Iron Guards

Each of the Seven Gates of Gondolin had its own contingent of guards, armed and armoured in a manner that reflected the nature of the gate they guarded. The Gate of Writhen Iron was the Fourth Gate guarding the way through the Orfalch Echor, crossing the road through the Encircling Mountains as it reached its highest point. It stood in a high black wall with an iron likeness of the Great Eagle Thorondor above the gate, and behind the black wall a company of Iron Guards stood ready.

The armour of the Iron Guards was as black as the wall and the gate that they guarded: each wore black mail and a black cloak, and carried a black shield. The visors of their helms took their theme from the iron Eagle above the gate, each being decorated with an Eagle's beak. We are not told how many of the Iron Guards stood on duty, but by comparison with the other gates, there would have been several hundred ready at any time to defend the secret way that led to the Hidden City beyond the Iron Gate.