cirith ungol

place name. 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).

Variations

• Kirith Ungol ✧ PMI/Kirith Ungol

kirith ungol

place name. Spider Glen

Elements

Word	Gloss
cirith	“cleft, pass”
ungol	“spider”