Minas Morgul

'Tower of Sorcery'

topon. 'Tower of Sorcery'. >> Minas Tirith

minas morgul

place name. Tower of Sorcery

The name of Minas Ithil after it fell into the hands of Sauron, translated “Tower of Sorcery” (LotR/245). This name is a combination of minas “tower” and morgul “sorcery” (MR/350, PE17/31).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name first appeared as N. Minas Morgol “Tower of Sorcery” (TI/127), soon revised to N. Minas Morghul (TI/146) and eventually to its final form N/S. Minas Morgul (WR/230).

Cognates

• S. morgul “black arts, sorcery, necromancy” ✧ SA/gûl

Elements

Word	Gloss
minas	“tower, fort, city (with a citadel and central watch tower)”
morgul	“black arts, sorcery, necromancy”

dushgoi

place name. Minas Morgul

minas morgol

place name. Tower of Sorcery

Changes

• Minas Morghul → Minas Morgul ✧ SDI1/Minas Morgul
• Minas Morgol → Minas Morghul ✧ SDI1/Minas Morgul
• Minas-Morgol → Minas-Morghul ✧ TI/146
• Minas Morghul → Minas Morgul ✧ WR/230

Elements

Word	Gloss
minnas	“tower”
morgul	“sorcery”

Variations

• Minas Morgul ✧ SDI1/Minas Morgul; TII/Minas Morgol; WR/230; WRI/Minas Morghul
• Minas Morghul ✧ SDI1/Minas Morgul; TII/Minas Morgol; WR/230; WRI/Minas Morghul
• Minas-Morgol ✧ TI/127; TI/146
• Minas-Morghul ✧ TI/146