Plateau of Gorgoroth
Gorgoroth was a high desolate plain in north-western Mordor enclosed by the Morgai and the Ephel Dúath in the west, the Ephel Dúath and the Ered Lithui in the north, by a mountain arm that branched off from the Ephel Dúath in the south and by a mountain arm that branched off from the Ered Lithui in the south-east.
The only known passages into the plateau through these mountain walls were the Isenmouthe (from the valley of Udûn in the south of the Morannon), the rift in the Morgai in the east of the Pass of Cirith Ungol and the east of the Morgul Pass and the gap between the mountain arm that branched off from the Ephel Dúath to the east and the mountain spur that branched off from the Ered Litui to the south-west.
In this dreary wasteland fumes issued from fissures in the ground and smoke curled and settled in hollows. Centred in the desolation some forty miles east of the Ephel Duath rose Mount Doom. It and Barad-dûr, situated on a mountain spur of the Ered Lithui, dominated the landscape of the plateau.
History
c. Second Age 1000 Sauron selected Mordor as his stronghold and began building Barad-dûr above the plateau of Gorgoroth.
In Second Age 3434 the host of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men entered Gorgoroth and began their siege of Sauron's fortress, during which Anárion was slain in Second Age 3440). After seven years the siege ended when Sauron was defeated and his Ring was taken.
Sauron returned to Mordor in Third Age 2951 and began rebuilding Barad-dûr, which had been torn down after his defeat in the Second Age.
When Frodo and Sam first looked upon Gorgoroth on 16 March Third Age 3019, they saw innumerable camps of Men made of huts and drab buildings, connected by a network of roads. In this region were Sauron's mines and forges for equipping his vast armies.
On 19 March Third Age 3019, after escaping the Orcs at the Isenmouthe, the hobbits travelled on the road to Barad-dûr along the northern edge of Gorgoroth. Three days later they left the road and headed south across the plateau to Mount Doom, reaching it on 24 March.
Etymology
Gorgoroth is a Sindarin name, which is translated as "valley of terror" or more literally "(land of) deadly fear". It is a combination of gor ("horror", "dread", "fear") and goroth ("horror", "dread", "fear").
Portrayal in adaptations
2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:
Frodo and Sam traverses across the plateau on their way to Mount Doom. In one scene the 'literal eye of Sauron' spots the two hobbits, until he is distracted by Aragorn and his host at the Black Gate.
2017: The Lord of the Rings Online:
The Mordor expansion added the Plateau of Gorgoroth as a region divided into five distinct areas: Udûn where the massive forge-works of the enemy are located, the plain of Dor Amarth between Ered Lithui and Mount Doom, the valley of Lhingris between Ephel Dúath and Morgai, Talath Urui to the south of Orodruin where a lake of molten lava now spews and Agarnaith, a swamp-infested area to the east of Mount Doom and to the south of Barad-dûr.
2017: Middle-earth: Shadow of War:
Gorgoroth is a region the player character can visit.
2022: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power:
1 September: A Shadow of the Past:
During the late Second Age, the Plateau of Gorgoroth in the Southlands was inhabited by Men who called themselves Southlanders. These Men had built countless settlements. Some of which were villages such as Tirharad, Hordern, and Iorbad, while others were outposts such as the Watchtower of Ostirith.
7 October: The Eye:
After the eruption of Orodruin, the Southlanders flee Plateau of Gorgoroth.
Referencias
1. Esta ficha se ha importado inicialmente de TolkienGateway.net el día 29/05/2026.
