What does Mordor mean? What is Mordor? Barad-dur was located in the northern part of Mordor, about one league east of Orodruin

- on South. At the western border of Mordor, between the Land of Shadow and Anduin, was Ithilien, the land of Gondor, and even further west, on the other side of the river, was the great city of Minas Tirith.

The area of Mordor is approximately 175,000 square miles (~453,000 km2). From north to south it stretches for 350 miles, from west to east - 500 miles.

Mordor's border to the north was the Ash Mountains; The Shadow Mountains formed the southern and western borders. From the east, Mordor was not protected by mountains, but Rhun - the eastern lands - was its ally, so it was unlikely that the enemy could get through this way.

The main entrance to Mordor was the Black Gate - a huge iron barrier that blocked the passage of Cirith Gorgor in the northeast of the country, where the Ash Mountains met the Mountains of Shadow. The Black Gate was carefully guarded, and Fang Towers were located on the sides of the Gate.

Beyond the Black Gate was the Udun Valley, surrounded by mountain ranges. In Udun there were warehouses with ammunition, and troops were also stationed to defend Mordor. There were forts and fortresses located around Udun, among which was a huge castle called Durthang. On the other side of Udun, opposite the Black Gate, was Eisenmut, a narrow gorge leading to the Gorgoroth plateau. Eisenmuth was surrounded by a palisade, a rampart and a trench, which could only be crossed by a single bridge.

There was another passage to Mordor, 90 miles south of the Black Gate. From the Morgul Valley in the Mountains of Shadow a road was built through the Morgul Pass. The Morgul road was guarded by the troops of Minas Morgul, a fortress commanded by the Lord Nazgul.

In the Morgul Valley there was another, less well-known passage to Mordor - the Straight Staircase and the Spiral Staircase led to a submountain tunnel where the spider Shelob settled. On the other side of Shelob's Lair was the Tower of Cirith Ungol, built to guard the Pass of Cirith Ungol. Then the road went down and connected with the Morgul road.

On the inner side of the Shadow Mountains, between the Morgul Road and the Black Gate, there was mountain range Morgai, which was at least 1,500 feet high. Several streams of bitter water flowed from Morgai. Some plants have managed to adapt to such conditions: twisted trees, tough grass and thickets of thorns. Black flies with red spots also lived there.

Mordor was crossed by several roads used by the servants of Sauron. In the northwest, roads connected the Black Gate, Barad-dur, Mount Doom and Morgul Pass. Sauron's road led from Barad-dur to Mount Doom. Along the roads along Gorgoroth there were water tanks for the needs of passing troops. It is likely that similar roads existed in the south of Mordor.

The northwestern part of Mordor was predominantly an industrial area, containing mines and forges, while the more fertile region of Nurn was used for farming. Four rivers flowed in that area, flowing into Lake Nurnen, an inland sea located in the southeast of the country. Slaves worked in the fields to provide food for Sauron's troops.

In addition to the Men-slaves, evil Men also served Sauron, such as the Mouth of Sauron, who lived in Barad-dur. The main population of Mordor were Orcs. Many Orcs lived in camps near Morgai and in forts around the Udun Valley. Trolls lived in Mordor, as well as a special type of them, bred by Sauron, called the Olog-hai. Sauron also created a breed of terrible Dread Beasts. The Nazgul used these winged creatures instead of horses.

Story

Barad-dur was almost completely destroyed, and Sauron's troops were defeated and scattered. At the beginning of the Third Age, Mordor was under surveillance. Minas Ithil was reclaimed and new fortresses were built: the Tower of Cirith Ungol and the Fang Towers. But many years later, the guards weakened, and after the Great Plague that devastated Gondor in 1636, all guard points were empty.

In 1980, the Nazgul, led by the Witch-King, returned to Mordor. They prepared the return of Sauron. In 2000, the Nazgul besieged Minas Ithil and captured it in 2002, making it their fortress. It was renamed Minas Morgul, the Fortress of the Dark Forces. Also, the Stone of Ithil came into the possession of the Nazgul, and later of Sauron.

In 2475, a new breed of orcs, the Uruks, emerged from Mordor for the first time. They marched across Ithilien and captured Osgiliath, a city on the River Anduin. Ithilien was retaken by Gondor, but Osgiliath lay in ruins. In 2901, attacks resumed and most of the Gondorians left Ithilien.

In 2941, Sauron was expelled from Dol Guldur and returned to Mordor the following year. In 2951, he openly declared himself and began to restore Barad-dur. In 2954, Mount Doom erupted. Sauron gathered armies of Orcs and Men from all over the east and south. He bred a new breed of Trolls, the Olog-Hai, who were not afraid of sunlight. To regain all his power, Sauron needed only the One Ring.

Frodo and Sam followed Gollum along the Straight and Spiral Stairs. In the end, he led them into a cave and left them in the dark. The cave was the lair of the spider Shelob. She attacked the Hobbits, stung Frodo in the neck and paralyzed him.

Frodo was found by two orcs named Shagrat and Gorbag, and he was taken to the Tower of Cirith Ungol. The Orcs carried out a massacre over Frodo's mithril mail, and almost everyone died. Sam managed to free Frodo, but Shagrat escaped, taking with him the mithril mail and other Hobbits' belongings, and took them to Barad-dur.

On March 15, Sauron's forces were defeated at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields by the combined forces of Gondor and Rohan, but Sauron still had a huge army at his disposal in Mordor. The commanders of the West decided to march on Mordor in order to draw back Sauron's forces and give Frodo time to complete his mission.

The hobbits walked along the rocks of Morgai because Frodo believed that the servants of Sauron would hunt them in the lands to the east. When they reached a place where Mount Doom was about 40 miles to the east, the Hobbits were on a cliff 1500 feet high. They could not go down, because Sauron's troops were passing through Gorgoroth to the Black Gate.

The hobbits walked further north and then followed the road leading east. They were spotted by a squad of Orcs, and they were mistaken for Orc fugitives, as they were dressed in Orc armor. For a long time, the Hobbits walked with the detachment, but later, in the confusion, they managed to escape.

Sauron gathered most of his troops in Udun, awaiting the arrival of the army of the West. Gorgoroth was devastated, and Frodo and Sam were able to walk along the road almost all the time. On March 24 they reached the foot of the mountain.

On the same day, the army of the West reached the Black Gate. The next day, March 25, Sauron sent his ambassador, nicknamed the Mouth of Sauron, to show him the mithril mail. He stated that he was holding the chain mail of Sauron's prisoner in his hands, and that the prisoner would be tortured mercilessly until the armies of the West surrendered. Gandalf rejected the terms and the Battle of Morannon began.

At Mount Doom, where the One Ring was forged, Frodo's burden became too heavy to bear. Sam carried the owner closer to the mountain, but Gollum attacked them. Frodo and Gollum grappled for the Ring at the edge of the Doom Cleft; Gollum slipped and fell into the fiery abyss along with the Ring.

When the One Ring was destroyed, Sauron was finally defeated and most of Mordor was reduced to ruins. Barad-dur collapsed, the Fang Towers and the Black Gate collapsed. The earth shook and broke. Mount Doom erupted, and flows of lava and ash covered the ground of the Gorgoroth Plain. The Nazgul died in the fire, and Sauron's troops scattered in panic or surrendered. Frodo and Sam were rescued: they were picked up by the Great Eagles Gwaihir, Landroval and Meneldor.

The lands of Nurn in southern Mordor appear to have escaped the major destruction that befell the rest of the dark land. Aragorn, King Elessar, freed the slaves of Mordor and gave them the use of the lands around Lake Nurnen.

Mordor Map

Important dates

Second Age:

OK. 1000 – Sauron settles in Mordor and begins building Barad-dur.

OK. 1200 - Sauron goes to Eregion, deceives himself into the trust of the Elves and reveals to them the secrets of mastery.

OK. 1500 - The Elves, under the leadership of Sauron, create the Rings of Power. Sauron returns to Mordor.

OK. 1600 – Sauron creates the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. The elves realize that they have been deceived.

1693 – Sauron prepares troops and declares war on the Elves.

1695 – Sauron invades Eriador.

1701 – Sauron returns to Mordor after defeat by the Elves and Numenoreans.

OK. 1800 - Sauron expands his possessions in the east.

OK. 2251 – first appearance of the Nazgul.

3262 – Ar-Pharazôn attacks Mordor with a large army and demands that Sauron surrender. Sauron was taken as a prisoner to Númenor.

3319 – Númenor is flooded. Sauron's body is destroyed, but his spirit hides in Middle-earth.

3320 – Sauron returns to Mordor. Elendil and his sons found the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor. The fortress of Minas Ithil was built to protect against Mordor.

3429 – Mount Doom erupts. Sauron attacks Gondor and captures Minas Ithil. Anarion drives Sauron's forces back to Mordor.

3430 – The Last Alliance of Men and Elves was concluded.

3434 – Sauron's troops are defeated at the Battle of Dagorlad. The siege of Barad-dur begins.

3441 – Sauron emerges from Barad-dur and fights Gil-galad and Elendil. The Dark Lord is defeated, and Isildur cuts the One Ring from his hand. The spirit of Sauron lurks in the East.

Third era:

2 – Isildur is killed by orcs at Gladden Hollow. The One Ring is lost in the waters of Anduin.

OK. 1050 – Sauron founds the fortress of Dol Guldur in Greenwood.

1636 - The Great Plague devastates Gondor. Surveillance of Mordor ceases.

1856 - Eight Nazgul returned to Mordor.

1980 - Lord Nazgul returns to Mordor and gathers the others to prepare the return of Sauron.

2000 – The Nazgul lay siege to Minas Ithil.

2002 - The Nazgul capture Minas Ithil, which later receives the name Minas Morgul. The palantir of Ithil is also captured, and subsequently given to Sauron.

2050 – King Earnur goes to Minas Morgul to duel with the Witch King and goes missing. In the absence of the king, Gondor is ruled by Stewards.

2475 – Gondor is attacked by the Uruks of Mordor.

2901 - The Mordorian Uruks occupy Ithilien and the inhabitants flee.

2942 – Sauron secretly returns to Mordor.

2951 – Sauron openly declares himself, begins to increase his strength and rebuild Barad-dur.

2954 – Mount Doom erupts.

OK. 3000 – A shadow spreads over Mordor.

3017 – Sauron captures Gollum, and after he names the names Shire and Baggins, he allows him to escape.

June 20 – Sauron sends the Nazgul to attack Osgiliath.

March 5 - The hobbits reach the Black Gate and realize that they cannot pass this way. Frodo follows Gollum along a secret path to Mordor.

March 9 – The hobbits reach the Morgul Road.

March 10 – Day without Dawn. An army from Morannon captures Cair Andros and advances into Anórien. Sauron signals the Lord of the Nazgul to lead his troops to Minas Tirith. Gollum leads the Hobbits through the Straight and Spiral Staircases.

March 12 – Gollum leads the Hobbits to Shelob's Lair. March 13 - Orcs take the wounded Frodo to the Tower of Cirith Ungol. March 14 - Sam finds Frodo. March 15 - Frodo and Sam flee the Tower; Battle of the Pelennor Fields. March 16 - Frodo, Sam and Morgai see Mount Doom. March 17 - Shagrat takes Frodo's cloak and mithril mail and Sam's sword to Barad-dur., March 18 - Frodo and Sam, together with a detachment of Orcs, go to Udun. March 19 - Frodo and Sam escape from the party. March 22 - Frodo and Sam turn south from the road towards Mount Doom..

March 24 – The Hobbits reach the foot of the Mountain.

March 25 – The forces of the West fight the forces of Mordor at the Battle of Morannon. Frodo reaches the Doom Cleft and claims the Ring as his own. Gollum bites off the Ring along with Frodo's finger and falls into the crater. The Ring is destroyed, Sauron is finally defeated, Mordor is destroyed.
May 1 - Aragorn becomes King of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor. He frees the slaves of Mordor and gives them the use of land near Lake Nurnen.
Etymology
Mordor:

Mordor means "Black Land" from mor- “dark, black” and dor- "land, area." In the Common Language Mordor is often called Black Earth Dark Country

Boromir and Gimli curse this place in The Fellowship of the Ring, but they are still a little wrong in their assessments. Of course, Mordor is certainly not a resort, unless you're dreaming of a vacation that starts with an encounter with a giant spider and ends with your decapitation. However, the land is an interesting place and plays an important role in the history of Middle-earth. And if you want to brush up on your knowledge of the world of The Lord of the Rings in light of news about the upcoming series, we've got you covered!

Sauron ruled Mordor for 2500 years

Sauron existed almost from the very beginning of Middle-earth. He is a Maiar, one of those who served the Valar when they created the world from the songs of the creator Eru Ilúvatar. Gandalf and the Balrogs were also Maiar.

During the First Age, Sauron renounced the Valar to join Morgoth in his quest to destroy the world. But, like many henchmen of villains, Sauron fled from Morgoth when his luck changed.

Without attracting attention for 1000 years, the Dark Lord began building a tower in Mordor and began preparing to take over the world. It all ended in failure after 2441 years. Sauron had to make his legs again.

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People have lived next to Mordor for centuries and held it at bay

People built a number of fortifications that made it possible to repel the attacks of orcs and monsters who tried to make forays into Gondor from Mordor. This tactic worked well for 1,500 years. However, the Plague then broke out, devastating the population of Gondor and the garrisons holding Mordor retreated to deal with the problems in their cities.

Once the plague had passed after two centuries, the Watchers were ready to return to Mordor. However, by that time the situation had changed radically.

Shelob lived in Mordor before Sauron

Sorry, arachnophobes, but we need to talk about the giant spider in more detail. Shelob (whose name means "spider") is the last daughter of an even older monster called Ungoliant. This monster terrorized Middle-earth in the early days of its existence, helping the first Dark Lord Melkor in the implementation of his evil plans.

After the betrayal, Shelob fled to the northwest. There she suffered from terrible hunger, due to which she had to eat most of her children.

Tolkien does not explain how Shelob ended up in the mountains of Mordor. However, he reports that the spider was there even before Sauron built his tower, which stood for another 5,000 years before Sam and Frodo appeared in those parts.

Mordor may be a dry sea

The Sea of Halkar was a vast body of water that existed during the First Age of Middle-earth, which ended 6,500 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings.

In those distant times, a war broke out against the first enemy of Middle-earth. An alliance of men, elves, dwarves and Valar (mostly gods) was created to participate in the "War of Wrath" against Morgoth. The war lasted almost half a century and ended with the death of almost all Balrogs and the destruction of the three most high mountains which crashed into the sea.

The Helkar Sea has also dried up completely. Some researchers believe that Mordor and its huge mountains were once at the bottom of the Helkar Sea, but the author himself never directly said this.

Mordor is almost entirely surrounded by mountains

The main reason why Mordor is not easy to get to is that this country is surrounded by giant, dangerous mountains, which form the northern, western and southern boundaries.

Many buildings and structures in Mordor were built by people

The Tower of Cirith Ungol, Minas Ithil and the Jagged Towers of the Black Gate were fortifications that the people of Gondor built in an effort to keep the evil spirits that lived within Mordor out.

However, when people were forced to abandon their posts during the Great Plague, the fortifications were immediately occupied by the forces of darkness. The Orcs captured the Gate and Cirith Ungol, as well as Minas Ithil, renaming it the Tower of Black Magic.

The plot of the video game “Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor” and its sequel “Shadow of War” tells about the battles for the Black Gate and Minas Ithil.

The only way to get to Mordor is through a very dangerous route.

Anyone who wants to sneak into Mordor has only one option: Cirith Ungol. You can get into the country from the west this way, but you'll run into some big problems that will most likely kill you.

The main problem is Shelob, an ancient giant spider who will eat anyone who gets in his way. But even earlier you will have to meet Minas Morgul, where the Nazgul live.

Even if the scouts make it through the City of Ghosts and the Spider Hole, they will have to pass through the Fortress of Sirith Ungol - an outpost of bloodthirsty orcs.

The name Mordor means "Black Country" or "Land of Shadows"

Depending on which Elvish language we translate the name “Mordor” from, the meanings will be slightly different. From Quenya, "Mordor" can be translated as "Land of Shadows", and from Sindarin - "Black Country".

The root "mor" is found in the names "Moria" (black pit) and "Morgoth" (dark enemy). The root "dor" is present in "Gondor" (land of stone) and Dor Daedoloth - "Land of shadows of horror."

Morgoth may have created Mordor by controlling volcanoes

According to another version, Mordor was also created by Morgoth, but in a different way.

Long ago, this black armored villain was one of the creatures that created the Earth. However, Mordor became a villain because he did not agree with the leadership on the form the world should take.

Morgoth really liked volcanoes, so he created Thangorodrim - three huge volcanoes in the north, at the foot of which he built his huge fortress of Angband. It is not difficult to guess that he also created Mount Doom - the center of evil where Sauron created his ring.

The name "Mordor" may have come from Old English

The word "Mordor" in the "" universe comes from the Elvish language, but Tolkien developed the languages of the peoples of Middle-earth based on real languages, in particular Old English.

Thus, one possible source for the name "Mordor" may be the Old English word "morþor", which means "crime" or "murder".

It's good that Tolkien changed the word a little, because "Land of Murder" or "City of Crime" don't sound very good.

The idea of Mordor may have been borrowed from Viking mythology

It is not difficult to notice the strong influence of the Nordic epic on The Lord of the Rings. Enough to remember Big hall Rohan in Edora. In books and films, one can trace motifs from Beowulf, and this is no coincidence - England was subject to Viking raids for a long time and accepted their cultural influence.

Tolkien may have borrowed the idea of Mordor from Norse mythology, which refers to a state with ingrained evil within it. At the same time, the inhabitants of this state find themselves hostages of their master, without even realizing that they are serving evil.

Mordor contains three regions

If you listen to Boromir, you might think that Mordor is monotonously dull and gray, like Gandalf's robe. However, contrary to rumors, different regions of the country differ from each other.

Directly beyond the Black Gate is Gorgoroth, where the most interesting events are happening. It contains Mount Doom, Barad-dur and the forges where Sauron's legions are created.

To the southeast is Littlelad, covered with rocky debris - the result of endless eruptions. Nurn is the third and most amazing region of Mordor.

Agriculture is developed there

The ash of Mount Doom falls on Nurn, but it also contains water. The ash enriches the soil and makes it possible to grow crops and graze livestock.

Food for the army of evil is produced in Nurn, which is the green part of Mordor. The source of water in Nurn is the Nurnen Sea.

Nurn is the second location in Shadow of Mordor and if players want to take a break from slaughtering orcs, they may find that it's a pretty nice place. Of course, everything here is covered in ash, but this area has its own beauty.

In Mordor, the labor of enslaved people is used

Sauron's army is busy making weapons. For the rest of the work, the Dark Lord enslaved people who lived near Mordor.

After the defeat of Sauron, Aragorn (the new king of Gondor) gives the land of Nurn to the freed slaves.

The exact number of inhabitants of Mordor is unknown, but it is large.

When Aragorn goes to the Black Gate to distract Sauron at the end of The Return of the King, the Dark Lord has at least 60,000 warriors to intercept. 150,000 soldiers fought at the Battle of Perelennor Fields.

It is difficult to find information about the exact number of inhabitants of Mordor. However, just adding the two numbers above gives more than 200,000, and if you add all the trolls and goblins to them, you get 700,000.

FURTHER:

Mordor was defended on three sides mountain ranges, arranged roughly rectangular: Ered Litui (or Izgar Mountains) in the north, Ephel Duat (Mountains of Shadow) in the west and south. In the northwestern part of Mordor, the deep valley of Udun was the only entrance for large armies. There, at the junction of the Mountains of Shadow and the Izgar Mountains, the Black Gate of Mordor was built. The towers placed behind the Black Gate (called the Fangs of Mordor) were built by Gondor to keep evil within Mordor. In front of these gates lies the huge Dagorlad field. Sauron's main fortress, Barad-dur, was located in the foothills of Ered Lithui. To the southwest of Barad-dur lies the arid plateau of Gorgoroth, to the southeast, at salty sea Nurnen, there is another large plateau - Litlad. The passage to the narrow pass through the Mountains of Shadow was guarded by the fortress of Minas Morgul (formerly Minas Ithil). The pass is called Cirith Ungol, in honor of the fortress standing directly on the pass itself. Shelob lived there, in the tunnels, not far from the fortress of Cirith Ungol. Shelob's labyrinth was called Torek-Ungol. The southern part of Mordor was much more fertile, and wet enough to Agriculture. In this part of Mordor was the salty inland sea of Nurnen. To the west of Mordor lay a narrow strip of the land of Ithilien, beyond which lay the city of Osgiliath and the river Anduin.

The flora of Mordor is the last plants that managed to survive in this “dying, but not yet dead” country (The Lord of the Rings). Includes "stunted trees", "tufts of coarse gray grass", "shriveled mosses", "bramble thickets" and densely growing shrubs that could be found near tiny streams flowing from the mountains. Sam and Frodo took cover behind some blackberry bushes that had long, sharp thorns and hooked thorns. The bushes also had thorns, which Sam describes as being "a foot long" (30cm).

Main geographical features

Sea Nurnen

Secondary objects

Kirit Ungol Pass

The toll from the Black Plague, during the reign of King Telemnar, was so great that the fortifications guarding Mordor were abandoned as troops were needed to guard Gondor's borders. Deprived of protection, Mordor began to fill with evil again. Minas Ithil in the Morgul Valley was captured by the Nazgul, and the fortifications that were supposed to protect Gondor from the threat from Mordor were turned into a means of protecting Mordor from attack from without. By the time Sauron returned to Mordor, he was very well defended. There were large garrisons in the north during the War of the Ring, and the salty Inland Sea in the south made it possible to support slaves from the countries of the east and south who cultivated the land and supplied the army.

War of the Ring

Cultural references

Mordor is mentioned in the song Ramble On by Led Zeppelin, along with other images from Tolkien's works.
German metal band Running Wild recorded the song "Mordor" on the 1985 album Branded and Exiled. The song is written from the point of view of the Dark Forces.
In 1995, the computer game Mordor: The Depths of Dejenol was released. Despite the name, the game is not related to Tolkien's universe.
Mentioned in the track "East Mordor" by rapper Oxxxymiron.
German metal band Blind Guardian performs the song Lord of the rings, which mentions Mordor
In 2014, the computer game Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor was released, the action of which takes place in Mordor.

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Notes

Literature

McNelis J. Mordor // J. R. R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment (English)Russian/ Michael D. C. Drout (English)Russian. - Routledge, 2006. - P. 434. - 774 p. - ISBN 0-415-96942-5.



Characters "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings"

Characters "The Silmarillion"

Geography

Battles

Artifacts

Races and peoples

Excerpt describing Mordor

The two Pavlograd squadrons stood in bivouacs, among a rye field that had already been knocked out to the ground by cattle and horses. The rain was pouring down heavily, and Rostov and the young officer Ilyin, who was his patron, sat under a hastily fenced hut. An officer of their regiment, with a long mustache extending from his cheeks, was on his way to headquarters and, caught in the rain, came to Rostov.
- I, Count, am from headquarters. Have you heard of Raevsky’s feat? - And the officer told the details of the Saltanovsky battle, which he heard at headquarters.
Rostov, shaking his neck, behind which water was flowing, smoked his pipe and listened inattentively, occasionally glancing at the young officer Ilyin, who was huddling next to him. This officer, a sixteen-year-old boy who had recently joined the regiment, was now in relation to Nikolai what Nikolai was in relation to Denisov seven years ago. Ilyin tried to imitate Rostov in everything and, like a woman, was in love with him.
An officer with a double mustache, Zdrzhinsky, spoke pompously about how the Saltanov Dam was the Thermopylae of the Russians, how on this dam General Raevsky committed an act worthy of antiquity. Zdrzhinsky told the story of Raevsky, who led his two sons to the dam under terrible fire and went on the attack next to them. Rostov listened to the story and not only did not say anything to confirm Zdrzhinsky’s delight, but, on the contrary, had the appearance of a man who was ashamed of what was being told to him, although he did not intend to object. Rostov, after the Austerlitz and 1807 campaigns, knew from his own experience that when telling military incidents, people always lie, just as he himself lied when telling them; secondly, he was so experienced that he knew how everything happens in war, not at all the way we can imagine and tell. And therefore he did not like Zdrzhinsky’s story, and he did not like Zdrzhinsky himself, who, with his mustache from his cheeks, out of his habit, bent low over the face of the one to whom he was telling, and crowded him into a cramped hut. Rostov looked at him silently. “Firstly, at the dam that was attacked, there must have been such confusion and crowding that even if Raevsky brought his sons out, it could not have affected anyone except about ten people who were near him, - thought Rostov, - the rest could not see how and with whom Raevsky walked along the dam. But even those who saw this could not be very inspired, because what did they care about Raevsky’s tender parental feelings when it was about their own skin? Then, the fate of the fatherland did not depend on whether the Saltanov dam was taken or not, as they describe it to us about Thermopylae. And therefore, why was it necessary to make such a sacrifice? And then, why bother your children here, during the war? Not only would I not take Petya with my brother, I would not even take Ilyin, even this stranger to me, but a good boy, I would try to put him somewhere under protection,” Rostov continued to think, listening to Zdrzhinsky. But he did not say his thoughts: he already had experience in this. He knew that this story contributed to the glorification of our weapons, and therefore he had to pretend that he did not doubt it. That's what he did.
“However, there is no urine,” said Ilyin, who noticed that Rostov did not like Zdrzhinsky’s conversation. - And the stockings, and the shirt, and it leaked under me. I'll go look for shelter. The rain seems to be lighter. – Ilyin came out, and Zdrzhinsky left.
Five minutes later, Ilyin, splashing through the mud, ran to the hut.
- Hooray! Rostov, let's go quickly. Found! There’s a tavern about two hundred paces away, and our guys got there. At least we’ll dry off, and Marya Genrikhovna will be there.
Marya Genrikhovna was the wife of the regimental doctor, a young, pretty German woman, whom the doctor married in Poland. The doctor, either because he did not have the means, or because he did not want to be separated from his young wife at first during his marriage, took her everywhere with him in the hussar regiment, and the doctor’s jealousy became a common subject of jokes between the hussar officers.
Rostov threw on his cloak, called Lavrushka with his things behind him and walked with Ilyin, sometimes rolling through the mud, sometimes splashing in the subsiding rain, in the darkness of the evening, occasionally broken by distant lightning.
- Rostov, where are you?
- Here. What lightning! - they were talking.

In the abandoned tavern, in front of which stood the doctor’s tent, there were already about five officers. Marya Genrikhovna, a plump, fair-haired German woman in a blouse and nightcap, was sitting in the front corner on a wide bench. Her husband, a doctor, was sleeping behind her. Rostov and Ilyin, greeted with cheerful exclamations and laughter, entered the room.
- AND! “What fun you are having,” Rostov said, laughing.
- Why are you yawning?
- Good! That's how it flows from them! Don't wet our living room.
“You can’t dirty Marya Genrikhovna’s dress,” the voices answered.
Rostov and Ilyin hurried to find a corner where they could change their wet dress without disturbing Marya Genrikhovna’s modesty. They went behind the partition to change clothes; but in a small closet, filling it completely, with one candle on an empty box, three officers were sitting, playing cards, and did not want to give up their place for anything. Marya Genrikhovna gave up her skirt for a while to use it instead of a curtain, and behind this curtain Rostov and Ilyin, with the help of Lavrushka, who brought packs, took off the wet dress and put on a dry dress.
A fire was lit in the broken stove. They took out a board and, having supported it on two saddles, covered it with a blanket, took out a samovar, a cellar and half a bottle of rum, and, asking Marya Genrikhovna to be the hostess, everyone crowded around her. Some offered her a clean handkerchief to wipe her lovely hands, some put a Hungarian coat under her feet so that it wouldn’t be damp, some curtained the window with a cloak so that it wouldn’t blow, some brushed the flies off her husband’s face so he wouldn’t wake up.
“Leave him alone,” said Marya Genrikhovna, smiling timidly and happily, “he’s already sleeping well after a sleepless night.”
“You can’t, Marya Genrikhovna,” the officer answered, “you have to serve the doctor.” That’s it, maybe he’ll feel sorry for me when he starts cutting my leg or arm.
There were only three glasses; the water was so dirty that it was impossible to decide whether the tea was strong or weak, and in the samovar there was only enough water for six glasses, but it was all the more pleasant, in turn and by seniority, to receive your glass from Marya Genrikhovna’s plump hands with short, not entirely clean, nails . All the officers seemed to really be in love with Marya Genrikhovna that evening. Even those officers who were playing cards behind the partition soon abandoned the game and moved on to the samovar, obeying the general mood of courting Marya Genrikhovna. Marya Genrikhovna, seeing herself surrounded by such brilliant and courteous youth, beamed with happiness, no matter how hard she tried to hide it and no matter how obviously shy she was at every sleepy movement of her husband, who was sleeping behind her.
There was only one spoon, there was more sugar, but there was no time to stir it, and therefore it was decided that she would stir the sugar for everyone in turn. Rostov, having received his glass and poured rum into it, asked Marya Genrikhovna to stir it.
- But you don’t have sugar? - she said, all smiling, as if everything that she said, and everything that others said, was very funny and had another meaning.
- Yes, I don’t need sugar, I just want you to stir it with your pen.
Marya Genrikhovna agreed and began to look for a spoon, which someone had already grabbed.
“You finger, Marya Genrikhovna,” said Rostov, “it will be even more pleasant.”
- It's hot! - said Marya Genrikhovna, blushing with pleasure.

A few years ago, the epic film trilogy “The Lord of the Rings” was completed, in which, among other things, there was a creepy place called Mordor. What does Mordor mean?? Read a few more sensible articles, for example, how to decipher the abbreviation EGRP, what does De Jure mean, what is GRU? This is the one mysterious land, where two young people went hobbit Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee, in order to throw the ring of omnipotence into the mouth of the volcano. According to legend, this very strong product can be destroyed there.
However, the whole “salt” of the word Mordor is that our beloved oppositionists began to compare Russia with this place full of evil, despondency and despair.

However, the theory that Mordor is USSR, has no basis or evidence. For example, Valinor, which all the “oppas” unanimously compare to the country of “freedom,” cannot be one by definition. After all, by the time the events described in the book began, for the participants in the events Valinor was outside the existing universe, essentially being a kind of afterlife.
Perhaps for some of the liberal rabble living in Russia, the USA may be some kind of sacred place, unattainable and mysterious, but certainly Tolkien cannot be classified as such, because he quite often visited the country of homosexuals, lesbians and “universal” values. However, at that time the United States was still conservative country, and the infection of liberalism was just beginning to spread through its veins and arteries, which subsequently led to what home-grown “Pindosophiles” admire.

Mordor is a fictional country that is known for the fact that liberals and crests draw analogies between it and Russia in the most negative light

Nick Perumov, a famous writer, once saw in the banners of one of the tribes that swore allegiance to Mordor a hint of the Soviet Union, since they were red. However, it is logical to assume that this color is Tolkien was associated with blood, and in general, the USSR did not have a monopoly on the color red. For example, the National Socialist Party of the Third Reich had red banners. Besides, our thick-headed liberals are probably unaware that red is the official color of the US Republican Party. Most likely, such details are unknown to the majority of true-believing “liberals”, because they are stupid, poorly educated, and ignorant.

And one more touch that dots all the i's. The fact is that Tolkien they constantly asked this question about the connection between the USSR and Mordor, and at first he simply denied it, but over several years such comparisons began to infuriate him so much that he 1966 year, the author in the preface to the edition of The Lord of the Rings, he wrote in detail and directly. According to him, in the war for the One Ring, there is and never has been a reference to the Second World War, but Mordor is not the USSR!!!

Mordor, the country of Shadow and Darkness, where Sauron, the second Dark Lord of Middle-earth, lives, attracts the forces of evil and creatures of darkness. Many monsters live here - caragors, graugs, ungols and other, even more terrible monsters that neither the Uruks nor their Dark Lord could tame.

The burning heart of Mordor is now the great volcano Orodruin, which has been sleeping for several thousand years. Barad-Dur, the dilapidated fortress of Sauron, is hidden from view by a magical cloak of darkness.

The Uruks captured all of Mordor from the Black Gate to Nurn and hundreds of miles south. The local population has little hope of salvation.

Morannon

The Black Gate of Mordor is a formidable defensive structure stretching from Ered Lithui (the Ash Mountains) to the Ephel Duath (the Twilight Mountains). The Gates have long protected Mordor from invading forces of Gondor - and vice versa.

The stone walls of Morannon are impregnable. Such a majestic structure was erected by the servants of Sauron, the Dark Lord, with the help of the One Ring, and this was back in the Second Age.

Later, after Sauron's defeat at the Battle of Dagorlad, Gondorian prisoners of war lined both sides great wall Fang Towers - Narhost and Karhost. The rangers of Gondor guarded the gates for more than two thousand years, but after the Black Blight their numbers were significantly reduced.

Fort Morne

Fort Morne - main shopping mall southern Mordor, where the roads from Thaurband in the west, Norgoth in the north and Eastwatch meet on the Khand road. The slaves needed for war machine Sauron, and provisions for the ever-increasing armies of Mordor.

Fishermen's settlement

The Uruks captured a fishing settlement on the Nurnen Sea, wanting to provide their army with additional provisions. True, unlike local residents, they don’t quite understand what this might lead to. Although they also heard about the Deep Guardian - a ferocious sea demon who will not tolerate anyone invading his domain and desecrating it.

When the time comes, the Guardian will emerge, churning the waters with huge tentacles and tearing with razor-sharp teeth those who defile the Sea of Nurnen. He destroyed this fishing settlement more than once.

Ered-Glamhot

Ered-Glamhot (translated as "mountains of the evil horde") -creepy place, even the evil inhabitants of Mordor are afraid of him. Even the Uruks and children of Shelob avoid appearing in the gorges of these mountains.

It was here that the Tower of Sauron built his fortress, and the screams and *¦ groans of the living and the dead are heard throughout the surrounding area.

Sea Nurnen

Locals believe that Nurnen, the inland sea of Mordor, is haunted. Water from Nurnen irrigates the local crops, but since the Dark Lord returned, it has become bitter and undrinkable.

Strange monsters with beaks are caught in the nets of fishermen, and sailors who sailed the sea before Nurn was captured by the Uruks say that in Nurnen there is a monster with many tentacles. It is rumored to be so strong that it can overturn and sink huge barges on which the Uruks transport slaves.

Taurband, a fortified city on the banks of Nurnen, became a base for slave traders. The Uruks take prisoners there before sending them to various parts of Mordor and even beyond.

Nurn

Foreigners often consider Mordor a dead land, but this is not so. His South part, Nurn, is fertile enough to feed the Dark Lord's hordes; its soils are fertilized with the ashes of Orodruin, and its pastures are nourished by the waters of the Nurnen Sea.

Nurn is home to a variety of Mordorian beasts, including graugs, caragors, ghouls, hellhawks, and many other monsters. Once upon a time there lived a people ruled by Lady Marwen, Queen of the Coast.

Now the Uruks rule Nurn, but the surviving people have not accepted defeat and continue to resist the invaders.

Durthang

Durthang is a Gondorian fortress built in Udun after the Last Alliance defeated Sauron. She guards Karakh-Angren and the lands beyond it. The rangers who make up its garrison have been patrolling Udun for more than a thousand years, but their numbers were greatly reduced under the onslaught of the eastern tribes and after the deadly Black Pestilence.

As a result, there was no one to guard the fortress, and in the Third Age of Middle-earth (1640) people abandoned it. After the return of Sauron, the Uruks occupied the fortress.

Barad Nurn

The fortress of Barad Nurn was built by the Gondorians immediately after the defeat of Sauron at the end of the Second Age. Its purpose was to monitor the Nurnen Sea and deter enemy fleets coming up the Gurtrant River from the south.

The fortress was abandoned during the Black Plague that came from the east in 1636 of the Third Age, when soldiers brought the plague to Osgiliath. The garrison never returned, and the fortress was occupied by the corsairs of Umbar, who renamed it the Mouth of Hope. It soon turned into a base for pirate raids on Ithilien and Khand.

Over time, the descendants of the corsairs settled on the fertile lands of Nurn and became ordinary fishermen and farmers.

Burial grounds

The Uruks say that fear is unknown to them, but they avoid the Boneyards. They believe that the vengeful dead live there, the spirits of men and elves who died in the battle of Dagorlad. And they are not so far from the truth.

Since Uruks do not appear in the caves, the Burial Grounds became an ideal refuge for the Udun outcasts, led by Hirgon. Secret passages from there they lead into a vast network of caves that extends beyond Mordor, to the other side of the Black Gate. It is along this route that the outcasts hope to reach Minas Tirith.

Barad-Silme

Almost nothing is known about these mysterious ruins - except for fragmentary visions of the ghost that possessed the doomed ranger Talion. He knows these towers well.

The eternal enemy of all things - time - has hidden their purpose from us, the names of their builders have been erased from memory. Until their origins are clarified, we can only call these destroyed monoliths Barad-Silme - Towers of Starlight. They are the invisible shadows of the ancient bloody history of Mordor and the memory of the long-lost country of the elves, Eregion.

black road

Black road - Main way Mordor - runs from the Black Gate through the valley of Udun, crosses the plains of Gorgoroth and ends at the magical veil protecting the fortress of Barad-dur.

The road was built in the Second Age, and was mainly used by the advancing (or retreating) armies of Middle-earth. Now it is once again ruled by orcs, and the enslaved inhabitants of Udun are expanding it, which should serve as a bad omen for all other inhabitants of Middle-earth.

Uruchy log

Before the return of Sauron, there was a market town in Uruchy Log, which the outcasts nicknamed “Shops”. It has now become a slave camp where Sauron's army rounds up prisoners before distributing them to forced labor sites throughout Mordor.

It is not easy to survive in Uruchy Log, and all those who die from hunger, disease or beatings become meat for the Uruks or go to feed the Mordorian rats who live in the same cages as the slaves.

But, despite all the hardships and hardships, the captives do not lose hope: among the slaves there are rumors about a ghost who brings retribution and terrifies the overseers, and helps the outcasts escape from Mordor, which has turned into hell.

Gorthaur

One look at Gorthaur is enough to strike fear into the soul of any person. This monument not only demonstrates the power of the Dark Lord, but clearly declares his presence and intentions.

Huge, carved from stone, Sauron in magnificent armor holds in his hand the chains with which the kings of men are bound.

Gorthaur is a symbol of power and contempt for people; it was built by the will of Sauron - and it also returned power to him after the defeat he suffered in the war against Gil-galad and Elendil. Gorthaur seems to command: look at me and tremble.

Karakh-Angren

The “iron jaws” of Karah-Angren are formed by the spurs of Ered-Litui (Ash Mountains) and Ephel-Duat (Twilight Mountains). This single pass between the Udun Valley in the north and the Gorgoroth Plateau in the south was heavily fortified, and the Black Road running through it was greatly expanded to accommodate the armies of the Dark Lord.

Under the supervision of the Uruks, slaves built Gorthaur in Kara Angren - a formidable, majestic monument of stone and steel in honor of Sauron. It both glorifies the Dark Lord's past and is a symbol of his inevitable victory over the kingdoms of men.

Barad-Dur

Barad-dûr (the Black Tower) has been in ruins since the forces of Gondor defeated the army of Sauron at the end of the Second Age.

However, as long as Sauron lives, Barad-dur cannot be completely destroyed. It was here that Sauron settled after returning to Mordor. Now, hiding behind a magical curtain, he began to restore his tower and prepare for great war Rings.

Orodruin

Orodruin (more commonly called "Mount Doom") is the greatest volcano in Middle-earth, the fiery heart of Mordor. It was here, in Sammath Naur - the Lair of Fire - that Sauron forged the One Ring in the flames of Orodruin to rule all of Middle-earth. Here - and only here - the Ring can be destroyed.

This volcano has been dormant since the Ring was cut from the hand of Sauron on its slope. When the power and fury of the Dark Lord is achieved highest point, Mount Doom will spit out flames again.

Udun

Udun Valley - harsh region; it is mainly a staging post for armies leaving or seeking to attack Mordor. Once home to fugitives from Gondor, the valley is now under the control of the Uruks.

In the north, the border of Udun is the Black Gate, and in the south - the Iron Jaws of Karakh-Angren. It is guarded by the Durthang fortress, where a garrison has again appeared; it is crossed by the imposing Black Road, which leads to the ruins of the fortress of Barad-Dur, where the Dark Lord took refuge after his defeat at Dol Guldur.

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