Black Gate

2019-12-27T10:25:31Z

58.6.174.136: /* See Also */

{{sources}}
{{location infobox
| name=The Black Gate
| image=[[File:John Howe - The Black Gates.jpg|250px]]
| caption="The Black Gates" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=
| othernames=''Morannon'' ([[Sindarin|S]])
| location=Meeting of [[Udûn (valley)|Udûn]] and [[Dagorlad]], between [[Ered Lithui]] and [[Ephel Dúath]]
| type=Gate
| description=Iron wall containing arched two-doored entrance<ref name="Closed">{{TT|Gate}}</ref><ref name="Opens">{{RK|Gate}}</ref>
| regions=
| towns=
| inhabitants=Originally [[Gondorians]]; later [[orcs]]<ref name="Closed"/>
| created=c. {{SA|1600}}<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref>
| destroyed=[[25 March]], {{TA|3019}}
| events=
}}
The '''Black Gate''' of [[Mordor]] ([[Sindarin]]: '''Morannon''') was originally a gate built by [[Sauron]], the Dark Lord of [[Mordor]], to prevent invasion through the Pass of [[Cirith Gorgor]], the gap between the [[Ered Lithui]] and the [[Ephel Dúath]].

==History==
It was probably built with the power of the One Ring, like the [[Barad-dûr]]. After Sauron's fall, it became a [[Númenor]]ean garrison. Backed up on the other side by the [[Carach Angren|Isenmouthe]], and protected by the castle of [[Durthang]] to the west, it was redesigned to keep all of Mordor's evil inside, shielding the outside from it - and it from the outside. The reconstruction of [[Minas Ithil]], Tower of the Rising Moon, as well as the construction of [[Cirith Ungol]] were also done for the same purpose.

However, during the aftermath of the [[Kin-strife]] in [[Gondor]] the watchfulness of the guards in these strongholds relaxed. Thus the [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]] and [[Orcs]] re-entered Mordor, eventually overrunning the garrisons and inhabiting them for themselves. It was at this time that the tower of Minas Ithil was taken by the Nazgul, having its name changed to [[Minas Morgul]], Tower of Sorcery.

During the [[War of the Ring]], the Army of the West, numbering under 6,000 men,<ref name="Opens"/> arrived at the Black Gate with the intention of drawing the [[Eye of Sauron]] away from [[Mount Doom]], to allow [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] the Ringbearer to cast [[the One Ring]] into the [[Cracks of Doom|Crack of Doom]] within it. This they achieved, and the Ring was destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom, following which the Black Gate and the Towers of Teeth immediately collapsed.

==See Also==
*[[:Category:Images of the Black Gate|Images of the Black Gate]]
{{references}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
[[Category:Fortresses]]
[[Category:Mordor]]
[[Category:Doors and gates]]

[[de:Morannon]]
[[fi:Musta Portti]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/villes_tours_et_forteresses/mordor/porte_noire]]

There is evidence in the accounts of the Black Gate of Tolkien's haste in preparing ''Lord of the Rings''Italic text'' for publication. In Chapter III of ''Return of the King'' (The Black Gate is Closed) the Gate is described as having "a single gate of iron" (Unicorn paperback 1983, p.662). However, at p.921 of the same edition (The Black Gate Opens) it has "two vast iron doors"; but on the very next page it suddenly has a "middle door", implying at least three doors in all.

Interestingly, the first edition of ''Rings'' (Allen and Unwin hardback) has, at volume III p.163, "three vast doors", a conception which was obviously in JRRT's mind when he wrote of a "middle door" at p.922 of the Unicorn edition.

These unreconciled differences suggest that JRRT was under such pressure to publish that he failed to spot them before his final submissions to the publisher and printer.

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Black Gate