The Silent Watchers were sentinels in Minas Morgul with the ability to notice movement on the road that led to and passed by the gate of Minas Morgul.
History
Gollum told Frodo and Sam that the Silent Watchers, things inside Minas Morgul knew of movement on the road that climbed under the shadow of the walls of Minas Morgul and passed the gate of Minas Morgul.[1]
On 13 March T.A. 3019,[2] Gorbag, the leader of the Orcs from Minas Morgul, told Shagrat, the leader of the Orcs from the Tower of Cirith Ungol, that "our" Silent Watchers had been uneasy more than two days ago.[3] This corresponds with 10 March T.A. 3019,[4] when Frodo, Sam and Gollum left the road that led to Minas Morgul before the bridge over the river Morgulduin to climb the Stairs of Cirith Ungol.[5]
Other versions of the legendarium
The Silent Watchers were initially named the sentinels[6] and were, in fact, early versions of the Two Watchers of Cirith Ungol.[7] Gollum's mention of the Silent Watchers was added after Tolkien had already concieved of the Tower of Kirith Ungol and removed the Sentinels from Minas Morgul. The term "Silent Watchers" is only ever used to refer to the Watchers of Minas Morgul, and never the Watchers of Cirith Ungol, so they are distinct entities, at least in the final book.[6]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Black Gate is Closed", p. 642
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for the year 3019 March 13
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Choices of Master Samwise", p. 738
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for the year 3019 March 10
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 499
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Ring, "Part Two: The Ring Goes East", "III. The Black Gate is Closed": [I]t would be interesting to know whether that decision had been taken when he introduced into the manuscript Gollum's references to 'the Silent Watchers'. The Watchers, called 'the Sentinels', had already appeared in 'The Story Foreseen from Lorien' (see VII.340-3 and note 33); there of course they were the sentinels of Minas Morgul. Here too Gollum is speaking of Minas Morgul (at this point in the chapter he has not even mentioned the existence of Kirith Ungol)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "XVI. The Story Foreseen from Lórien": The Sentinels sat there: dark and still. They did not move their clawlike hands laid on their knees, they did not move their shrouded heads [struck out: staring stiffly] in which no faces could be seen; but Sam felt a sudden prickle in his skin, he sensed that they were alive and suddenly alert. As he came between them he seemed to shrink [and] shrivel, naked as an insect crawling to its hole under the eyes of gigantic birds