Ungoliant

The name means "Dark Spider" (uŋˈɡoljant) in Sindarin IPA. Ungoliant was a primal being that took the form of an enormous spider. This entity was originally Melkor’s ally in the land of Aman, then also for a little while traversing Middle-earth. Ungoliant was Shelob’s remote mother, also the first and oldest giant spider in Arda.

Biography

History

Ungoliant’s origins are not known and are not known even by the Valar. Legend has it that she emanated from Darkness that lingered around Arda. It is also said that she was formerly a close collaborator of Melkor at the time he perceived the world in envious eyes.

Primary years

When the ‘Lords of the West’ [1] routed and incarcerated Melkor at the time the earliest Elves came into Cuiviénen, the crafty Ungoliant eluded the Oromë hunters and the Valar. She then escaped to the south of Aman. Upon arriving there, she created her evil dwelling in a ravine near the Hyarmentir mountain. She transformed herself into a horrific spider that desired and consumed all the light she can muster. Whenever she fed, she created a dark web of despair that trapped all transient light.

Partnership with Melkor

Ultimately, Melkor searched far and wide for Ungoliant to obtain his vengeance against the Elves and the Valar. He met with her in the land of Avathar then revealed his plans to her: to absorb the light of the Two Trees of Valinor [2] (Golden Laurelin and Silver Telperion). Although Melkor's plan significantly tempted her, she was reluctant to go with him for fear of the Valar’s power. Melkor then tried to appease her by offering to satisfy her craving with everything she desired if she helped him. She relented, and they went immediately to Ezellohar. There, she imbibed the Wells of Varda until they were dry, poisoned the Trees, and drained their sap. Ungoliant produced an Unlight so great that it thwarted the hunt of Tulkas and Oromë. That allowed her and Melkor to escape towards Middle-earth. However, her ingestion of the energy of the Wells and the Trees made her swell to a shape and size so massive and gruesome that frightened even Melkor.

Ungoliant VS Balrogs

Melkor (now called Morgoth) upon arriving in Lammoth inside Middle-earth, wished to flee to the remains of Angband, wherein the rest of his allies expected him. Ungoliant suspected that Melkor/Morgoth was planning to leave without fulfilling the original promise he made her. She, therefore, claimed the gemstones that Melkor/Morgoth stole from Formenos long before they reached Angband. Morgoth gave Ungoliant the gems, and she consumed them. She then expanded to a vastly more grotesque size. Still wary and unsatisfied, she next demanded Morgoth to relinquish the Silmarils to her.

Morgoth adamantly refused, so she assaulted him. She tried to trap him with her nets then seize the Silmarils forcibly by weaving her sinister webs. Morgoth let out a dreadful shriek of pain during her attack, and the Balrogs that were hibernating right under the Angband ruins heard his cry. Rudely awakened, they hastened to aid their Lord immediately. They lashed their flaming whips to tear Ungoliant's webbing apart, thereby compelling her to halt the attack. Ungoliant bolted, and the Balrogs attempted to chase and annihilate her. However, Morgoth stopped them and commanded that they return to Angband with him. The attack of Ungoliant on Morgoth caused such a lasting echo in the area that it was henceforth known as Lammoth. Legend says that any shout or noise will echo back from adjacent hills with Morgoth’s voice.

Death

Defeated and cast out by the Balrogs, the monstrous Ungoliant escaped to Nan Dungortheb. There she dwelt and procreated with the Great Spiders living there, intensifying the dread and might of her breed. The spiders that subsequently permeated the place were her living descendants and offspring. That included Shelob, who was her last surviving offspring. Shelob inhabited on the outskirts of Mordor during the Second up to the Third Ages thereon. Legend has it that Ungoliant finally died by her means when, in her insatiable hunger, she ultimately consumed herself.

Etymology

The name Ungoliant (Sindarin) derives from the name Ungweliantë in Quenya, which means "Dark ungwë) Spider (liantë). The Eldar referred to her as ‘Virilomë’ (Vanyarin Wirilomë) or ‘Gloomweaver.’ This name translates into ‘Gwerlum’ in Sindarin.

Earlier versions

As J.R.R. Tolkien went off to war in 1916, the first antecedent of Ungoliant would be Ungwë-Tuita, which meant 'Night Spider.' This creature, at one time, was about to capture Eärendil, and also inhabited Ruamorë.

Portrayal in popular culture

The Hobbit Trilogy (Film)

Ungoliant was cited in “Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” when Radagast informs Gandalf that he ran into ‘The Great Spiders’ living in Mirkwood, assuming that they were "some spawn of Ungoliant."​