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[[Image:Rob Alexander - Cirith Ungol.jpg|thumb|250px|left|''Cirith Ungol'' by [[Rob Alexander]]]]
{{disambig-more|Cirith Ungol|[[Cirith Ungol (disambiguation)]]}}
{{Pronounce|Cirith Ungol.mp3|Ardamir}}
{{location
'''Cirith Ungol''' ("Spider's Cleft" in [[Sindarin]]) was the pass through the western mountains of [[Mordor]] and the only way towards the land from the west.
| image=[[Image:Rob Alexander - Cirith Ungol.jpg|250px]]
 
| name=Cirith Ungol
It was guarded by the '''[[Tower of Cirith Ungol]]''', built by the Men of [[Gondor]] after the War of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] was fought.
| othernames=
 
| etymology=
Its principal purpose was to defend [[Ithilien]] from attacks from [[Sauron]]'s remaining servants. For that reason its two bastions were directed to the north- and southeast. It also served to stop Sauron's servants from returning to Mordor.
| type=Pass
| location=[[Ephel Dúath]]
| inhabitants=[[Men]], [[Orcs]], [[Shelob]]
| realms=[[Gondor]] (? - {{TA|1636}}), [[Mordor]] ({{TA|1980}} - {{TA|3019|n}})
| description=Guarded pass into Mordor
| events=[[Quest of the Ring]]
| references=
|}}
'''Cirith Ungol''', also known as the '''Morgul Pass''', was the pass through the western mountains of [[Mordor]] and the only way towards the land from the west.


Gondor occupied the fortress until [[Third Age]] 1636 when the [[Great Plague]] killed large parts of Gondor's population. After the plague, Gondor never again occupied Cirith Ungol and evil was allowed to return to Mordor. The fortress was associated with the mountain fortress of [[Durthang]] in northwestern Mordor, and the Towers of the Teeth at the [[Morannon]].
It was guarded by the '''[[Tower of Cirith Ungol]]''', built by the Men of [[Gondor]] after the War of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] was fought.  


During the [[War of the Ring]], [[Frodo Baggins]] and [[Samwise Gamgee]] were led to this pass by [[Gollum]] to the lair of the giant spider [[Shelob]] who dwelt there.
During the [[War of the Ring]], [[Frodo Baggins]] and [[Samwise Gamgee]] were led to this pass by [[Gollum]] to the lair of the giant spider [[Shelob]] who dwelt there.


It is not known whether the pass and the tower were called Cirith Ungol when the Men of Gondor held it since Shelob could not have inhabited the cavernous entrance of the pass at that time.
It is not known whether the pass and the tower were called Cirith Ungol when the Men of Gondor held it since Shelob could not have inhabited the cavernous entrance of the pass at that time.
==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Cirith Ungol.mp3|Ardamir}}
''Cirith Ungol'' (pron. {{IPA|[ˈkiriθ ˈuŋɡol]}}) is a [[Sindarin]] name meaning "Spider's Cleft", composed of ''[[cirith]]'' and ''[[Spiders#Names|ungol]]''.


[[Category:Fortresses]]
==References==
*<small>{{HM|TT}}
*{{HM|RK}}</small>
 
[[Category:Passes]]
[[Category:Mordor]]
[[Category:Mordor]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[de:Cirith Ungol]]
[[fi:Cirith Ungol]]
[[fr:encyclo:geographie:reliefs:mordor:cirith_ungol]]

Revision as of 17:03, 10 October 2012

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
General Information
LocationEphel Dúath
TypePass
DescriptionGuarded pass into Mordor
RegionsGondor (? - T.A. 1636), Mordor (T.A. 1980 - 3019)
People and History
InhabitantsMen, Orcs, Shelob
EventsQuest of the Ring
GalleryImages of Cirith Ungol

Cirith Ungol, also known as the Morgul Pass, was the pass through the western mountains of Mordor and the only way towards the land from the west.

It was guarded by the Tower of Cirith Ungol, built by the Men of Gondor after the War of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men was fought.

During the War of the Ring, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee were led to this pass by Gollum to the lair of the giant spider Shelob who dwelt there.

It is not known whether the pass and the tower were called Cirith Ungol when the Men of Gondor held it since Shelob could not have inhabited the cavernous entrance of the pass at that time.

Etymology

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

References