Cirith Ungol
Also calledThe Pass of the Spider, The Tower of Cirith Ungol, Torech Ungol (Shelob's Lair)
Cirith Ungol was the secret pass over the Mountains of Shadow above Minas Morgul, guarded by an old Gondorian tower turned to Sauron's use and by the lair of the great spider Shelob. Frodo was stung and captured there in March 3019, and Sam rescued him from the tower.
Description
The pass
High above the Morgul Vale, a way climbed from the Ephel Dúath into Mordor that was little used even by Orcs. From the valley floor the Straight Stair rose almost vertically in a cleft of the cliff, and above it the Winding Stair zigzagged up a long ravine to a high ridge, from which a path led into a tunnel through the last mountain-wall. Beyond the tunnel a narrow cleft, the Cirith Ungol proper, cut through the crest of the range and descended by a road into the valley of the Morgai and the plateau of Gorgoroth. Gollum knew the way, and it was by this pass that he led Frodo and Sam.
Shelob's Lair
The tunnel was Torech Ungol, the lair of Shelob, a great spider in the shape of Ungoliant's brood who had lived in the mountains since before Sauron came to Mordor. Her tunnels branched through the rock and stank of her; she killed whatever came through, and Sauron let her be, as a useful guard. Gollum had met her in his years of wandering and promised her the hobbits.
The tower
Beyond the cleft, on a spur of the mountain, stood the Tower of Cirith Ungol. It had been built by Gondor after the fall of Sauron to keep watch on Mordor and prevent his servants from returning, and it faced inward, its three receding tiers and its gateway turned towards Mordor rather than towards Gondor. When Gondor's watch failed the Orcs took it, and Sauron made it a guard-post against anyone slipping in. Its gate was watched by the Two Watchers, seated stone figures with three faces each, whose will barred the gate to intruders more surely than any door.
History
The tower was raised in the early Third Age with Durthang and the Towers of the Teeth, when Gondor still guarded the passes of Mordor. As the Dúnedain dwindled and the watch was neglected after the Great Plague of T.A. 1636, the tower was abandoned and afterwards occupied by Orcs, serving as a stronghold of Sauron with a garrison under a captain answering to Barad-dûr.
On March 12, 3019 Gollum led Frodo and Sam up the stairs and into the tunnel. Shelob attacked; Frodo drove her off with the Phial of Galadriel and Sting, but she caught him at the tunnel's end and stung him, and Sam, believing him dead after fighting and wounding the spider, took the Ring and Sting. Orcs from the tower under Shagrat and from Minas Morgul under Gorbag found Frodo's body, discovered he was alive, and carried him into the tower. On March 14 Sam followed, passed the Watchers by the Phial's light, and found the garrison dead in a quarrel over Frodo's mithril-coat. He climbed to the topmost chamber, fought Snaga, and freed Frodo. Shagrat escaped to Barad-dûr with the mail and Frodo's other gear, which the Mouth of Sauron later showed to Gandalf before the Black Gate. The hobbits left the tower in Orc-garb on March 15, and the Watchers' cry as they passed brought a Nazgûl to the walls.
After the fall of Sauron the pass and its tower were abandoned with the rest of Mordor.
Geography
Cirith Ungol lay in the western Ephel Dúath directly above Minas Morgul, north of the Morgul Pass. From its eastern side a road descended to the Morgai and joined the road from the Morgul Pass to Barad-dûr.
Associated figures
Imprisoned in
Ring-bearer
Frodo Baggins
HobbitsFrodo Baggins, Bilbo's heir, was the Ring-bearer who carried the One Ring from the Shire to the fire of Mount Doom. Wounded in body and spirit by the journey, he saved the Shire but could not enjoy it, and sailed into the West with the last of the Elves.
The Shire
Visited
- Stoors
Gollum, once the Stoor-hobbit Sméagol of the Gladden Fields, murdered his friend Déagol for the One Ring and was hollowed out by it over five centuries in the dark. Guide and betrayer of Frodo, he took the Ring at the Cracks of Doom and fell with it into the fire, accomplishing the quest that the Ring-bearer could not.
The Gladden Fields; later the caverns beneath the Misty Mountains
Fought at
Ring-bearer
Samwise Gamgee
HobbitsSamwise Gamgee, Frodo's gardener, was the companion who carried the Ring-bearer to Mount Doom and briefly bore the Ring himself. He restored the Shire after the Scouring, was seven times Mayor, and at the last, as the final Ring-bearer, sailed into the West.
The Shire- Great Spiders
The great spider of Cirith Ungol, last child of Ungoliant, who had haunted the pass into Mordor since before Sauron built Barad-dûr. Gollum led Frodo into her lair; she stung him, and Sam, with Sting and the light of Galadriel's phial, wounded her so grievously that she fled into the dark and was not seen again.
Cirith Ungol Captain of the Orcs of Minas Morgul
Gorbag
OrcsGorbag was a captain of the Orcs of Minas Morgul who found the paralysed Frodo in Shelob's pass and carried him to the Tower of Cirith Ungol. His quarrel with Shagrat over Frodo's mithril-coat set the two garrisons killing each other, and he died on Shagrat's knife.
Minas MorgulCaptain of the Tower of Cirith Ungol
Shagrat
OrcsShagrat was the Uruk captain of the Tower of Cirith Ungol, the fortress guarding Shelob's pass into Mordor. He took the paralysed Frodo prisoner, killed his rival Gorbag in the fight that destroyed both their companies, and escaped to Barad-dûr with Frodo's mithril-coat and cloak, which the Mouth of Sauron later displayed at the Black Gate.
Mordor
Dwelt in
- Great Spiders
The great spider of Cirith Ungol, last child of Ungoliant, who had haunted the pass into Mordor since before Sauron built Barad-dûr. Gollum led Frodo into her lair; she stung him, and Sam, with Sting and the light of Galadriel's phial, wounded her so grievously that she fled into the dark and was not seen again.
Cirith Ungol - Orcs
Snaga was a small Orc of the garrison of Cirith Ungol, one of the few survivors of the fight between Shagrat's and Gorbag's companies. He refused Shagrat's order to carry news to Barad-dûr, and died falling through the trapdoor of the topmost chamber when Sam attacked him as he whipped Frodo.
Mordor
Died in
Captain of the Orcs of Minas Morgul
Gorbag
OrcsGorbag was a captain of the Orcs of Minas Morgul who found the paralysed Frodo in Shelob's pass and carried him to the Tower of Cirith Ungol. His quarrel with Shagrat over Frodo's mithril-coat set the two garrisons killing each other, and he died on Shagrat's knife.
Minas Morgul- Orcs
Snaga was a small Orc of the garrison of Cirith Ungol, one of the few survivors of the fight between Shagrat's and Gorbag's companies. He refused Shagrat's order to carry news to Barad-dûr, and died falling through the trapdoor of the topmost chamber when Sam attacked him as he whipped Frodo.
Mordor
Ruled
Captain of the Tower of Cirith Ungol
Shagrat
OrcsShagrat was the Uruk captain of the Tower of Cirith Ungol, the fortress guarding Shelob's pass into Mordor. He took the paralysed Frodo prisoner, killed his rival Gorbag in the fight that destroyed both their companies, and escaped to Barad-dûr with Frodo's mithril-coat and cloak, which the Mouth of Sauron later displayed at the Black Gate.
Mordor
Peoples
Timeline
- Early Third Age
The tower built by Gondor
After the Last Alliance the Dúnedain fortify the pass to keep watch on Mordor.
- After T.A. 1636
The watch abandoned
Gondor withdraws from the passes of Mordor; the tower is later taken by Orcs.
- T.A. 3019, March 13
Frodo taken to the tower
Orcs of Shagrat and Gorbag carry Frodo captive into the Tower of Cirith Ungol.
- T.A. 3019, March 14
Sam's rescue
Sam passes the Watchers, finds the garrison dead and frees Frodo.
- T.A. 3019, March 12
Shelob's Lair
Frodo is stung by Shelob; Sam wounds her and takes the Ring.
Sources
- The Two TowersBook IV, chapters 8 to 10
- The Return of the KingBook VI, chapters 1 and 2; Book V, chapter 10
- The Lord of the Rings: AppendicesAppendix B, T.A. 3019