Mordor flag. What is Mordor? Durthang The ancient Gondor castle, now one of the orc fortresses around Udun

- on South. On the western border of Mordor, between the Land of Shadow and Anduin, was Ithilien, the land of Gondor, and further west, on the other side of the river - great city Minas Tirith.

Mordor covers an area of ​​approximately 175,000 square miles (~ 453,000 km 2). It stretches 350 miles from north to south and 500 miles from west to east.

The border of Mordor to the north was the Ash Mountains; The Shadow Mountains formed the southern and western borders. From the east, Mordor was not protected by mountains, but Rhun - the eastern lands - was its ally, so it was unlikely that the enemy could get through this way.

The main entrance to Mordor was the Black Gate, a huge iron barrier blocking the passage of Kirith Gorgor in the northeast of the country, where the Ash Mountains met the Shadow Mountains. The Black Gate was heavily guarded, and the Fang Towers were located on the sides of the Gate.

Beyond the Black Gate was the Udong Valley, surrounded by mountain ranges... Ammunition depots were located in Udun, as well as troops were located to protect Mordor. Forts and fortresses were located around Udun, among which was a huge castle called Durtang. On the other side of Udun, opposite the Black Gate was Aisenmuth, a narrow gorge leading to the Gorgorot plateau. Eisenmouth was surrounded by a palisade, a bulk rampart and a trench, which could only be crossed by a single bridge.

There was another passage to Mordor, 90 miles south of the Black Gate. From Morgul Valley to the Shadow Mountains, a road was built across the Morgul Pass. The Morgul Road was guarded by the troops of Minas Morgul, a fortress commanded by Lord Nazgul.

In the Morgul Valley there was another, lesser known passage to Mordor - the Straight Staircase and the Spiral Staircase led to the foothill tunnel where Shelob the spider settled. On the other side of Shelob's Lair was the Kirith Ungol Tower, built to guard the Kirith Ungol Pass. Further, the road went down and connected with the Morgul road.

On the inner side of the Shadow Mountains, between Morgul Road and the Black Gate was mountain range Morgai, which was at least 1,500 feet high. Several streams with bitter water flowed down from Morgai. Some plants have managed to adapt to these conditions: twisted trees, tough grass and thickets of thorns. Black flies with red spots also lived there.

Several roads crossed Mordor, which were used by Sauron's minions. In the northwest, roads connected the Black Gate, Barad-dur, Mount Doom and Morgul Pass. Sauron's road led from Barad-dur to Mount Doom. Along the roads along Gorgorot there were water tanks for the needs of the passing troops. It is likely that the same roads were in the south of Mordor.

Northwest Mordor was a predominantly industrial area with mines and forges, while the more fertile area of ​​Nurn was used for farming. In that area, four rivers flowed, flowing into Lake Nurnen, an inland sea located in the southeast of the country. Slaves toiled in the fields to provide food for Sauron's troops.

In addition to the Slave People, evil People, such as the Mouth of Sauron, who lived in Barad-dur, also served Sauron. The main population of Mordor was made up of Orcs. Many Orcs lived in camps near Morgai and in forts around the Udun Valley. Trolls lived in Mordor, as well as a special species of them, bred by Sauron, called Olog-hai. Sauron also bred a breed of dreadful Terrible Beasts. These winged creatures were used by the Nazgul instead of horses.

Story

Barad-Dur was almost completely destroyed, and Sauron's troops were defeated and scattered. At the beginning of the Third Age, Mordor was under surveillance. Minas Ithil was returned and new fortresses were built: the Tower of Cirith Ungol and the Towers of the Fangs. But many years later, the guards were weakened, and after the Great Plague that devastated Gondor in 1636, all points of protection were empty.

In 1980, the Nazgul returned to Mordor under the leadership of the Witch-king. They prepared the return of Sauron. In 2000, the Nazgul laid siege to Minas Itil and in 2002 captured it, making it their fortress. She was renamed Minas Morgul, the Stronghold of the Dark Forces. Also, the Stone of Ithil passed into the possession of the Nazgul, and later - Sauron.

In 2475, a new breed of orcs, the Uruks, first emerged from Mordor. They marched through Ithilien and captured Osgiliath, a city on the Anduin River. Ithilien was conquered by Gondor, but Osgiliath lay in ruins. In 2901 the attacks were renewed and most of the Gondorians left Ithilien.

In 2941, Sauron was expelled from Dol Guldur and returned to Mordor the following year. In 2951, he openly declared himself, and began to rebuild Barad-dur. Mount Doom erupted in 2954. Sauron gathered armies of Orcs and Humans from all over the east and south. He bred a new breed of Trolls, the Olog-Hai, who were not afraid of sunlight. To return all his strength, Sauron needed only the One Ring.

Frodo and Sam followed Gollum up the Straight and Spiral Stairs. Eventually, he took them into a cave and threw them in the dark. The cave was the lair of Shelob the spider. She attacked the Hobbits, stung Frodo in the neck and paralyzed him.

Frodo was found by two orcs named Shagrath and Gorbag, and he was taken to the Tower of Cirith Ungol. The orcs slaughtered over Frodo's mithril mail, and nearly all were killed. Sam managed to free Frodo, but Shagrath fled, taking with him the mithril mail and other Hobbits' belongings, and took them to Barad-dur.

On March 15, Sauron's forces were defeated at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields by the combined forces of Gondor and Rohan, but Sauron still had a huge army at his disposal in Mordor. The generals of the West decided to march on Mordor in order to draw off Sauron's forces on themselves and give Frodo time to complete his mission.

The hobbits walked along the Morgai Cliffs because Frodo believed that Sauron's servants would hunt them in the lands to the east. When they got to where Mount Doom was about 40 miles east, the Hobbits were on a 1,500-foot-high cliff. They could not go down, because Sauron's troops were passing through Gorgoroth to the Black Gate.

The hobbits walked further north and then followed the road leading east. They were noticed by a squad of Orcs and were mistaken for Fugitive Orcs as they were wearing Orc armor. For a long time, the Hobbits walked with the squad, but later, in the confusion, they managed to escape.

Sauron gathered most of his troops in Udun, awaiting the arrival of the Western army. Gorgoroth was devastated, and Frodo and Sam could walk along the road most of the time. On March 24, they reached the foot of the mountain.

On the same day, the army of the West reached the Black Gate. The next day, March 25, Sauron sent his ambassador, nicknamed the Mouth of Sauron, to show him his mithril mail. He stated that he was holding the chain mail of the captive Sauron, and that the captive would be mercilessly tortured until the troops of the West surrendered. Gandalf rejected the terms and the Battle of the Morannon began.

At Mount Doom, where the One Ring was forged, Frodo's burden became too heavy to bear. Sam carried the owner closer to the mountain, but they were attacked by Gollum. Frodo and Gollum clashed in a battle for the Ring at the edge of the Doom Rift, Gollum slipped, and together with the Ring fell into the fiery abyss.

When the One Ring was destroyed, Sauron was finally defeated, and most of Mordor fell into ruins. Barad-dur collapsed, the Fang Towers and the Black Gate collapsed. The earth shook and broke. Mount Doom erupted, and streams of lava and ash covered the land of the Gorgoroth Plain. The Nazgul died in the fire, and Sauron's troops scattered or surrendered in panic. Frodo and Sam were saved: they were picked up by the Great Eagles Gwaihir, Landroval and Meneldor.

The Nurn lands in southern Mordor appear to have escaped the severe destruction that befell the rest of the dark land. Aragorn, King of Elessar, freed the slaves of Mordor and gave them the land around Lake Nurnen for their use.

Mordor Map

Important dates

Second Age:

OK. 1000 - Sauron settles in Mordor and begins the construction of Barad-dur.

OK. 1200 - Sauron goes to Eregion, tricked into trusting the Elves and reveals to them the secrets of mastery.

OK. 1500 - The Elves under the leadership of Sauron create the Rings of Power. Sauron returns to Mordor.

OK. 1600 - Sauron creates the One Ring in the fire of Mount Doom. The elves realize they have been deceived.

1693 - Sauron prepares troops and declares war on the Elves.

1695 Sauron invades Eriador.

1701 - Sauron returns to Mordor after being defeated by the Elves and Numenoreans.

OK. 1800 - Sauron expands his holdings to the east.

OK. 2251 - First appearance of the Nazgul.

3262 - Ar-Pharazon attacks Mordor with a large army and demands that Sauron surrender. Sauron was taken to Numenor as a prisoner.

3319 - Numenor is flooded. Sauron's body is destroyed, but the spirit hides in Middle-earth.

3320 Sauron returns to Mordor. Elendil and her sons found the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor. The fortress of Minas Ithil was built to defend against Mordor.

3429 - Mount Doom erupts. Sauron attacks Gondor and captures Minas Ithil. Anarion drives Sauron's forces back to Mordor.

3430 - The Last Alliance of Humans and Elves is concluded.

3434 - Sauron's forces are defeated at the Battle of Dagorlad. The siege of Barad-dur begins.

3441 - Sauron leaves Barad-dur and fights Gil-galad and Elendil. The Dark Lord is defeated and Isildur cuts the One Ring from his hand. Sauron's spirit lurks in the East.

Third era:

2 - Isildur is slain by the orcs at the Gladden Fields. The One Ring is lost in the waters of the Anduin.

OK. 1050 - Sauron founds Dol Guldur Fortress in Greenwood.

1636 - The Great Plague ravages Gondor. The surveillance of Mordor ceases.

1856 - Eight Nazgul returned to Mordor.

1980 - Lord Nazgul returns to Mordor and rallies the others to prepare for Sauron's return.

2000 - Minas Ithil is besieged by the Nazgul.

2002 - The Nazgul capture Minas Ithil, who is later named Minas Morgul. Itil's palantir is also captured, and subsequently handed over to Sauron.

2050 - King Earnur travels to Minas Morgul to duel with the Witch-king and goes missing. In the absence of the king, Gondor is ruled by the Stewards.

2475 - The Uruks of Mordor attack Gondor.

2901 - The Mordor Uruks occupy Ithilien and the inhabitants flee from there.

2942 Sauron secretly returns to Mordor.

2951 - Sauron openly declares himself, begins to build up his forces and rebuild Barad-dur.

2954 Mount Doom erupts.

OK. 3000 - A shadow spreads over Mordor.

3017 - Sauron captures Gollum, and after he names Shire and Baggins, allows him to escape.

June 20 - Sauron sends the Nazgul out to attack Osgiliath. July 1 - The Nazgul, led by the Witch-king, secretly go in search of the One Ring.

March 5 - The Hobbits reach the Black Gate and realize that they cannot go this way. Frodo follows Gollum on the secret path to Mordor. March 9 - The Hobbits reach Morgul Road. March 10 - Day without Dawn. An army from the Morannon captures Kyr Andros and advances into Anorien. Sauron signals the Nazgul Lord to lead his troops to Minas Tirith. Gollum leads the Hobbits through the Straight and Spiral Stairs. March 12 - Gollum leads the Hobbits to Shelob's Lair. March 13 - Orcs take injured Frodo to the Tower of Cirith Ungol. March 14 - Sam finds Frodo. March 15 - Frodo and Sam flee the Tower; Battle of the Fields of Pelennor. March 16 - Frodo and Sam and Morgai see Mount Doom. March 17 - Shagrath takes Frodo's cloak and mithril mail and Sam's sword to Barad-dur. March 18 - Frodo and Sam, along with a squad of Orcs, march towards Udun. March 19 - Frodo and Sam escape the squad. March 22 - Frodo and Sam turn off the road south towards Mount Doom. March 24 - The Hobbits reach the foot of the Mountain. March 25 - The Forces of the West fight the forces of Mordor at the Battle of the Morannon. Frodo reaches Doom Rift and claims the Ring as his own. Gollum bites off Frodo's Ring with his finger and falls into the crater. The ring is destroyed, Sauron is finally defeated, Mordor is destroyed. May 1 - Aragorn becomes King of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor. He frees the slaves of Mordor and gives them land for use near Lake Nurnen.

Etymology

Mordor:

Mordor means "Black Land" from mor- "dark, black" and dor- "land, area". In the Common Language, Mordor is often called Black earth, Dark Country and Shadow Land.

Additional sources

• Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion "p. 332-33;" The Stewards "p. 333-35
• The Silmarillion: "Akallabeth" p. 267, 280; "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age" p. 288, 290-97, 302-3
• Unfinished Tales: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn" p. 236, 239
• The History of Middle-earth, vol. VII, The Treason of Isengard: "The Story Foreseen from Moria" p. 213; "The First Map" p. 309 map III, 313 (location of Lithlad)

Mordor was defended on three sides by mountain ranges arranged roughly rectangular: Ered Litui (or Izgarnye Mountains) in the north, Ephel Duat (Mountains of Shadow) in the west and south. In the northwestern part of Mordor, the deep Udun Valley was the only entrance for large armies. There, at the junction of the Shadow Mountains and the Izgar Mountains, the Black Gate of Mordor was built. The towers behind the Black Gate (called the Fangs of Mordor) were built by Gondor to keep evil within Mordor. In front of these gates lies the huge Dagorlad field. Sauron's main fortress, Barad-dur, was located in the foothills of Ered Litui. To the southwest of Barad Dur lies the arid plateau of Gorgorot, southeast of salt sea Nurnen, there is another large plateau - Litlad. The passage to a narrow pass through the Shadow Mountains was guarded by the fortress of Minas Morgul (formerly Minas Ithil). The pass is called Kirit Ungol, in honor of the fortress standing directly on the pass itself. Shelob also lived there, in the tunnels, not far from the fortress of Kirith Ungol. Shelob's labyrinth was called Torek-Ungol. The southern part of Mordor was much more fertile, and wet enough to farm. This part of Mordor was home to the salty inland sea of ​​Nurnen. To the west of Mordor lay a narrow strip of land of Ithilien, beyond which lay the city of Osgiliath and the Anduin River.

The flora of Mordor are the last plants that managed to survive in this "dying, but not yet dead" country (The Lord of the Rings). Includes "stunted trees", "tufts of tough gray grass," "shriveled mosses," "blackberry thickets," and densely growing shrubs found around tiny streams that flow down the mountains. Sam and Frodo hid behind these blackberry bushes, which had long, sharp thorns and hooked thorns. The shrubs also had thorns, which Sam describes as “a foot long” (30 cm).

Main geographic features

• Nurnen Sea

Minor objects

Pass Kirit-Ungol

The victims of the Black Plague, during the reign of King Telemnar, were so great that the fortifications guarding Mordor were abandoned as troops were needed to guard the borders of Gondor. Deprived of protection, Mordor began to fill with evil again. Minas Ithil in the Morgul Valley was captured by the Nazgul, and the fortifications that were supposed to protect Gondor from the threat from Mordor were turned into a means of protecting Mordor from outside attack. By the time Sauron returned to Mordor, he was very well protected. In the north, during the War of the Ring, there were large garrisons, and the salty Inland Sea in the south made it possible to maintain slaves from the countries of the east and south, who cultivated the land and supplied the army.

War of the Ring

see also

Cultural references

• Mordor is featured in Led Zeppelin's Ramble On, along with other imagery from Tolkien's works.
• German metal band Running Wild recorded the song "Mordor" on their 1985 album Branded and Exiled. The song is written from the point of view of the Dark Forces.
• In 1995, the computer game Mordor: The Depths of Dejenol was released. Despite the name, the game has nothing to do with Tolkien's universe.
• Mentioned in the track "East Mordor" by rapper Oxxxymiron.
• German metal band Blind Guardian performs Lord of the rings, which mentions Mordor
• In 2014, the computer game Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor was released, which takes place in Mordor.

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Notes (edit)

Literature

• McNelis J. Mordor // J. R. R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment (English)Russian/ Michael D. C. Drout (English)Russian... - Routledge, 2006. - P. 434. - 774 p. - ISBN 0-415-96942-5.

Characters (edit) The Hobbit and "The Lord of the Rings" Characters (edit) The Silmarillion Geography Battles Artifacts Races and peoples

Excerpt from Mordor

Two Pavlograd squadrons bivouacked, amidst a field of rye that had already been knocked out by cattle and horses. It was raining, and Rostov, with the young officer Ilyin patronized by him, sat under a hastily fenced hut. An officer of their regiment, with a long mustache extending from the cheeks, who was on his way to the headquarters and caught in the rain, went to Rostov.
- I, count, from the headquarters. Have you heard the feat of Raevsky? - And the officer told the details of the Saltanov battle, which he had heard at the headquarters.
Rostov, shaking his neck, behind which the water was flowing, smoked his pipe and listened inattentively, occasionally glancing at the young officer Ilyin, who was huddled beside him. This officer, a sixteen-year-old boy who had recently entered the regiment, was now in relation to Nikolai what Nikolai was in relation to Denisov seven years ago. Ilyin tried to imitate Rostov in everything and, like a woman, was in love with him.
An officer with a double mustache, Zdrzhinsky, spoke pompously about how the Saltanovskaya dam was the Thermopylae of the Russians, how General Raevskiy performed an act worthy of antiquity on this dam. Zdrzhinsky recounted the act of Raevsky, who led his two sons to the dam under terrible fire and went on the attack next to them. Rostov listened to the story and not only did not say anything in confirmation of Zdrzhinsky's delight, but, on the contrary, had the appearance of a man who was ashamed of what he was being told, although he did not intend to object. Rostov, after the Austerlitz and 1807 campaigns, knew in his own way my own experience that, when telling military incidents, they always lie, just as he himself lied when telling; secondly, he had such experience that he knew how everything happens in war in a completely different way from how we can imagine and tell. That is why he did not like Zdrzhinsky's story, and he did not like Zdrzhinsky himself, who, with his mustache from his cheeks, out of habit, bent low over the face of the person to whom he was telling, and pressed him in a cramped hut. Rostov looked at him in silence. “First, there must have been such confusion and crampedness on the dam, which was attacked, that if Raevsky brought his sons out, it could not affect anyone, except for about ten people who were near him, - thought Rostov, - the rest could not see how and with whom Raevsky walked along the dam. But even those who saw this could not be very inspired, because they were concerned about Raevsky's tender parental feelings when it came to own skin? Then the fate of the fatherland did not depend on the fact that they would take or not take the Saltanovskaya dam, as they describe to us about Thermopylae. And therefore, why would such a sacrifice be made? And then, why here, in the war, interfere with their children? Not only would I not lead Petya's brother, even Ilyin, even this kind, but strange boy, I would try to put him somewhere under protection, ”Rostov continued to think as he listened to Zdrzhinsky. But he did not say his thoughts: he already had experience with this. He knew that this story contributed to the glorification of our weapon, and therefore it was necessary to pretend that you did not doubt it. And so he did.
“However, there’s no urine,” said Ilyin, noticing that Rostov did not like Zdrzhinsky’s conversation. - And stockings, and a shirt, and leaked under me. I'm going to look for shelter. The rain seems to be lighter. - Ilyin went out and Zdrzhinsky left.
Five minutes later, Ilyin, splashing in the mud, ran to the hut.
- Hooray! Rostov, let's go soon. Found! Here there are two hundred paces of the tavern, ours have already climbed there. Let us dry ourselves, and Marya Genrikhovna is there.
Marya Genrikhovna was the wife of a regimental doctor, a pretty young German woman whom the doctor had married in Poland. The doctor, either because he did not have the means, or because he did not want to be separated from his young wife for the first time in marriage, he drove her everywhere with him with the hussar regiment, and the doctor's jealousy became a common subject of jokes between hussar officers.
Rostov threw on his cloak, called Lavrushka with his belongings behind him, and went with Ilyin, where he rolled through the mud, where he splashed straight under the subsiding rain, in the darkness of the evening, occasionally disturbed by distant lightning.
- Rostov, where are you?
- Here. What lightning is! - they talked.

In the abandoned tavern, in front of which the doctor's wagon stood, there were already five officers. Marya Genrikhovna, a plump, blonde German girl in a blouse and nightcap, was sitting in the front corner on a wide bench. Her husband, the doctor, slept behind her. Rostov and Ilyin, greeted with cheerful exclamations and laughter, entered the room.
- AND! what fun you have, 'said Rostov, laughing.
- Why are you yawning?
- Good! So it flows from them! Don't soak our living room.
“Don't get Marya Genrikhovna's dress dirty,” answered the voices.
Rostov and Ilyin hurried to find a corner where they could change their wet dress without violating Marya Genrikhovna's modesty. They went behind the partition to change; but in a small closet, filling it all, with one candle on an empty box, three officers sat playing cards, and would never give up their place. Marya Genrikhovna gave up her skirt for a while in order to use it instead of a curtain, and behind this curtain Rostov and Ilyin, with the help of Lavrushka, who brought packs, took off the wet dress and put on a dry dress.
A fire was spread in the broken stove. They took out a board and, having fixed it on two saddles, covered it with a blanket, took out a samovar, a cellar and half a bottle of rum, and, asking Marya Genrikhovna to be the hostess, everyone crowded around her. Some offered her a clean handkerchief to wipe her lovely hands, some put a Hungarian coat under her legs so that it was not damp, some curtained the window with a raincoat so that the wind would not blow, some fanned flies from her husband's face so that he would not wake up.
“Leave him alone,” said Marya Genrikhovna, smiling timidly and happily, “he already sleeps well after a sleepless night.
- You can't, Marya Genrikhovna, - answered the officer, - you need to obey the doctor. Everything, maybe, and he will pity me when he starts cutting a leg or an arm.
There were only three glasses; the water was so dirty that it was impossible to decide when the tea was strong or weak, and there was only six glasses of water in the samovar, but it was all the more pleasant in turn and seniority to get your glass from Marya Genrikhovna's puffy, short, not entirely clean nails ... All the officers, it seemed, were really in love with Marya Genrikhovna that evening. Even those officers who played cards behind the partition soon gave up the game and went over to the samovar, submitting to the general mood of courting Marya Genrikhovna. Marya Genrikhovna, seeing herself surrounded by such brilliant and courteous youth, shone with happiness, no matter how hard she tried to hide it and no matter how obvious she was shy at every sleepy movement of her husband who was sleeping behind her.
There was only one spoon, sugar was the most, but they did not have time to stir it, and therefore it was decided that she would alternately stir the sugar in each. Rostov, having received his glass and pouring rum into it, asked Marya Genrikhovna to stir it.
- Why, you are sugar-free? She said, smiling, as if everything she said and everything that others said was very funny and had yet another meaning.
- Yes, I’m not sugar, I just need you to interfere with your pen.
Marya Genrikhovna agreed and began to look for a spoon, which had already been seized by someone.
- You finger, Marya Genrikhovna, - said Rostov, - it will be even more pleasant.
- Hot! - said Marya Genrikhovna, blushing with pleasure.

Geography

Mordor was defended on three sides by mountain ranges arranged roughly rectangular: Ered Litui (or Ash Mountains) in the north, Ephel Duat (or Izgarnye Mountains) in the west and south. In the northwestern part of Mordor, the deep Udun Valley was the only entrance for large armies. There, at the junction of the Ash and Izgarnye Mountains, the Black Gate of Mordor was built. The towers behind the Black Gate (called the Fangs of Mordor) were built by Gondor to keep evil within Mordor. In front of these gates lies the huge Dagorlad field. Sauron's main fortress, Barad-dur, was located in the foothills of Ered Litui. To the south-west of Barad-Dur lies the arid plateau Gorgorot, to the south-east, near the salt sea of ​​Nurnen, lies another large plateau - Litland. The passage to a narrow pass through the Izgarnye Gory was guarded by the fortress Minas Morgul (formerly Minas Itil). The pass is called Kirit Ungol, in honor of the fortress standing directly on the pass itself. Shelob also lived there, in the tunnels, not far from the fortress of Kirith Ungol. Shelob's labyrinth was called Torek-Ungol. The southern part of Mordor was much more fertile, and wet enough to farm. This part of Mordor was home to the salty inland sea of ​​Nurnen. To the west of Mordor lay a narrow strip of land of Ithilien, beyond which lay the city of Osgiliath and the Anduin River.

The flora of Mordor are the last plants that managed to survive in this "dying, but not yet dead" country (The Lord of the Rings). Includes "stunted trees", "tufts of tough gray grass," "shriveled mosses," "blackberry thickets," and densely growing shrubs found around tiny streams that flow down the mountains. Sam and Frodo hid behind these blackberry bushes, which had long, sharp thorns and hooked thorns. The shrubs also had thorns, which Sam describes as “a foot long” (30 cm).

Story

The emergence

The emergence of Mordor was the result of Morgoth's ravages. Probably, this edge was formed during colossal volcanic eruptions. It was given the name Mordor already at the time of Sauron, who settled there, because of his volcano Orodruin (also called Mount Doom) and its flame.

Early history

Sauron settled in Mordor 1000 years after the end of the First Age, after which this area became the abode of his evil will for the entire Second and Third Age of Middle-earth. In the northwest of Mordor, in the middle of the Gorgoroth plateau, lies the volcano Orodruin, where Sauron forged the Ring of Power. To the northeast of Orodruin, at a distance of one league, stood Sauron's stronghold, Barad-Dur. After accession to this country, Sauron became known as the Dark Lord of Mordor.

For 2,500 years, Sauron ruled Mordor continuously. Having created the Ring, he went to war against the elves of Eregion, but was defeated by the Numenoreans. After that, almost a thousand years later, he went to war against people, until he was captured and brought to Numenor, which, due to the activities of Sauron, was sunk (along with himself). Immediately after the destruction of Numenor, Sauron returned to Mordor as a spirit, and assuming a new, terrible guise, again began to rule Mordor.

The Last Alliance and the Third Age

Sauron's reign was interrupted when he tried to destroy the new kingdom of the people of Gondor, founded by the descendants of the deceased Numenor. After several years of siege, the forces of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men entered Mordor. Sauron was defeated in the final battle on the slopes of Orodruin. For about a thousand years, Mordor was guarded by Gondor.

The victims of the Black Plague, during the reign of King Telemnar, were so great that the fortifications guarding Mordor were abandoned as troops were needed to guard the borders of Gondor. Deprived of protection, Mordor began to fill with evil again. Minas Ithil in the Morgul Valley was captured by the Nazgul, and the fortifications that were supposed to protect Gondor from the threat from Mordor were turned into a means of protecting Mordor from outside attack. By the time Sauron returned to Mordor, he was very well protected. In the north, during the War of the Ring, there were large garrisons, and the salty Inland Sea in the south made it possible to maintain slaves from the countries of the east and south, who cultivated the land and supplied the army.

War of the Ring

During this war, Sauron rallied all his forces to Mordor. After the battle at Minas Tirith, Aragorn approached the Black Gate. Sauron sent an army to destroy his armies of Gondor and Rohan, but when Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee (assisted by Gollum) destroyed the Ring of Power, Mordor fell. The Dark Tower, the Black Gate and the Fangs of Mordor collapsed. Orodruin erupted, Sauron and his Nazguls were finally disembodied (until the end of days).

Cultural references

• Mordor is featured in Led Zeppelin's Ramble On, along with other imagery from Tolkien's works.
• German metal band Running Wild recorded the song "Mordor" on their 1985 album Branded and Exiled. The song is written from the point of view of the Dark Forces.
• In 1995, the computer game Mordor: The Depths of Dejenol was released. Despite the name, the game has nothing to do with Tolkien's universe.
• Mentioned in the track "East Mordor" by rapper Oxxxymiron.
• Also the German metal band Blind Guardian performs the song Lord of the rings where there is a mention of Mordor

Links

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Characters (edit) The Silmarillion
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Races and peoples

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• Bullfinches (village)
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24.08.2015

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“Ukraine was, is and will be. And Novorossiya is a Tolkien myth called Mordor. " This was announced by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko during the March of Independence in Kiev.

What is Mordor?

Mordor is the country where the main forces of Darkness and Evil are located in the worlds of the British writer J.R.R. Tolkien. This is where the hobbits Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee went to destroy the Ring of Power *. It is a "lifeless desert where the sun never shines." Located in the southeast of Middle-earth, east of the Anduin River. This territory is protected from the attacks of elves and humans by three huge mountain ranges that surround it from the north, west and south. Mordor covers an area of ​​approximately 175,000 square miles (453,000 km²). It stretches 350 miles (560 km) from north to south and 500 miles (800 km) from west to east.

Mordor. Shot from the movie "The Lord of the Rings"

Who rules Mordor and who inhabits it?

Mordor is ruled by the Dark Lord - Sauron. It is protected by orcs and other evil creatures - trolls, as well as their special species, bred by Sauron - Olog-hai. Sauron also created the Dread Winged Beasts, which the Nazgul ** used in place of horses. In the Mountains of Shadow in Mordor lives a huge ancient spider Shelob.

The main geographic objects Mordor

• Black Gate;
• Volcano Orodruin, or Mount Doom;
• Black Castle Barad-dur;
• Morannon, or the Black Gate of Mordor;
• the castle of Minas Morgul, or the Fortress of the Dark Forces;
• serf watch tower Kirith Ungol;
• Ephel Duat, or Parietal Mountains;
• mountains Ered Litui, or Izgarnye mountains;
• the Gorgorot plateau;
• the Nurnen sea.

* During the War of the Ring, which takes place in The Lord of the Rings, Sauron gathered all his forces to Mordor. After the battle at Minas Tirith, Aragorn approached the Black Gate. Sauron sent an army to destroy the armies of Gondor and Rohan, but when Frodo and Sam (with Gollum's "assistance") destroyed the Ring of Power, Mordor fell. The Dark Tower, the Black Gate and the Fangs of Mordor collapsed. Sauron and his Nazguls finally perished until the end of their days.

** Nazguls - nine lords from among the people enslaved by the Ring of Omnipotence and became the servants of Sauron.

Outline map of Mordor

Mordor is protected on three sides by almost rectangular mountain ranges: Ered Luin in the north, Efel Duat in the west and before turning to the east, forming the southern ridge. A narrow passage piercing the Ephel Duat was guarded by the fortress of Minas Morgul (formerly called Minas Itil); an even more difficult passage was guarded by the giant spider Shelob and the fortress of Kirith Ungol. Another famous fortress is called Durtang and is located on the northern ridge of Efel Duat.

The Ash Mountains formed the northern border of Mordor, and the Shadow Mountains ran along the southern and western borders. The eastern border of Mordor is open, but Rune (the lands in the east) has always been an ally of Mordor, so it is unlikely that the enemy could pass this way.

On the inner side of the Shadow Mountains, between the Morgul Road and the Black Gate, lay the Morgai Mountain Range, which was at least 457.2 meters (1,500 feet) high. Several streams with bitter water flowed down from Morgai. Some plants have managed to adapt to these conditions: twisted trees, tough grass and thickets of thorns. Black flies with red spots also lived there.

In the northwest corner of Mordor was a wide valley called Udun (the only entry point for large troops), where Sauron built the Black Gate of Mordor. The Black Gate is heavily guarded, and the Fang Towers are located on either side of the gate. Dagorlad lay in front of Morannon. Barad-dur (Sauron's main fortress) is located at the foot of Ered Luin. To the southwest of Barad-dur (about 48 km) is the dried up plateau of Gorgorot and Mount Doom (also called - Orodruin); to the east lay the Lytlad plain. The land in western Mordor is largely barren, with occasional blackberry bushes.

In the southern part of Mordor, lands called Nurn are more fertile and wetter due to the proximity to the inland sea - Nurnen. Fertility and the possibility of agriculture in Nurna arose thanks to the ash that settled from Mount Doom. Unfortunately, the inland sea of ​​Nurn is salty, not fresh.

Several roads crossed the land, which were used by the servants of Sauron. In the northwest, roads connected the Black Gate, Barad-dur, Mount Doom and Morgul Pass. Sauron's road led from Barad-dur to Mount Doom. Along the roads along Gorgorot were tanks with water for the needs of the passing troops. It is likely that the same roads were in the south.

The area of ​​Mordor is approximately 453,000 km 2 (175,000 mi 2). It stretches for 563.27 km (350 mi) from north to south, and about 804.672 km (500 mi) from east to west.

To the west of Mordor are the lands of Ithilien with the great river Anduin, to the east of Rune and to the southeast of Khand.

black fortress and doom mountain

• Areas

  • Nurn
  • Gorgoroth
  • Littlelad

• Main fortresses

  • Barad-dur (capital and abode of the dark lord Sauron).
  • Durtang
  • Osgiliath ( east coast reconstructed and under the control of Gondor, and during the War of the Ring - the entire city becomes a staging area for the attack on Minas Tirith)
  • Isenmouth
  • Minas Morgul (abode of the Nazgul, including the Witch-king)
  • Black gate
  • Mount Doom (where Frodo destroyed the ring)
  • Nargrot
  • Seregost
  • Kirith Ungola fortress

Story

Meaning

Mordor means "Black Earth" from mor- "dark, black" and dor- "land, area". In the Common Language, Mordor is often called Black earth, Dark Country and Shadow Land.
The Silmarillion:"Appendix - Elements of Quenya and Sindarin in Names".

Inspiration

Often the names in Tolkien's works of fiction have corresponding examples in other languages ​​of Middle-earth, and in "real", but this word takes roots from two languages.
The implied meaning is taken from Old English ( morðor), which means "mortal sin" and also "murder".
In some Scandinavian mythologies, the word means - "lands whose inhabitants practice evil rituals, but they themselves do not know about it, since they have been imposed on them by society since childhood."
Some believe that Tolkien associated Mordor with the Stromboli volcano from Sicily.

Interpretations

In the Atlas of Middle-earth - Karen Wynn Fonstad suggested that the lands of Mordor, Khand and Rune are located at inland sea Helkar, which subsequently split into the Sea of ​​Runes and the Sea of ​​Nurnen. Atlas was published before the book Peoples of Middle-earth, from which it became clear that the Sea of ​​Runes and Mordor existed already in the First Age.

The proximity of Mount Doom and Barad-dur in The Lord of the Rings (film trilogy) does not match the original work.

Sources of

Appendix A to The Lord of the Rings:"Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion", "Stewards";
The Silmarillion: Akallabet, On the Rings of Power and the Third Age;
Unfinished Tales: The History of Galadriel and Celeborn;
A History of Middle-earth Volume VII, The Betrayal of Isengard:"First Map".
Clyde S. Kilby, Dick Plotz (1968): Meetings with Tolkien: Edited Transcript of Notes at the December TSA Meeting in December 1966. Resolved on