime, Minas Ithil was a beautiful place. The moon cast silver light throughout the courtyards and streets, and reflected off the marble walls, so that it seemed to shine. The houses also shone white. The city also had one tall tower, with many windows, that rotated slowly. The city was accessed by a road, which was said to gleam like the city's white marble walls, running over a bridge as it crossed Imlad Morgul. Large meadows were placed on both banks of the stream.
When it was taken by the forces of evil, the beauty was replaced by terror. The lovely white light was replaced by a sickly corpse-pale light, the meadows were filled with sick pale flowers, and Imlad Morgul began to steam cold poisonous vapours. At the head of the bridge crossing the stream the bestial and human figures that stood there were corrupted. [1]
Not the imprisoned moonlight welling through the marble walls of Minas Ithil long ago, Tower of the Moon, fair and radiant in the hollow of the hills. Paler indeed than the moon ailing in some slow eclipse was the light of it now, wavering and blowing like a noisome exhalation of decay, a corpse-light, a light that illuminated nothing.
—The Stairs of Cirith Ungol
See also