The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Ungoliant was very ancient; her Cloud is most associated with the Darkening of Valinor, approximately fifty years before the first rising of the Moon and Sun, after which Ungoliant herself passed into the distant South of the world
Locations
Ungoliant originally spun her webs of darkness in the glooms of Avathar; after passing into Middle-earth she remained for a time in Ered Gorgoroth before passing into the far South
Race
Ungoliant was apparently an ancient spirit akin to the Ainur
Pronunciation
Ungoliant is pronounced 'oongo'liant'
Meaning
Ungoliant means 'gloomweaver' (in reference to her Cloud)
Other names

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 30 January 2025
  • This entry is complete

Cloud of Ungoliant

The darkness of the great spider

Ungoliant was a being from before the beginnings of Arda, who entered into the world in the form of a vast spider. In the darkness of Avathar, in the shadowed south of Aman, she consumed what light she could and wove it into threads of darkness. From this she took her name: Ungoliant derives from the Elvish for 'weaver of gloom'.

After Melkor's escape from Valinor he made his way to Ungoliant and sought her aid. She agreed, and spread a great cloud of darkness to hide Melkor and herself from the eyes of the Valar and the other peoples of Aman. This Cloud of Ungoliant was impenetrably black, described as an 'Unlight' that defeated the eyes even of the Valar, and crushed the will of those who encountered it.

Enshrouded in the shadowy Cloud, Ungoliant and Melkor descended out of the southern mountains and crossed the plain of Valinor to the Two Trees. Melkor struck the Trees, and Ungoliant consumed their Light-filled sap, swelling to immense size. As Ungoliant grew, so did her Cloud, until it drowned all of Valinor beneath a towering darkness, with only the high peak of Taniquetil standing above the spreading gloom. Thus concealed, Ungoliant followed Melkor out of Aman, evading the hunt of the Valar and crossing into Middle-earth.


Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 30 January 2025
  • This entry is complete

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

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2016, 2025. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by Axiom Discovery aptitude and skill testing.
Personality is one part of understanding a candidate's suitability, but aptitudes and skills are also key.
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Cloud of Ungoliant

The darkness of the great spider

Dates
Ungoliant was very ancient; her Cloud is most associated with the Darkening of Valinor, approximately fifty years before the first rising of the Moon and Sun, after which Ungoliant herself passed into the distant South of the world
Locations
Ungoliant originally spun her webs of darkness in the glooms of Avathar; after passing into Middle-earth she remained for a time in Ered Gorgoroth before passing into the far South
Race
Ungoliant was apparently an ancient spirit akin to the Ainur
Pronunciation
Ungoliant is pronounced 'oongo'liant'
Meaning
Ungoliant means 'gloomweaver' (in reference to her Cloud)
Other names

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 30 January 2025
  • This entry is complete

Cloud of Ungoliant

The darkness of the great spider

Ungoliant was a being from before the beginnings of Arda, who entered into the world in the form of a vast spider. In the darkness of Avathar, in the shadowed south of Aman, she consumed what light she could and wove it into threads of darkness. From this she took her name: Ungoliant derives from the Elvish for 'weaver of gloom'.

After Melkor's escape from Valinor he made his way to Ungoliant and sought her aid. She agreed, and spread a great cloud of darkness to hide Melkor and herself from the eyes of the Valar and the other peoples of Aman. This Cloud of Ungoliant was impenetrably black, described as an 'Unlight' that defeated the eyes even of the Valar, and crushed the will of those who encountered it.

Enshrouded in the shadowy Cloud, Ungoliant and Melkor descended out of the southern mountains and crossed the plain of Valinor to the Two Trees. Melkor struck the Trees, and Ungoliant consumed their Light-filled sap, swelling to immense size. As Ungoliant grew, so did her Cloud, until it drowned all of Valinor beneath a towering darkness, with only the high peak of Taniquetil standing above the spreading gloom. Thus concealed, Ungoliant followed Melkor out of Aman, evading the hunt of the Valar and crossing into Middle-earth.


Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 30 January 2025
  • This entry is complete

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

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2016, 2025. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by Axiom Discovery aptitude and skill testing.
Personality is one part of understanding a candidate's suitability, but aptitudes and skills are also key.