Mûmakil

Mumakil were the giant size beasts and took part in various battles from Sauron's during the period of Wall of the Rings. These animals were like elephants but larger than a real elephant, probably almost the size of a big house. According to the Red Book, they were the ancestors of the present days' elephants.

The name 'Mumakil' is a word from Harad language, but in Westron, they called it Oliphaunt. This name shows that current days elephants might be their heirs. According to the Red Book, the Mumakil were vast, tall, elephant-like animals specifically brought by Sauron for the battles. Their skin was tough enough to counter high-speed arrows from the enemy. They had very sharp tusks that could easily pierce any hard object or kill an armored soldier.

The Mumakil were intelligent animals, and the kings were able to train them for the battles, just like ordinary soldiers. They could follow all the orders of their masters at the battlefield without any fear of injury or death. Their body size was so broad and extensive that soldiers could install massive towers on their backs. Several warriors could be positioned in those towers for attacking the high-rise targets. For installing war towers, they could kneel down, and the whole of the tower and armors could be placed on them.

When Sauron faced War at Gondor, he was called the best-known warrior from Harad. When he reached the North at the gates of Gondor, Sauron was happy to see the soldiers from Harad. They were carrying several massive weapons and were looking like the most dangerous war beasts of that time. Their body size was huge, like a big house. The soldiers are experts in archery to aim at specific targets from such a height that not even cavalry soldiers were able to intercept them.

The animals used to crush the horse rider soldiers and soldiers on foot. These war animals were creating devastation all around, they kill everyone whoever comes in their way. No chariot or horse riders were able to approach any Mumakil. Their blood stained sharp and long teeth showed their blood lust nature and were enough to frighten soldiers at the battlefields. The best archers could fire from the height towers placed on the back of Mumakil. No machinery or equipment was sufficient enough to counter the height advantage of Mumakil.

Overall, whenever they entered any war field, the whole of the opposite army feared, and many soldiers ran away from the battlefields. Probably, Sauron had the advantage of Mumakil, the scariest, and the intense warriors of the Third Age. The Mumakil needed protection only against arrows which the enemy could fire from a distance. Although their skin was arrows resistive to face arrows. But the high force arrows could pierce the skin. Massive shields, armored casings, and decorated banners and metals trappings designed scarily, protecting their body from any type of attack by the enemy.

The only vulnerable part of the Mumakil was their eyes. If the enemy could hit arrows or spears into their eyes, then only they would go out of control due to extreme pain. In such a condition, they would go rampage anyone, including their own masters, soldiers, or enemies, whoever comes in their ways. But, hitting into their eyes from a distance was not so easy as soldiers protected their eyes with shields and guards. Sauron received the full advantage of using these war machines and was able to win battles due to their participation. The Mumakil were initially visible from Harad, and it continued to be their habitation area. When the War of the Ring ended, Mumakil was not visible anywhere in the Harad region. Haradrim managed to get some of these animals in far Harad areas. But most of them were not visible anywhere after the war.

Mumakil were animals that were similar to elephants but larger and more reliable than elephants. The middle-age English word was the outcome of the phrase olifant or olifaunt. Both these words have been derived from a French word olifanz. All the related terms and phrases like elephant-tusk, elephant, ivory, are the heirs of this French word. The other relevant words having origin from these words are elephant tusk, or a tusk shaped musical instrument. But in reality, the French word 'oliphanz' also originated from a German word 'olbenta.' The meaning of this word is a big animal like a camel. The word also relates to the Latin' elephantus'. Also, the French word is linked to its origin with the Greek word 'elephant.'

The pattern of these words is quite similar in that it relates their origin directly or indirectly to the Greek word 'elephas.' This Greek word also means 'ivory' which is also associated with elephant teeth. Finally, we can assume that the Mumakil were the ancestors of modern-day elephants. In Gondor, the name of this animal was Oliphaunt, which means a mumak. Mumak is a singular word, and the Mumakil is the plural form. Most of the Mumakil were in more than one everywhere. But hobbits called them only by the name Oliphaunt. The Mumakil were considered very important for any battle, and they received great respect from the kings and from Sauron in particular. Their popularity showed from various songs mentioning them with great respect. Boromir composed a song 'Horn of Gondor' in the Lord of the Rings film and the horns of Buckland.

Hobbit Samwise Gamgee composed the poem Oliphaunt which is also relevant to Mumakil. The poem mentioned Mumakil comparing him with other objects. The overall meaning of the poem goes like this. The elephants are of grey color like rats, but the size is enormous, just like a house. They have a long tusk-like snake. Their weight is massive, which makes the ground shake when they walk. When they walk through the forests, grass and trees give them passage without any restriction. They have long years to live and keep walking from one direction to others while flapping their long ears. They are the biggest and tallest animals on earth. The writer wishes to be like an elephant who lives a longer life.

Peter Jackson depicted Mumakil size about eleven to twelve meters high with four to six tusks. The big size is suitable for tying war ropes. Haradrim uses materials like bamboo and canvas for making these ropes. They made a large body structure for showing Mumakil. When the Mumakil is demonstrated with these strings as the dead body lying on the ground, those ropes are the most significant ropes shown in the movie.

The developers made a video game and named it the Return of the King Video game. [1] In the game, the player should kill at least two mumakil at a time. The player will have to shoot with the ranged guns. On the contrary, in another video game, LEGO Dimensions, the player has to kill multiple oliphants in a single attempt. Mordor has the responsibility of training the Mumakil, and the units carrying them have the most significant responsibility. Their units can withstand any surprise attack or a planned ambush by the enemy.

However, they are vulnerable to the attacks of experienced archers and spears. The king needs to protect their body by suitable metal armored plates and eyes with an eye-protector. Mumakil proved their war skills and might in the famous battles of Middle-earth I & II.

• Game Rome: This game is not related to the Lord of the Rings. The main character Oliphaunt makes a group of Yubtseb (elephants). The other elephant variety is similar to Mumakil, and they are functioning as the Best Buy.
• Conquest in the Lord of the Rings: [2] The killing of three Oliphaunts is compulsory to get to the defense zone in the Conquest game.
• Another Game Rome - The name of the game is – total War the Lord of the Rings. In this game, the Mumakil are acting as the soldiers of the army of Harad. They have the protection guards as the other junior Mumakil. These Mumakil also provide security to the General.
• The Third Age - The Lord of the Rings: [3] In Pelennor fields Good mode, the Mumakil are enemies. On the contrary, in Evil Mode, you can play Mumakil.

1. ^The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King™.
2. ^The Lord of The Rings: Conquest™.
3. ^The Lord of the Rings, The Third Age™.