Black Gate: Difference between revisions

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(→‎History: Added that the Morannon and the Towers of the Teeth were manned by troops from Gondor in TA 1944; I will work more on the history later and correct it and add references)
(Added information about the location of the Black Gate and its appearance with references)
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The '''Black Gate''' of [[Mordor]] ([[Sindarin]]: '''Morannon''') was originally a gate built by [[Sauron]], the Dark Lord of [[Mordor]], to prevent invasion through the Pass of [[Cirith Gorgor]], the gap between the [[Ered Lithui]] and the [[Ephel Dúath]].
The '''Black Gate''' ([[Sindarin]]: '''Morannon''') was the main entrance into the land of [[Modor]]. It blocked the pass of [[Cirith Gorgor]], the gap between the [[Ephel Dúath]] and the [[Ered Lithui]]. The pass of Cirith Gorgor led to the valley of [[Udûn]] that led to the plain of [[Gorgoroth]].<ref>{{FR|Map}}</ref> The Black Gate was a single gate of iron, which consisted of two vast iron doors,<ref>{{RK|Gate}}</ref> in a rampart of stone with a battlement that was patrolled by sentinels.<ref>{{TT|Gate}}</ref>


==History==
==History==

Revision as of 13:45, 15 November 2021

"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
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The Black Gate
Gate
John Howe - The Black Gates.jpg
"The Black Gates" by John Howe
General Information
Other namesMorannon (S)
LocationMeeting of Udûn and Dagorlad, between Ered Lithui and Ephel Dúath
TypeGate
DescriptionIron wall containing arched two-doored entrance[1][2]
People and History
InhabitantsOriginally Gondorians; later orcs[1]
Createdc. S.A. 1600[3]
Destroyed25 March, T.A. 3019
GalleryImages of the Black Gate

The Black Gate (Sindarin: Morannon) was the main entrance into the land of Modor. It blocked the pass of Cirith Gorgor, the gap between the Ephel Dúath and the Ered Lithui. The pass of Cirith Gorgor led to the valley of Udûn that led to the plain of Gorgoroth.[4] The Black Gate was a single gate of iron, which consisted of two vast iron doors,[5] in a rampart of stone with a battlement that was patrolled by sentinels.[6]

History

It was probably built with the power of the One Ring, like the Barad-dûr. After Sauron's fall, it became a Númenorean garrison. Backed up on the other side by the Isenmouthe, and protected by the castle of Durthang to the west, it was redesigned to keep all of Mordor's evil inside, shielding the outside from it - and it from the outside. The reconstruction of Minas Ithil, Tower of the Rising Moon, as well as the construction of Cirith Ungol were also done for the same purpose.

However, during the aftermath of the Kin-strife in Gondor the watchfulness of the guards in these strongholds relaxed. Thus the Ringwraiths and Orcs re-entered Mordor, eventually overrunning the garrisons and inhabiting them for themselves. In T.A. 1944 when king Ondoher of Gondor and both his sons fell in a battle against the Wainriders north of the Morannon[7][8] the Morannon and the Towers of the Teeth were still manned by troops from Gondor.[9] It was at this time that the tower of Minas Ithil was taken by the Nazgûl, having its name changed to Minas Morgul, Tower of Sorcery.

During the War of the Ring, the Army of the West, numbering under 6,000 men,[2] arrived at the Black Gate with the intention of drawing the Eye of Sauron away from Mount Doom, to allow Frodo the Ringbearer to cast the One Ring into the Crack of Doom within it. This they achieved, and the Ring was destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom, following which the Black Gate and the Towers of the Teeth immediately collapsed.

Portrayal in adaptations

The Black Gate in adaptations
The Black Gate in The Lord of the Rings Online  

2001-03: The Lord of the Rings (film series):

The Black Gate is present in the film series. in the second film is appears as a double gate, operated by Trolls, where Frodo and Sam attempt to go through the Gate until convinced by Gollum not to do so. In the third film the Black Gate is a focal point of the Battle of the Morannon, and after the destruction of the One Ring the Black Gate and the Towers of the Teeth are seen to collapse.

2017: The Lord of the Rings Online:

The Black Gate appears in the game as the location of a number of quests in the lead up to the defeat of Sauron.

References

Route of the Fellowship of the Ring
Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Parth Galen · Amon Hen · Eastemnet · Fangorn Forest · Rohan · Edoras · Hornburg · Isengard · Dunharrow · Paths of the Dead · Gondor · Hill of Erech · Lamedon · Linhir · Lebennin · Pelargir · Minas Tirith · Osgiliath · Cross-roads · Ithilien · Dagorlad · Black Gate · Field of Cormallen · Cair Andros · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
Boromir
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Parth Galen · Amon Hen
Frodo and Sam
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Parth Galen · Amon Hen · Emyn Muil · Dead Marshes · Black Gate · Ithilien · Henneth Annûn · Cross-roads · Morgul Vale · Stairs of Cirith Ungol · Cirith Ungol · Shelob's Lair · Tower of Cirith Ungol · Mordor · Morgai · Plateau of Gorgoroth · Mount Doom · Field of Cormallen · Cair Andros · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
Gandalf
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Celebdil† · Lothlórien · Fangorn Forest · Edoras · Hornburg · Isengard · Rohan · Anórien · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Osgiliath · Cross-roads · Ithilien · Dagorlad · Black Gate · Field of Cormallen · Cair Andros · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
Merry
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Parth Galen · Amon Hen · Emyn Muil · Eastemnet · Fangorn Forest · Wellinghall · Derndingle · Isengard · Hornburg · Dunharrow · Drúadan Forest · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
Pippin
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Amon Hen · Parth Galen · Emyn Muil · Eastemnet · Fangorn Forest · Wellinghall · Derndingle · Isengard · Rohan · Anórien · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Osgiliath · Cross-roads · Ithilien · Dagorlad · Black Gate · Field of Cormallen · Gondor · Cair Andros · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard