The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Location
Behind the Window of the Eye, at the top of the Barad-dûr
Race
Division
Settlements
Pronunciation
Mordor is pronounced 'morr'dorr' (all the 'r's should be pronounced - 'rr' is used here to emphasise this)
Meaning
Other names

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About this entry:

  • Updated 15 May 2021
  • This entry is complete

Eye of Mordor

The piercing sight of Sauron

From his high place in Barad-dûr, Sauron looked out across the lands of Middle-earth through the Window of the Eye. His power of vision was very great, and he could watch events unfolding hundreds of miles from his Dark Tower. He was not all-seeing, though: he could only study one thing at a time, and the sight of his Eye could be distracted, or blinded by shadow. It was through these failings that the Wise were able to send Sauron's Ring into the heart of his own Dark Land.

The powers of the Eye of Mordor seem very similar to those of the palantíri, the Seeing-stones, and it is perhaps no coincidence that Sauron held one of these under his control. There are other indications of a connection between the two. For example, when Aragorn used a palantír to reveal himself to Sauron, '...the Eye turned inward, pondering tidings of doubt and danger: a bright sword, and a stern and kingly face it saw...' (The Return of the King VI 2, The Land of Shadow). So, it is clear that the power of the Eye was somehow connected to the Ithil-stone in Sauron's power, but whether the Stone granted him the power of the Eye, or merely enhanced his own natural powers, is open to question.


See also...

Eye of Barad-dûr

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 15 May 2021
  • This entry is complete

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