Minas Morgul

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Minas Morgul
Tower/City
Ted Nasmith - The Tower of the Moon.jpg
General Information
Other namesMinas Ithil, Tower of the Moon, Tower of the Rising Moon, Moon-tower, Tower of Black Sorcery, Dead City.
Locationon Ephel Dúath, Western Mordor
TypeTower/City
RegionsMordor
InhabitantsGondorians, Orcs
GalleryImages 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.

Following the War of the Ring, the bridge leading to Morgul Vale was pulled down by the Army of the West and its fields set aflame, and they met no opposition as the entire city's garrison had been killed at the Battle of Pelennor Fields. Minas Morgul abandoned and fell into decay as it had become too foul for mannish habitation. 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. Faramir ruled from there with his new bride Éowyn, for King Elessar counseled that 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

City of the Nazgûl

Terror and war were directed against Gondor from Minas Morgul until Ithilien was deserted. During the War of the Ring, the army that attacked Osgiliath and undertook the Siege of Gondor came from Minas Morgul.

In fashion Minas Morgul seems to have been much like Minas Ithil, except for the replacement of beauty by terror. The top most course of the tower revolved slowly, and the walls of Morgul shone with a pale, frightening light.

See also