Cirith Ungol



Cirith Ungol (pronounced Keerith Oongoll) is Sindarin for Spider's (Shelob's) Cleft; it is the pass through the western mountains of Mordor and the only way towards the land from the West. It was guarded by the Tower of Cirith Ungol, built by the Men of Gondor after the War of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men was fought. Another name for Cirith Ungol is Cirith Dúath.

Its principal purpose was to defend Ithilien from attacks from Sauron's remaining servants. For that reason its two bastions were directed to the north and south-east. It also served to stop Sauron's servants from returning to Mordor.

Gondor occupied the fortress untill TA 1636 when the Great Plague killed much of Gondor's population. After the Plague, Gondor never again occupied Cirith Ungol and evil was allowed to return to Mordor.

The fortress was associated with the mountain fortress of Durthang in Northwestern Mordor, and the Towers of the Teeth at the Morännon.

During the Quest of the Ring, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee were led to this pass by Gollum to the lair of the ancient spider Shelob. It is not known whether the pass and the tower were called Cirith Ungol when the Men of Gondor held it, though likely since Shelob "...was there before Sauron, and before the first stone of Barad-dûr" was laid. Frodo was being cocooned by Shelob when Sam arrived weilding the light of elendil, He battled the beast and cradled his master's body. Frodo's sword, Sting, then started to glow blue as the orcs of Cirith ungol came towards him and his master. Sam hid behind a large rock (in the book he put on the One Ring to hide). Several orcs came down the craggy stairs and examined Frodo's body. Sam overheard them and discovered Frodo was not dead, only paralyzed. The orcs then took Frodo back to the tower, arguing over whether to send him, with "full description of every articler, garment, weapon, letter, ring, or trinket to Lugburz [Barad-Dur in the black tongue] at once" as ordered, or to torture and eat him. While sifting through the Hobbit's belongings, the orc Gorbag discovered the mithril shirt. Shagrat, a large Uruk-hai, claimed it as his own but Gorbag insisted that it be taken to the Great Eye. The two orcs faught until Gorbag was thrown down a large stone staircase. A huge brawl then erupted all over the fortress between different breeds of orcs.

Sam then arrived at Cirith Ungol and entered the fortress, finding all the orcs dead after the skirmish. He then killed Gorbag, who survived and was preparing to torture Frodo, who had just woken up. The two hobbits then disguised themselves as orcs and completed their journey to Orodruin.