Cirith Ungol

The pass sits in the Mountains of Shadow just north of Minas Morgul, high above the valley floor. From the white bridge a road climbs to the Straight Stair and then the Winding Stair, both narrow and exposed, before reaching a tunnel that bores through the ridge. Beyond it the cleft opens on the far side within sight of the Tower of Cirith Ungol and the plain of Gorgoroth.

The tunnel is Torech Ungol, where Shelob had lived since before Sauron came to Mordor. She was the last great child of Ungoliant in the west, and Sauron tolerated her as a guard on the pass, feeding her orcs and prisoners. The garrison below called the tunnel the back way and used it as little as they could, and Sauron kept no close watch on the stairs because he trusted her to deal with whatever climbed them.

Gollum brought the hobbits this way deliberately, knowing what waited. Sam drove Shelob off with the Phial of Galadriel and Sting after she stung Frodo, and Frodo was carried away by orcs from the two garrisons who had seen the light. Sam carried the Ring for the better part of a day before he found Frodo alive, and the pass was the route by which it finally entered Mordor unseen.

Events at this place

1. TA 3019, March 10 · The Lord of the Rings

   Gollum leads the hobbits to the stairs

   In March Gollum guided Frodo and Sam up the Straight Stair and Winding Stair from the Morgul road toward the tunnel.

2. TA 3019, March 12 · The Lord of the Rings

   Shelob's attack

   Shelob stung Frodo in Torech Ungol. Sam wounded her with Sting and drove her back with the light of the Phial of Galadriel.

3. TA 3019, March 13 · The Lord of the Rings

   Frodo taken prisoner

   Orcs of the tower found Frodo's body and carried him off, leaving Sam holding the Ring outside the pass.

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