Minas Morgul Printable version

Minas Morgul is a fortress belonging to the kingdom of Gondor. It used to be known as Minas Ithil and used to guard Gondor's eastern borders during the start of the Third Age. However, the forces of Mordor took over the tower and used it as a base to attack Gondor. With Mordor taking the tower, it turned into a dark fortress and was renamed to Minas Morgul.

Geography

Minas Morgul can be found in the Morgul Vale, an upland valley located at the base of the Mountains of Shadow. [1] The fortress overlooked the Ithilien Region. Minas Morgul's position allowed the control of the only routes through the Mountains of Shadow that lead to Mordor: The Pass of Cirith Ungol and the Morgul Pass.

The Days of Minas Ithil

When Elendil and his people arrived in Middle-earth, his two sons, Isildur and Anarion, built the kingdom of Gondor. The Kingdom had two towers: Minas Arnor on the west and Minas Ithil on the east. The two towers were often referred to as the twin towers. Anarion took Minas Arnor while Minas Ithil went to Isildur. Minas Ithil was built during the Second Age by a group of Númenóreans known as the Faithful. They were spared by the Valar from the downfall of Númenor because of their loyalty. Minas Ithil became the residence for the House of Isildur. The fortress housed the White Tree of Gondor and a Palantir called the Ithil-stone. The fortress was created as a measure of defense against Mordor, but at the same time, Minas Ithil was beautiful.

Its light-filled inner courts and its walls gleamed white and silver. Minas Ithil was a walled city on a high rock built out of white marble. Isildur chose to make it above the lands so that he could watch over the lands of Mordor. Within its walls, white houses can be found aside from the very tall tower. There is a road that went through the city from Osgiliath. That same road crossed the Mountains of Shadow and also led to Mordor. The siege of Minas Ithil happened in SA 3428.

Sauron sent an army to the fortress, and it took a whole year before they were able to take over Minas Ithil. They burned the White Tree of Gondor when they took over. Anarion, the brother of Isildur, was able to reclaim the city. However, he died in the War of the Last Alliance [2], where Sauron was defeated. The people of Gondor kept watching at Minas Ithil to ensure that evil would not retake it. In the Third Age, the Nazgûl, the most fearsome minions of Sauron, returned to Mordor to prepare for Sauron’s reawakening. The Nazgûl and the dark forces from Mordor attacked Minas Ithil once more. It took two years before the whole city fell on their hands. Minas Ithil transformed into a fortress of evil and was renamed Minas Morgul. Sauron used Minas Morgul as a way to keep an eye on his minions in Mordor and used it also as a defense against Gondor.

The Rise of Minas Morgul

With Sauron's forces taking over Minas Morgul, it was easy to direct terror and war at the kingdom of Gondor. Soon, Ithilien, one of Gondor's regions, was deserted. When evil took over, the life forms around the tower started to die and decay. Minas Morgul's glow was replaced by a pale, eerie glow. Most people could not stand the sight of it. It gave them a feeling that they were always being watched by something evil. At the time of the War of the Ring, the dark forces that did the Siege of Gondor came from Minas Morgul. After the war, when Aragorn was crowned as King, he advised Faramir to move to Emyn Amen in Ithilien and rebuild the city. Aragorn commanded that Minas Morgul should be demolished as no man would dare to live in its decomposing and corrupted aura. After a few years, the city was rebuilt and was filled with new life, leaving its dark past to history.

Etymology

Minas Morgul is Sindarin meaning "Tower of Sorcery." Minas is Sindarin for "tower" and Morgul is Sindarin for "black sorcery." Minas Ithil is Sindarin, meaning "Tower of the Moon." Ithil is Sindarin for "Moon."

Adaptations

Movie

The Fellowship of the Ring

In the first of the three movies by Peter Jackson, Minas Morgul was seen briefly. This was in the scene where the ringwraiths exited the fortress on their horses. They were headed towards the Shire in this scene.

The Return of the King

People get a closer look at Minas Morgul in this movie. It is shown to be a vast, dark fortress across a moat. Frodo was drawn to enter it by the One Ring. However, Gollum and Sam pull him back as an army of Orcs passes the gates to the fortress.

Game

Middle-earth: Shadow of War

Minas Ithil is featured all throughout this game, and it shows its transformation to Minas Morgul too. Talion, the main character of the game, tries to stop the Nazgûls from taking over Minas Ithil. However, he fails to do so, and the tower transforms into Minas Morgul as it falls in the hands of Sauron. After Talion wears the ring of Isidril, he recaptures Minas Morgul. He uses it as a stronghold for his cause of keeping Sauron at bay. However, after decades have passed, Talion becomes corrupted by the ring of Isidril and turns into a Nazgûl. With his transformation, Minas Morgul becomes a fortress for evil once again.​