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Dates
The name Cirith Ungol seems to have come into use after the end of the Second Age1
Location
In the high Ephel Dúath, on the western borders of Mordor
Settlements
The pass was guarded by the Tower of Cirith Ungol
Important peaks
The pass led over Ephel Dúath, the Mountains of Shadow on the borders of Mordor
Pronunciation
ki'rith oo'ngol
Meaning
'Cleft of the spider' (also translated, less literally, as 'pass of the spider')
Other names
Cirith Dúath, The High Pass; sometimes spelt Kirith Ungol2

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 7 July 2014
  • Updates planned: 1

Cirith Ungol

The High Pass where Shelob lurked

Map of Cirith Ungol

The pass through Ephel Dúath on the western borders of Mordor that lay above the tower of Minas Morgul.


Notes

1

At least, in accounts of the War of the Last Alliance at the end of the Second Age, this pass is given the older name of Cirith Dúath ('cleft of shadows') rather than Cirith Ungol ('cleft of the spider').

2

The name of this pass appears as Kirith Ungol on the large-scale map included with earlier editions of The Lord of the Rings, while in later editions this older spelling has been amended to Cirith Ungol. The pronunciation is the same regardless of spelling.

See also...

Cirith Dúath, Elven-cloaks, Gollum, High Pass, Ling, Lugbúrz, Mablung, Morgul Pass, Morgul-road, Morgul-way, Nameless Pass, Shelob’s Lair, Spiders, Stairs of Cirith Ungol, Torech Ungol, [See the full list...]

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 7 July 2014
  • Updates planned: 1

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1998, 2001, 2003, 2014. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.
Find out how DISC profiling can make a real difference to the way you work with people.
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Cirith Ungol

The High Pass where Shelob lurked

Dates
The name Cirith Ungol seems to have come into use after the end of the Second Age1
Location
In the high Ephel Dúath, on the western borders of Mordor
Settlements
The pass was guarded by the Tower of Cirith Ungol
Important peaks
The pass led over Ephel Dúath, the Mountains of Shadow on the borders of Mordor
Pronunciation
ki'rith oo'ngol
Meaning
'Cleft of the spider' (also translated, less literally, as 'pass of the spider')
Other names
Cirith Dúath, The High Pass; sometimes spelt Kirith Ungol2

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 7 July 2014
  • Updates planned: 1

Cirith Ungol

The High Pass where Shelob lurked

Map of Cirith Ungol

The pass through Ephel Dúath on the western borders of Mordor that lay above the tower of Minas Morgul.


Notes

1

At least, in accounts of the War of the Last Alliance at the end of the Second Age, this pass is given the older name of Cirith Dúath ('cleft of shadows') rather than Cirith Ungol ('cleft of the spider').

2

The name of this pass appears as Kirith Ungol on the large-scale map included with earlier editions of The Lord of the Rings, while in later editions this older spelling has been amended to Cirith Ungol. The pronunciation is the same regardless of spelling.

See also...

Cirith Dúath, Elven-cloaks, Gollum, High Pass, Ling, Lugbúrz, Mablung, Morgul Pass, Morgul-road, Morgul-way, Nameless Pass, Shelob’s Lair, Spiders, Stairs of Cirith Ungol, Torech Ungol, [See the full list...]

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 7 July 2014
  • Updates planned: 1

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1998, 2001, 2003, 2014. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.
Find out how DISC profiling can make a real difference to the way you work with people.