The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
The way through the mountains existed from early times, but was not known as the Morgul-way until after the capture of Minas Morgul in III 2002
Location
Running eastward through Ephel Dúath from Minas Morgul into Mordor
Race
Settlements
Minas Morgul stood at the western end of the way
Passes
The way ran through the Morgul Pass; high above, the pass of Cirith Ungol followed a more difficult route through the mountains
Pronunciation
Morgul is pronounced 'mo'rgool'
Meaning
Morgul means 'black sorcery'
Other names

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About this entry:

  • Updated 19 May 2024
  • This entry is complete

Morgul-way

The roadway through the Mountains of Shadow

Map of the Morgul-way

Where the stream known as Morgulduin ran down out of Ephel Dúath, it formed a narrow valley that could be used as a pass from Ithilien into Mordor. At the mouth of this valley, in the earliest days of Gondor, the Dúnedain built a city: Minas Ithil, the fortress of Isildur. Long afterwards, that city was captured by the Nazgûl and renamed Minas Morgul, and the road that ran from the city and over the mountains was in turn named the Morgul-way. Once it reached the eastern side of the mountains, the road ran on across the Plateau of Gorgoroth to Mount Doom, and from there to Sauron's fortress of Barad-dûr, some sixty miles to the east.

Above the Morgul-way was an even more difficult passage across the mountains, leading up by a set of perilous stairs and over the mountains far above the main roadway: a dangerous pass known as Cirith Ungol.


Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 19 May 2024
  • This entry is complete

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