Cirith Ungol: Difference between revisions

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'''Cirith Ungol''' was a pass through the [[Ephel Dúath]].
'''Cirith Ungol''' was a pass through the [[Ephel Dúath]] that led into [[Mordor]].


The pass of Cirith Ungol 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 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/>
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The pass of Cirith Ungol was guarded by the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]] that was built by the [[Men of Gondor]] after the [[War of the Last Alliance]] as an eastern outpost of the defences of [[Ithilien]] to keep enemies in Mordor.<ref name=Tower/>  
The pass of Cirith Ungol was guarded by the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]] that was built by the [[Men of Gondor]] after the [[War of the Last Alliance]] as an eastern outpost of the defences of [[Ithilien]] to keep enemies in Mordor.<ref name=Tower/>  


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/>


It is not known whether the pass and the tower were called Cirith Ungol when the Men of [[Gondor]] held it.
It is not known whether the pass and the tower were called Cirith Ungol when the Men of [[Gondor]] held it.

Revision as of 22:10, 17 February 2021

"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.
The name Cirith Ungol refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Cirith Ungol (disambiguation).
Cirith Ungol
Pass
Rob Alexander - Cirith Ungol.jpg
"Cirith Ungol" by Rob Alexander
General Information
LocationEphel Dúath
TypePass
People and History
InhabitantsMen, Orcs, Shelob
EventsQuest of the Ring
GalleryImages of Cirith Ungol

Cirith Ungol was a pass through the Ephel Dúath that led into Mordor.

The pass of Cirith Ungol 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[1], passing through a tunnel[2], and taking a long flight of broad, shallow steps to the cleft[3] with the crown of the pass after which the road turned left and plunged steeply down.[4]

The pass of Cirith Ungol was probably named after the giant spider Shelob, who dwelt there.[5] It was also referred to as the "high pass".[6][7][3]

The pass of Cirith Ungol was guarded by the Tower of Cirith Ungol that was built by the Men of Gondor after the War of the Last Alliance as an eastern outpost of the defences of Ithilien to keep enemies in Mordor.[4]

During the War of the Ring, in March T.A. 3019, Gollum led Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee up the Stairs of Cirith Ungol[1] into Shelob's lair.[2]

It is not known whether the pass and the tower were called Cirith Ungol when the Men of Gondor held it.

Etymology

Cirith Ungol (pron. [ˈkiriθ ˈuŋɡol]) is a Sindarin name meaning "Spider's Cleft", composed of cirith and ungol.

References

Route of the Fellowship of the Ring
Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Parth Galen · Amon Hen · Eastemnet · Fangorn Forest · Rohan · Edoras · Hornburg · Isengard · Dunharrow · Paths of the Dead · Gondor · Hill of Erech · Lamedon · Linhir · Lebennin · Pelargir · Minas Tirith · Osgiliath · Cross-roads · Ithilien · Dagorlad · Black Gate · Field of Cormallen · Cair Andros · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
Boromir
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Parth Galen · Amon Hen
Frodo and Sam
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Parth Galen · Amon Hen · Emyn Muil · Dead Marshes · Black Gate · Ithilien · Henneth Annûn · Cross-roads · Morgul Vale · Stairs of Cirith Ungol · Cirith Ungol · Shelob's Lair · Tower of Cirith Ungol · Mordor · Morgai · Plateau of Gorgoroth · Mount Doom · Field of Cormallen · Cair Andros · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
Gandalf
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Celebdil† · Lothlórien · Fangorn Forest · Edoras · Hornburg · Isengard · Rohan · Anórien · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Osgiliath · Cross-roads · Ithilien · Dagorlad · Black Gate · Field of Cormallen · Cair Andros · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
Merry
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Parth Galen · Amon Hen · Emyn Muil · Eastemnet · Fangorn Forest · Wellinghall · Derndingle · Isengard · Hornburg · Dunharrow · Drúadan Forest · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
Pippin
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Amon Hen · Parth Galen · Emyn Muil · Eastemnet · Fangorn Forest · Wellinghall · Derndingle · Isengard · Rohan · Anórien · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Osgiliath · Cross-roads · Ithilien · Dagorlad · Black Gate · Field of Cormallen · Gondor · Cair Andros · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard