S. Cirith Ungol loc. “Cleft of the Spider”

S. Cirith Ungol, loc. “Cleft of the Spider”

The pass near Minas Morgul where Shelob laired (LotR/644). In Tolkien’s Nomenclature of the Lord of the Rings, he translated the name as “Cleft of the Spider”, a combination of cirith “cleft” and ungol “spider” (RC/767).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name first appeared as N. Kirith Ungol, translated “Spider Glen” (TI/330, WR/104).

References ✧ LotRI/Cirith Ungol; PMI/Kirith Ungol; RC/767; RSI/Cirith Ungol; TII/Cirith Ungol; UTI/Cirith Ungol

Glosses

Variations

Elements

cirith “cleft, ravine, defile” ✧ RC/767
ungol “spider” ✧ RC/767

N. Kirith Ungol loc. “Spider Glen”

See S. Cirith Ungol for discussion.

References ✧ SDI1/Kirith Ungol; SDI2/Kirith Ungol; TI/330; TII/Kirith Ungol; WR/104; WRI/Kirith Ungol

Glosses

Elements

cirith “cleft, pass”
ungol “spider”