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The '''Morgul blade''' is a magical poisoned dagger.  
{{object infobox
| name=Morgul-knife
| image=[[File:Audrey Corman - Morgul-blade.png|250px]]
| caption="Morgul-blade" by Audrey Corman
| pronun=
| othernames=
| location=
| owner=[[Nazgûl]]
| type=Weapon
| appearance=
| creator=
| created=
| createdlocation=
| destroyer=
| destroyed=
| destroyedlocation=
| notablefor=Injuring [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]]
}}
The '''Morgul-knife''' was a magical, poisoned dagger used by the [[Nazgûl]].<ref>{{FR|II1}}: "''They tried to pierce your heart with a Morgul-knife...''"</ref>


At [[Weathertop]], during his journey to [[Rivendell]] with the [[One Ring]],  the [[Hobbit]] [[Frodo Baggins]] was stabbed by the leader of the [[Nazg&ucirc;l]]. A fragment of the blade remained within the wound, working its way toward his heart and threatening to turn Frodo into a wraith. [[Elrond]] was able to remove the shard and heal the wound, but each year on the anniversary of his stabbing Frodo became seriously ill. Only his eventual departure to [[Eldamar]] offered a permanent cure.
==History==
[[File:Liz Danforth - Morgul-knife.jpg|thumb|left|''Morgul-knife'' by [[Liz Danforth]]]]


[[Athelas]] (or Kingsfoil) is known to slow the poisonous effect of the morgul-blade. This remedy is also known to heal other [[Mordor]] illnesses.
At [[Weathertop]], during his journey to [[Rivendell]] with [[the One Ring]],  the [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] [[Frodo Baggins]] was stabbed by the [[Witch-king|Lord of the Nazgûl]].<ref>{{FR|I11}}</ref> A fragment of the blade remained within the wound, working its way toward his heart and threatening to turn Frodo into a [[Wraiths|wraith]].<ref name=FRII1>{{FR|II1}}</ref> [[Elrond]] was able to remove the shard and heal the wound,<ref name=FRII1/> but each year on the anniversary of his stabbing Frodo became seriously ill. Only his eventual departure to [[Eldamar]] offered a permanent cure.{{fact}}


Another victim of a morgul blade was Boromir, the eleventh [[Steward of Gondor]] (not the [[Boromir]] of Frodo's company). He eventually died of his wound but did not become a wraith.
[[Athelas]] (or Kingsfoil) was known to slow the poisonous effect of the morgul-blade. This treatment was also effective against other [[Mordor]] illnesses, such as the [[Black Breath]].<ref name="House">{{RK|V8}}</ref>


In the [[Middle-earth Role Playing]] games, the Morgul Blades are said to have been forged in the fires of [[Minas Morgul]] by the [[Witch-king of Angmar]] and he embalmed them with his dark sorcery,  but this is considered [[Canon|non-canonical]] as it does not appear outside of the role playing material.
==Etymology==
 
''[[morgul]]'' means "(dark) sorcery" in [[Sindarin]].<ref>[http://www.jrrvf.com/hisweloke/sindar/online/english.html Hiswelókë's Sindarin Dictionary] (accessed 26 December 2010)</ref>
 
==Portrayal in adaptations==
 
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
: The enchanted Morgul-knife, wielded by the Ringwraiths, strikes as short sword with many additional effects on a character.<ref>{{ICE|2010}}, p. 38</ref>
 
'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
: "Morgul-knife" modifies a Nazgûl's prowess, and affects the corruption points of a character. "Morgul-blade" is a Permanent-event card, playable by a Ringwraith or a Ringwraith follower.
 
'''2001-03: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
: Artist [[John Howe]] made the original design of the daggers of the Ringwraiths.<ref>[[Gary Russell]], ''[[The Art of The Fellowship of the Ring]]''</ref>
 
==See also==
*[[Morgul-wound]]
 
{{references}}
{{weapons}}


[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Weapons]]
[[fi:Morgulin veitsi]]

Revision as of 13:52, 20 January 2018

Morgul-knife
Weapon
Audrey Corman - Morgul-blade.png
"Morgul-blade" by Audrey Corman
OwnerNazgûl
Notable forInjuring Frodo

The Morgul-knife was a magical, poisoned dagger used by the Nazgûl.[1]

History

Morgul-knife by Liz Danforth

At Weathertop, during his journey to Rivendell with the One Ring, the Hobbit Frodo Baggins was stabbed by the Lord of the Nazgûl.[2] A fragment of the blade remained within the wound, working its way toward his heart and threatening to turn Frodo into a wraith.[3] Elrond was able to remove the shard and heal the wound,[3] but each year on the anniversary of his stabbing Frodo became seriously ill. Only his eventual departure to Eldamar offered a permanent cure.[source?]

Athelas (or Kingsfoil) was known to slow the poisonous effect of the morgul-blade. This treatment was also effective against other Mordor illnesses, such as the Black Breath.[4]

Etymology

morgul means "(dark) sorcery" in Sindarin.[5]

Portrayal in adaptations

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

The enchanted Morgul-knife, wielded by the Ringwraiths, strikes as short sword with many additional effects on a character.[6]

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

"Morgul-knife" modifies a Nazgûl's prowess, and affects the corruption points of a character. "Morgul-blade" is a Permanent-event card, playable by a Ringwraith or a Ringwraith follower.

2001-03: The Lord of the Rings (film series):

Artist John Howe made the original design of the daggers of the Ringwraiths.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings": "They tried to pierce your heart with a Morgul-knife..."
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Knife in the Dark"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings"
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Houses of Healing"
  5. ↑ Hiswelókë's Sindarin Dictionary (accessed 26 December 2010)
  6. ↑ Wolfgang Baur (1994), Treasures of Middle-earth (2nd edition) (#2010), p. 38
  7. ↑ Gary Russell, The Art of The Fellowship of the Ring
Weapons in Tolkien's legendarium
 Arrows:  Black Arrow · Dailir · Red Arrow
Axes:  Dramborleg · Durin's Axe
Bows:  Belthronding · Bow of Bregor · Bow of the Galadhrim
Knives:  Angrist · Barrow-blades · Morgul-knife · Sting
Maces:  Grond
Spears:  Aeglos
Swords:  Anglachel/Gurthang · Anguirel · Aranrúth · Dagmor · Glamdring · Glend · Gúthwinë · Herugrim · Narsil/Andúril ·  Orcrist · Ringil · Sword of Manwë
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