The Sentinels at the Tower of Cirith Ungol

[gate7ole]

from the Drúedain, UT
It is said that the Drúedain would often sit thus in times of grief or loss, but sometimes for pleasure in thought, or in the making of plans. But they could also use this stillness when on guard; and then they would sit or stand, hidden in shadow, and though their eyes might seem closed or staring with a blank gaze nothing passed or came near that was not marked and remembered. So intense was their unseen vigilance that it could be felt as a hostile menace by intruders, who retreated in fear before any warning was given; but if any evil thing passed on, then they would utter as a signal a shrill whistle, painful to endure close at hand and heard far off. The service of the Drúedain as guards was much esteemed by the Folk of Haleth in times of peril; and if such guards were not to be had they would have figures carved in their likeness to set near their houses, believing that , (being made by the Drúedain themselves for the purpose) they would hold some of the menace of the living men.

Does this strike a resemblance with the stone sentinels of the Tower of Cirith Ungol ?
Is it possible that these were Drúedain corrupted by Sauron?
What do you think?

 

[Niniel]

That seems a bit far-fetched to me, I would say the Cirith Ungol-sentinels were just creatures of Sauron, to which he had given the power to be felt by intruders before they saw them.

 

[gate7ole]

But we know that Sauron could not create anything from scratch. He needed something original to corrupt it. So the stone sentinels must have come from something (and I don't believe that they are just magical artifacts). Comparing the quote I posted before about the abilities of Drúedain and the way the sentinels work, I'm convinced that they have a great resemblance and probably the latter has come from the former.

 

[Rúmil]

I think they may be a connexion, but not that they were the work of corrupted Drúedain: they hated orcs too much. (this is just my opinion). I think it was just a mockery of the Drúedain's art; even men under Sauron's sway would not make such hideous figures: see how the people of Harad and Rhûn were noble and proud although they fought on the worng side, etc. : they surely would not have fallen so low as to make those despicable artefacts.

 

[Húrin Thalion]

I can only quote:

There are many evil creatures in the deep places of the world and even Sauron nows them not. However I will not bring my report up to darken the light of day.

I have also wondered what these creatures are. certainly not maiar but when did they come to ME? And why?

Húrin Thalion

 

[Lantarion]

Originally posted by Húrin Thalion
certainly not maiar

No? Why not? I think it might be possible that Sauron seduced some of his peers with the callings for power and dominance, while they were working for Melkor. So maybe they were a] imprisoned in the rock-shapes, stripped of their powers by Sauron, or b] they willingly guard the corrupted city of Minas Morgul as a favour to the Nazgûl, Sauron's pets.
But this is all hypothetical! Does anybody have any certain information for us?

 

[Húrin Thalion]

Then the question is: Why didn't Sauron put these Maiar to better use than to keep his orcs in? For that was what all those defenses were meant to do. It doesn't feel like Ungolianth and the other dark creatures should be maiar. Correct me if I'm wrong but it is only a feeling.

Húrin Thalion

 

[Rúmil]

Ungoliant was a Maia: at least she was a spirit that

descended into Arda

. The Sil says so clearly.

 

[Ithrynluin]

Originally posted by Rúmil
Ungoliant was a Maia: at least she was a spirit that descended into Arda. The Sil says so clearly.

She descended into Arda alright, but saying she's a Maia is as good a guess as any.

From the Silmarillion, Chapter 8:

There, beneath the sheer walls of the mountains and the cold dark sea, the shadows were deepest and thickest in the world; and there in Avathar, secret and unknown, Ungoliant had made her abode. The Eldar knew not whence she came; but some have said that in ages long before she descended from the darkness that lies about Arda, when Melkor first looked down in envy upon the Kingdom of Manwë, and that in the beginning she was one of those that he corrupted to his service. But she had disowned her Master, desiring to be mistress of her own lust, taking all things to herself to feed her emptiness; and she fled to the south, escaping the assaults of the Valar and the hunters of Oromë, for their vigilance had ever been to the north, and the south was long unheeded. Thence she had crept towards the light of the Blessed Realm; for she hungered for light and hated it.

She descended from the DARKNESS that lies ABOUT Arda. Doesn't seem like she came from the Timeless Halls at all, but more likely from the Void or some place similar to it. Ungoliant's origins, much like Bombadil's, are veiled in an aura of mystery and there is no definite answers, only speculation.

 

[Mrs. Maggott]

When Lucifer fell, he took a third of the angelic host with him (he became Satan and they his demons), so it is quite possible that Ungoliant was some sort of Maia who had succumbed to Morgoth's wiles and corrupted into what she became. However, she obviously was very powerful indeed if she was almost able to destroy Morgoth! However, doubtless that great Being lost at least some of his power when he became evil and left the path of good.

I thought most interesting the following quote: "for she (Ungoliant) hungered for light and hated it." Tolkien uses this analogy several times: Gollum and the Ring - for both loved the Ring and hated it. - and the Barrow wights who both hated the light and longed for it in their lonliness. It is an interesting character trait of the wicked that they frequently destroy something because they both love and hate it.