Morgul blades

Morgul-blade by Audrey Corman

Morgul blades, or Morgul-knives,^[1] were magical, poisoned daggers used by the Nazgûl.

[edit] History

Morgul-knife by Liz Danforth

A victim of a morgul blade was Boromir, the eleventh Steward of Gondor. He eventually died of his wound but did not become a wraith.^[2]

At Weathertop, during his journey to Rivendell with the One Ring, the Hobbit Frodo Baggins was stabbed by the Lord of the Nazgûl.^[3] A fragment of the blade remained within the wound, working its way toward his heart and threatening to turn Frodo into a wraith.^[4] Elrond was able to remove the shard and heal the wound,^[4] but each year on the anniversary of his stabbing Frodo became seriously ill. Only his eventual departure to Eldamar offered a permanent cure.^[source?]

The Morgul blades disintergrated if anyone but the owner touched or picked up the blade.^[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.^[source?]

[edit] Etymology

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

[edit] 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]

[edit] 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, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", "The Stewards"
3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Knife in the Dark"
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings"
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