Black Gate

The Black Gate, called the Morannon in the Elvish tongue, was the great fortified entrance to Mordor across its north-western corner. It barred the pass between the converging mountain ranges of the Ered Lithui (the Ash Mountains) and the Ephel Dúath (the Mountains of Shadow), sealing the only broad approach into the land of Sauron from the north and west.

Description

The Black Gate was a wall of iron and stone set across the narrow gap, with two towers of the Teeth of Mordor, Narchost and Carchost, flanking it. These towers had been built long before by Gondor to keep watch on Mordor after the overthrow of Sauron in the Second Age, but in the Third Age they were taken and held by his forces. Behind the gate lay the desolate, ash-strewn plain of Gorgoroth.

History

In the War of the Ring, the Black Gate was the scene of the climactic battle of the West. After the victory at the Pelennor Fields, Aragorn led the armies of Gondor and Rohan to the Morannon as a feint, drawing out Sauron's strength and his Eye to give Frodo and Samwise the chance to reach Mount Doom unseen.

The Captains of the West parleyed before the gate with the Mouth of Sauron, then gave battle against an overwhelming host. At the moment of greatest peril the One Ring was destroyed in the Cracks of Doom; Sauron's power failed, and the Black Gate and the Towers of the Teeth crumbled into ruin.