Tower of Cirith Ungol: Difference between revisions

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(Added a footnote that explains why the Tower of Cirith Ungol was probably manned by Gondor until T.A. 2000 in contrast to the general statement that "the fortresses" that guarded the passes to Mordor were unmanned in T.A. 1636)
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:The Tower's appearance in the film closely matches the text, a tiered bastion of dark stone with a turret bearing a red light at the top.
:The Tower's appearance in the film closely matches the text, a tiered bastion of dark stone with a turret bearing a red light at the top.


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Revision as of 13:17, 21 October 2020

The name Cirith Ungol refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Cirith Ungol (disambiguation).
The Tower of Cirith Ungol
Tower
Alan Lee - Cirith Ungol.jpg
"Cirith Ungol" by Alan Lee
General Information
LocationTop ridge of the Ephel Dúath
TypeTower
DescriptionBlack multi-tiered tower
People and History
InhabitantsGondorians/Orcs
EventsQuest of the Ring, Battle of Cirith Ungol
GalleryImages of the Tower of Cirith Ungol

The Tower of Cirith Ungol (Sindarin, "Spider's cleft") was a fortress in the pass of Cirith Ungol in the Ephel Dúath on the western border of Mordor.[1] Frodo was taken into the Tower and searched by Orcs, then rescued by Sam before they descended onto the Plateau of Gorgoroth.

History

The Tower of Cirith Ungol was originally a fortress of Gondor, guarding the high pass and made by the Gondorians after the Last Alliance. Its purpose was to defend Ithilien from attacks from Sauron's remaining servants in Mordor. Later the vigilance of Gondor failed and the Tower of Cirith Ungol was yielded up to the Lord of the Ringwraiths due to treachery.[2][note 1]

War of the Ring

On 13 March 3019, Orcs from the Tower, under the command of Shagrat, captured Frodo after finding his unconscious body in the Pass below.[3] They carried his body through the Under-way and into the Undergate that, besides the main gate, was the only entrance to the Tower. After overhearing Shagrat and Gorbag talking, Sam realized that Frodo had only been paralysed by Shelob and not killed as he had first thought. Sam was too late to gain entry through the Undergate and knocked himself senseless trying to get in.[4]

When Sam awoke on 14 March he determined to enter the main gate to find Frodo.[3] Mastering his fears, Sam came to the main gate and was halted by the malevolent will of the Two Watchers, stone statues flanking either side of the gate, topped with three vulture-faces each and endowed with spirits of evil. Holding aloft the Phial of Galadriel Sam overcame their will and thrust through the gate, but the Watchers let forth a shrill cry that was echoed by a harsh bell above.

In the meantime, the orcs had searched Frodo. When they found the shirt of mithril mail Frodo was wearing a quarrel over the spoils erupted. A contingent of orcs from Minas Morgul led by Gorbag fought Shagrat and his company for possession of the mithril. The fighting spread throughout the tower and most of the orcs on both sides were killed, making it possible for Sam to proceed and rescue Frodo. Although Sam fought Shagrat the Orc got away, bearing Frodo's gear to Barad-dûr. Sam finally found Frodo in the topmost chamber after killing Snaga. Sam returned the One Ring to Frodo, dressed him and gathered food and gear, and they left the tower. On the way out their use of the Phial caused the gate to crumble behind them. Again a bell clanged and the watchers issued a high and dreadful wail. This was answered far above in the darkness and out of the sky dropped a winged shape with a ghastly shriek.[2]

Appearance

The Tower stood against the mountain face near the highest ridge of the Ephel Dúath. From the west only the round, topmost turret was visible. The turret was supported by three great tiers that jutted out in a sharp angle, pointing eastward into Mordor. The lowest tier was encircled by a battlemented wall that enclosed a narrow court. The main gate pierced the south-eastern wall. A broad road ran along a precipice from the gate down to a southward bend and down to the road through the Morgul Pass. A narrower path led up from the gate by stairs to Cirith Ungol.[2]

Tolkien made three drawings of the Tower where only the turret is visible[5], and one with the entire bastion [6]. This last picture depicts the Tower in an earlier stage of writing, with four tiers.

Portrayal in adaptations

1987-96: Middle-earth Role Playing:

In the The Tower of Cirith Ungol and Shelob's Lair module there are five adventures that take place in the Tower of Cirith Ungol, Shelob's Lair and the surrounding area. It is mentioned that the Tower of Cirith Ungol was built by Gondor early in the Third Age. It is mentioned that the Tower of Cirith Ungol is still manned by a reduced Gondorian consisting of 120 persons in T.A. 1640 and that the Tower of Cirith Ungol was left uninhabited by the end of the second millenium of the Third Age.

2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:

In Scene 43, "The Choices of Master Samwise", Frodo first sees the turret at the top of the tower through a narrow cleft, with a single red light glowing. Frodo is stung by Shelob, Sam fights and defeats the spider, and then Shagrat and orcs come upon Frodo's body. There is no Under-way or Undergate; the Orcs carry the body up the path with Sam following behind.
In Scene 58, "The Tower of Cirith Ungol" (Extended Version), the view zooms into a window of the turret to show Frodo, still unconscious, lying on the floor while Shagrat and Gorbag go through his possessions. Frodo awakes while the two Orcs find the Mithril coat. Unlike their roles in the book, Shagrat wants the coat for himself while Gorbag insists it goes to Sauron. A fight breaks out that soon envelopes all of the Orcs in the Tower. As the Orcs slaughter each other, Sam approaches the gate and spies the Two Watchers. The scene jumps to Sam inside the gate without showing the contest of wills. Sam climbs the inside of the tower and his shadow scares four Orcs, including Shagrat himself, descending the stairs. Sam kills three of the Orcs while Shagrat escapes with the Mithril coat. In the turret room Frodo struggles to free himself, attracting the attention of Gorbag, who threatens to bleed him "like a stuck pig". However, the point of Sting suddenly pops out of Gorbag's chest as Sam kills the Orc. Sam reluctantly returns the Ring to Frodo and they dress themselves as Orcs before they leave the Tower. Their escape past the Two Watchers is not shown.
The Tower's appearance in the film closely matches the text, a tiered bastion of dark stone with a turret bearing a red light at the top.

Notes

  1. In appendix A I (iv) in the entry for King Telemnar it is mentioned that the fortresses that guarded the passes to Mordor were unmanned. In appendix B it is mentioned that Mordor was left unguarded in T.A. 1636 and that the Witch-king came to Mordor in T.A. 1980. In appendix A I (iv) in the entry for King [[Eärnil] it is mentoned that the Nazgûl came from Mordor by the pass of Cirith Ungol and laid siege to Minas Ithil in T.A. 2000 and took Minas Ithil in T.A. 2002. It seems unlikely that Gondor did not man the Tower of Cirith Ungol while it still occupied Minas Ithil, because the Tower of Cirith Ungol observation point from which forces coming from Mordor could be spotted early and because it guarded the pass of Cirith Ungol that led to Minas Ithil. The mentioning that the Tower of Cirith Ungol was yielded to the Wich-king due to treachery makes it probable that it was manned by Gondor until T.A. 2000.

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