The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Made in or after II 3441;1 fell out of use after 8 March III 3019
Location
Beneath the Dwimorberg in the White Mountains
Race
Division
Culture
Settlements
The Door led into the Paths of the Dead
Important peaks
The Door lay beneath the Haunted Mountain of the Dwimorberg
Other names

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 12 March 2023
  • Updates planned: 1

Dark Door

The entrance into the Paths of the Dead

Deep within the White Mountains, under the shadow of the peak of the Dwimorberg, lay the dark wood known as the Dimholt. Within that wood was a glen leading towards the roots of the Haunted Mountain, and at the glen's head was a sudden wall of stone. In that wall was the Dark Door, the northern entry into the Paths of the Dead, made and used by the shades that had dwelt within since the end of the Second Age.

It was first discovered by the living long afterwards, when Baldor son of Brego of Rohan came across it. He found it guarded by an ancient and shrunken man, who warned that the way was shut at that time. Baldor left the Door, but later swore to brave its fears and pass within. He travelled through the Door of the Dead and was never seen again.

The time that had been long prophesied arrived with the War of the Ring, when Aragorn and his companions passed through the Door and were suffered to travel the Paths of the Dead. Promising to release the Dead from their ancient oath to his ancestor Isildur, Aragorn led them out from under the Mountains and away to victory in the east.


Notes

1

Isildur's curse fell on the Men of the Mountains in II 3441, after his victory in the War of the Last Alliance. So, this is the earliest possible date for the making of the Dark Door, but it need not have been made immediately. We have no detailed account of the working of Isildur's curse and the subsequent appearance of the Dead Men, but in principle many years might have passed before the Dark Door was created. Our first definite mention of the Door is much, much later, in the year III 2569, when Baldor of Rohan made his ill-fated attempt to travel the Paths of the Dead.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 12 March 2023
  • Updates planned: 1

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2007, 2023. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by Axiom Discovery aptitude and skill testing.
Personality is one part of understanding a candidate's suitability, but aptitudes and skills are also key.
The Encyclopedia of Arda
The Encyclopedia of Arda
Menu
Homepage Search Latest Entries and Updates Random Entry