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{{youmay|the Gate of Moria|[[Great Gate]] of [[Minas Tirith]]}}
{{disambig-two|the gate of Moria|gate of [[Minas Tirith]]|[[Great Gate]]}}
The '''Great Gates''' was the original entrance to [[Khazad-dûm]]. It was located in [[Dimrill Dale]].
{{location infobox
| name=Great Gates
| image=[[File:Joona Kujanen - Nar at the gate of Moria.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Nar at the gate of Moria" by [[:Category:Images by Joona Kujanen|Joona Kujanen]]
| pronun=
| othernames=East Gates<ref name="Dwarves">{{PM|XNotes}}, #8, p. 319</ref>, Dimrill Gate, Moria-gate<ref>{{FR|Lorien}}, after escaping from Moria, Aragorn says to Boromir: "Believe what you will, there is no other way for us - unless you would go back to Moria-gate, or scale the pathless mountains..."</ref>
| location=East side of the [[Misty Mountains]] opening upon the [[Dimrill Dale]]
| type=Door
| description=Large doors carved with warnings
| regions=
| towns=
| inhabitants=
| created=
| destroyed=
| events=
}}
The '''Great Gates''' was the original entrance to [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]], entering from [[Dimrill Dale]] into the rock.  
 
It was inscribed with [[cirth|runic]] spells of prohibition and exclusion in [[Khuzdul]]. Over time commands were added that all should depart who did not have the leave of the [[Lord of Moria]], written in [[Quenya]], [[Sindarin]], the [[Common Speech]], [[Rohan language]], [[Dalian]], and [[Dunlendish]].<ref name="Dwarves"/><ref group=note>It is not clear why Dunlendish is used, since the [[Dunlendings]] lived in the other side of the Misty Mountains.</ref>
 
==History==
==History==
When first built near [[Mirrormere]], where [[Durin the Deathless]] saw his vision, the Gate was awe-inspiring. It remained the main (and perhaps) only entry to his Kingdom.
[[File:Steamey - Azog and Nár.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Steamey - ''Azog and Nár'']]
When first built near [[Mirrormere]], where [[Durin|Durin the Deathless]] saw his vision, the Gate was awe-inspiring. It remained the main (and perhaps) only entry to his Kingdom.


During the [[Second Age]], [[Elves]] and [[Dwarves]] built the [[Doors of Durin]] at the western side of the [[Misty Mountains]] so as to facilitate access to [[Eriador]] and contact with the [[Gwaith-i-Mírdain]].
During the [[Second Age]], the [[Elves]] and [[Dwarves]] built a second entrance to Khazad-dûm, the [[Doors of Durin]], at the western side of the [[Misty Mountains]] so as to facilitate access to [[Eriador]] and contact with the [[Gwaith-i-Mírdain]].


In [[Third Age 2790|T.A. 2790]] [[Thrór]] and his companion [[Nár (companion of Thrór)|Nár]] went to [[Moria]] to see the ancient halls of their ancestors. Despite the warnings of Nár, Thrór went through the East-gate. He was captured by Orcs under the command of [[Azog]], who beheaded him. Azog wrote his own name in [[Angerthas Moria|Dwarvish runes]] on Thrór's head and threw it outside the gate for Nár to retrieve. He let Nár go to tell all the [[Dwarves]] that an [[Orcs|Orc]] ruled [[Moria]] now, and so Nár did, which started the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]].
In {{TA|2790}}<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> [[Thrór]] and his companion [[Nár]] went to [[Moria]] to see the ancient halls of their ancestors. Despite the warnings of Nár, Thrór went through the Great Gates. He was captured by Orcs under the command of [[Azog]], who beheaded him. Azog wrote his own name in [[Angerthas Moria|Dwarvish runes]] on Thrór's head and threw it outside the gate for Nár to retrieve. He let Nár go to tell all the [[Dwarves]] that an [[Orcs|Orc]] ruled [[Moria]] now, and so Nár did, which started the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]].<ref name="Durin">{{App|Durin}}</ref>


In [[Third Age 2799|T.A. 2799]], the War came to its climax with the [[Battle of Azanulbizar]], which was the largest battle of the war. After the battle [[Dain II Ironfoot]], the victor, would not allow his people to reclaim it, for he had once looked through its doors, and knew that the [[Balrogs|Balrog]] lurked there still.
In {{TA|2799|n}}, the War came to its climax with the [[Battle of Azanulbizar]],<ref name="TA"/> which was the largest battle of the war. During this battle the doors of the Gate were destroyed.<ref name="Dwarves"/> After the battle [[Dáin Ironfoot|Dáin II Ironfoot]], the victor, would not allow his people to reclaim it, for he had looked through the open Gate, and knew that the [[Balrogs|Balrog]] lurked there still.<ref name="Durin"/>


When [[Balin's Colony]] was attacked in [[Third Age 2994|T.A. 2994]], it was heavily damaged.
When [[Balin's Colony]] was attacked in {{TA|2994|n}}, it was heavily damaged.<ref name="Bridge">{{FR|II5}}</ref>


On [[January 15]], [[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]], the [[Fellowship of the Ring]], after the loss of [[Gandalf]], exited Moria through its eastern access, still broken. It was not heavily guarded. Prior to that, both Gandalf and [[Aragorn]] had passed through it.
On [[15 January]], {{TA|3019|n}}, the [[Fellowship of the Ring]], after the loss of [[Gandalf]], exited Moria through its eastern access, still broken.<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> It was not heavily guarded.<ref name="Bridge"/> Prior to that, both Gandalf and [[Aragorn]] had passed through it.<ref>{{FR|II4}}</ref>
==Name==
Fans sometimes refer to the Great Gates as "East Gate of Moria", in contrast to the "West-Gate of Moria", the [[Doors of Durin]]. The name "East Gate" was never used by Tolkien.


[[Category:Gates]]
{{references|n}}
[[Category:Doors and gates]]
[[Category:Moria]]
[[Category:Moria]]
[[de:Großes Tor (Khazad-dûm)]]
[[de:Großes Tor (Khazad-dûm)]]
[[fi:Morian Itäportti]]
[[fi:Morian Itäportti]]

Revision as of 21:48, 25 May 2020

This article is about the gate of Moria. For the gate of Minas Tirith, see Great Gate.
Great Gates
Door
Joona Kujanen - Nar at the gate of Moria.jpg
"Nar at the gate of Moria" by Joona Kujanen
General Information
Other namesEast Gates[1], Dimrill Gate, Moria-gate[2]
LocationEast side of the Misty Mountains opening upon the Dimrill Dale
TypeDoor
DescriptionLarge doors carved with warnings

The Great Gates was the original entrance to Khazad-dûm, entering from Dimrill Dale into the rock.

It was inscribed with runic spells of prohibition and exclusion in Khuzdul. Over time commands were added that all should depart who did not have the leave of the Lord of Moria, written in Quenya, Sindarin, the Common Speech, Rohan language, Dalian, and Dunlendish.[1][note 1]

History

Steamey - Azog and Nár

When first built near Mirrormere, where Durin the Deathless saw his vision, the Gate was awe-inspiring. It remained the main (and perhaps) only entry to his Kingdom.

During the Second Age, the Elves and Dwarves built a second entrance to Khazad-dûm, the Doors of Durin, at the western side of the Misty Mountains so as to facilitate access to Eriador and contact with the Gwaith-i-Mírdain.

In T.A. 2790[3] Thrór and his companion Nár went to Moria to see the ancient halls of their ancestors. Despite the warnings of Nár, Thrór went through the Great Gates. He was captured by Orcs under the command of Azog, who beheaded him. Azog wrote his own name in Dwarvish runes on Thrór's head and threw it outside the gate for Nár to retrieve. He let Nár go to tell all the Dwarves that an Orc ruled Moria now, and so Nár did, which started the War of the Dwarves and Orcs.[4]

In 2799, the War came to its climax with the Battle of Azanulbizar,[3] which was the largest battle of the war. During this battle the doors of the Gate were destroyed.[1] After the battle Dáin II Ironfoot, the victor, would not allow his people to reclaim it, for he had looked through the open Gate, and knew that the Balrog lurked there still.[4]

When Balin's Colony was attacked in 2994, it was heavily damaged.[5]

On 15 January, 3019, the Fellowship of the Ring, after the loss of Gandalf, exited Moria through its eastern access, still broken.[6] It was not heavily guarded.[5] Prior to that, both Gandalf and Aragorn had passed through it.[7]

Notes

  1. It is not clear why Dunlendish is used, since the Dunlendings lived in the other side of the Misty Mountains.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "Notes", #8, p. 319
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Lothlórien", after escaping from Moria, Aragorn says to Boromir: "Believe what you will, there is no other way for us - unless you would go back to Moria-gate, or scale the pathless mountains..."
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  4. 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
  5. 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "A Journey in the Dark"