Towers of the Teeth: Difference between revisions

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(Added that the Morannon and the Towers of the Teeth were still manned by Gondor in TA 1944, I will work more on the history later and correct thins and add references)
(→‎Portrayal in adaptations: Looked it up: the long labor was initiated before the end of the first year of the Third Age)
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The '''Towers of the Teeth''', individually named '''[[Narchost]]''' and '''[[Carchost]]''',<ref name=Tower>{{RK|VI1}}</ref> stood at the northwest corner of [[Mordor]]. The [[Ephel Dúath]] and the [[Ered Lithui]] came together at the haunted Pass of [[Cirith Gorgor]], and formed a gateway into that dark land. These two towers stood on the cliffs on either side of the entrance to the pass.
The '''Towers of the Teeth''' were two towers that stood on two sheer hills that were thrust forward on either side of the mouth of the pass of [[Cirith Gorgor]] at the northwestern end of [[Mordor]] where the [[Ered Lithui]] met the [[Ephel Duath]]. They were strong, tall, stony-faced and had dark window-holes facing north, east and west.<ref name=Gate>{{TT|Gate}}</ref> The tower on the western side of the pass was called '''Narchost''' and the tower on the eastern side of the pass was called '''Carchost'''.<ref name=UI>{{HM|UI}}, p. 601</ref>


==History==
==History==
In the early days of [[Gondor]], after [[Sauron]]'s first defeat and expulsion from Mordor, the [[Gondorians]] built two watchtowers at the entrance to the pass, to guard Mordor and prevent the return of Sauron's servants.<ref name=Tower /> In {{TA|1944}} when king [[Ondoher]] of Gondor and both his sons fell in a battle against the [[Wainriders]] north of the Morannon<ref>{{App|Gondor}}, entry for king Ondoher</ref><ref>{{UT|Northmen}}</ref> the Morannon and the [[Towers of the Teeth]] were still manned by troops from Gondor.<ref>{{UT|8e}}, note 15</ref> As the centuries passed, Gondor's watch on Mordor failed and the towers were left unmanned. When Sauron's forces returned to his ancient home, they found the watch-towers that were meant to guard against them empty, so they quickly fell under the control of the [[Sauron#Eye of Sauron|Red Eye]]. They became known as Carchost and Narchost, the Towers of the Teeth, and by the time of the [[War of the Ring]], they were part of Sauron's own defences.<ref name=Gate>{{TT|Gate}}, second paragraph</ref>
The Towers of the Teeth were built by the men of [[Gondor]] after the [[War of the Last Alliance]] to prevent [[Sauron]] from returning to Mordor<ref name=Gate/> and to keep watch on Mordor where the creatures of Sauron still lurked.<ref name=Tower>{{RK|Tower}}</ref> At the time of the death of king [[Ondoher]] they were still manned by the men of Gondor.<ref>{{UT|8e}}, note 15</ref> As the strength of Gondor failed, the Towers of the Teeth were abandoned by the the men of Gondor and were empty for long years and fell into decay. After the return of Sauron they were repaired and garrisoned with the forces of Sauron.<ref name=Gate/> The Towers of the Teeth fell down during an earthquake<ref name=Cormallen>{{RK|Cormallen}}</ref> after an eruption of [[Orodruin]] when the [[One Ring]] fell into the [[Sammath Naur]] in the Orodruin<ref>{{RK|Doom}}</ref> on [[25 March]] {{TA|3019}}.<ref>{{App|Great}}, entry for the year 3019, March 25</ref>


The Towers of the Teeth were finally destroyed on 25 March, 3019 T.A. when the [[One Ring]] was unmade.<ref name=Cormallen>{{RK|Cormallen}}, sixth paragraph</ref> The Towers, along with the rest of the fortifications in [[Cirith Gorgor]], collapsed after the Ring's power was removed.
==Other names==
Other names of the ''Towers of the Teeth'' were the ''Teeth of Mordor''<ref name=Gate/> or the ''Towers of the Black Gate''.<ref name=Cormallen/>


Other names of the ''Towers of the Teeth'' were the ''Teeth of Mordor''<ref name=Gate/><ref>{{TT|Gate}}, third paragraph</ref> or the ''Towers of the Black Gate''.<ref name=Cormallen/>
==Etymology==
The name ''Narchost'' is translated as "bitter-biting fort".<ref name=UI/> Its initial element ''narch'' is not defined, but a similar ([[Noldorin]]) verb ''[[narcha-]]'' "to rend" appears in the ''Etymologies'' as a derivative of the root [[NÁRAK]].<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, NÁRAK</ref> The second element is ''[[ost]]'' "fortress".<ref name=ost>{{S|Appendix}}, ''os(t)''</ref>
 
The name ''Carchost'' is translated as "fang fort".<ref name=UI/><ref name=carak>{{S|Appendix}}, ''carak-''</ref> It contains two [[Sindarin]] elements: ''carch'', meaning "fang",<ref name=carak/> and ''[[ost]]'' meaning "fortress".<ref name=ost/>
 
==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''[[1987]]-[[1996|96]]: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
:In the ''[[Teeth of Mordor (book)|Teeth of Mordor]]'' module in the ''Fortresses of Middle-earth'' series Carchost is incorrectly described as the western tower, and Narchost as the eastern tower. It is stated that [[Isildur]] began an grand plan to seal off Mordor and that the construction began before the end of {{TA|1}} and was completed during the reign of [[Rómendacil I]] ({{TA|492}} - {{TA|541}}). It is mentioned that by {{TA|1640}} the last citadel guarding Mordor was abandoned, so Sauron sent all [[Ringwraiths]] - except the [[Witch-king]] and [[Khamûl]] - to lake [[Núrnen]] with the mission to ready Mordor for his return. Thereafter, the Ringwraith Dwar of Waw occupied the Black Gate with Orcs, Trolls and mannish servants. After Sauron's fall, only the Black Gate and the upper levels of the Towers of the Teeth were destroyed.


{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Fortresses]]
[[Category:Fortresses]]
[[Category:Mordor]]
[[Category:Towers]]
[[Category:Towers]]


[[de:Türme der Wehr]]
[[de:Türme der Wehr]]
[[fi:Hammastornit]]
[[fi:Hammastornit]]

Revision as of 07:17, 30 March 2022

Towers of the Teeth
Fortress
Paul Monteagle - Cirith Gorgor.jpg
"Cirith Gorgor" by Paul Monteagle
General Information
Other namesNarchost and Carchost
LocationCirith Gorgor, above the Black Gate
TypeFortress
DescriptionWatchtowers of the Black Gate
People and History
InhabitantsOrcs
CreatedEarly T.A.
Destroyed25 March, 3019 T.A.

The Towers of the Teeth were two towers that stood on two sheer hills that were thrust forward on either side of the mouth of the pass of Cirith Gorgor at the northwestern end of Mordor where the Ered Lithui met the Ephel Duath. They were strong, tall, stony-faced and had dark window-holes facing north, east and west.[1] The tower on the western side of the pass was called Narchost and the tower on the eastern side of the pass was called Carchost.[2]

History

The Towers of the Teeth were built by the men of Gondor after the War of the Last Alliance to prevent Sauron from returning to Mordor[1] and to keep watch on Mordor where the creatures of Sauron still lurked.[3] At the time of the death of king Ondoher they were still manned by the men of Gondor.[4] As the strength of Gondor failed, the Towers of the Teeth were abandoned by the the men of Gondor and were empty for long years and fell into decay. After the return of Sauron they were repaired and garrisoned with the forces of Sauron.[1] The Towers of the Teeth fell down during an earthquake[5] after an eruption of Orodruin when the One Ring fell into the Sammath Naur in the Orodruin[6] on 25 March T.A. 3019.[7]

Other names

Other names of the Towers of the Teeth were the Teeth of Mordor[1] or the Towers of the Black Gate.[5]

Etymology

The name Narchost is translated as "bitter-biting fort".[2] Its initial element narch is not defined, but a similar (Noldorin) verb narcha- "to rend" appears in the Etymologies as a derivative of the root NÁRAK.[8] The second element is ost "fortress".[9]

The name Carchost is translated as "fang fort".[2][10] It contains two Sindarin elements: carch, meaning "fang",[10] and ost meaning "fortress".[9]

Portrayal in adaptations

1987-96: Middle-earth Role Playing:

In the Teeth of Mordor module in the Fortresses of Middle-earth series Carchost is incorrectly described as the western tower, and Narchost as the eastern tower. It is stated that Isildur began an grand plan to seal off Mordor and that the construction began before the end of T.A. 1 and was completed during the reign of Rómendacil I (T.A. 492 - T.A. 541). It is mentioned that by T.A. 1640 the last citadel guarding Mordor was abandoned, so Sauron sent all Ringwraiths - except the Witch-king and Khamûl - to lake Núrnen with the mission to ready Mordor for his return. Thereafter, the Ringwraith Dwar of Waw occupied the Black Gate with Orcs, Trolls and mannish servants. After Sauron's fall, only the Black Gate and the upper levels of the Towers of the Teeth were destroyed.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Black Gate is Closed"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Unfinished index for The Lord of the Rings", in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 601
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Tower of Cirith Ungol"
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", "Notes", note 15
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Field of Cormallen"
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Mount Doom"
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for the year 3019, March 25
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", NÁRAK
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", os(t)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", carak-
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