Places in Middle-earth
Minas Morgul
Type: Cities, Towns, Settlements
Region: Mordor/Allies
Meaning: Tower of Sorcery
Other Names
The Dead City
Prior to being taken by the Nazgûl, it was called Minas Ithil, 'Tower of the Moon.'
Location: On the western slope of the Ephel Dúath. It lies on the Morgul-road, not far from the Cross-roads.
Description: "Upon the further side, some way within the valley's arms high on a rocky seat upon the black knees of the Ephel Dúath, stood the walls and tower of Minas Morgul. All was dark about it, earth and sky, but it was lit with light. Not the imprisoned moonlight welling through the marble walls of Minas Ithil long ago, Tower of the Moon, fair and radiant in the hollow of the hills. Paler indeed than the moon ailing in some slow eclipse was the light of it now, wavering and blowing like a noisome exhalation of decay, a corpse-light, a light that illuminated nothing. In the walls and tower windows showed, like countless black holes looking inward into emptiness; but the topmost course of the tower revolved slowly, first one way and then another, a huge ghostly head leering into the night."
"So they came slowly to the white bridge. Here the road, gleaming faintly, passed over the stream in the midst of the valley, and went on, winding deviously up towards the city's gate: a black mouth opening in the outer circle of the northward walls. Wide flats lay on either bank, shadowy meads filled with pale white flowers. Luminous these were too, beautiful and yet horrible of shape, like the demented forms in an uneasy dream; and they gave forth a faint sickening charnel-smell; an odour of rottenness filled the air. From mead to mead the bridge sprang. Figures stood there at its head, carven with cunning in forms human and bestial, but all corrupt and loathsome. The water flowing beneath was silent, and it steamed, but the vapour that rose from it, curling and twisting about the bridge, was deadly cold."
-TTT, Book IV, Ch 8 The Stairs of Cirith Ungol
"…they took Minas Ithil and dwelt there, and they filled it, and all the valley about, with decay: it seemed empty and was not so, for a shapeless fear lived within the ruined walls. Nine Lords there were, and after the return of their Master, which they aided and prepared in secret, they grew strong again. … It is a place of sleepless malice, full of lidless eyes."
-TTT, Book IV, Ch 6 The Forbidden Pool
Contributors: Lyllyn 6.6.04; added Dead City: Elena Tiriel 7Oct04