Iron Gate

The location of the Iron Gate within the Orfalch Echor (not to scale)

The Gate that stood at the highest point of the Orfalch Echor, the shadowed pass that led through the Encircling Mountains that concealed the Hidden City of Gondolin. The Iron Gate was the Fourth of the Seven Gates of Gondolin, set in a wall of iron that barred the way through the pass. Within the iron wall were a set of three gates, one after the other, so arranged that looking through the three together formed the illusion of twisting forest trees shadowed by moonlight. From these writhing trees the Gate took its more poetic name, the Gate of Writhen Iron.

The Iron Gate was guarded by a dedicated force of Elf-warriors, the Iron Guards, each armed and armoured in black iron. Above the Iron Gate was a great statue of the Eagle Thorondor, and this form was also reflected in the gear of the Iron Guards who watched the Gate. Each of their black iron helms was cast in the shape of an Eagle's beak.

If a traveller were permitted to pass the Iron Gate by its guards, they would find that the path through the Orfalch, which had climbed steadily to that point, would begin to level and slowly descend through the Encircling Mountains. The downward road led on past swards of green as it ran towards the next of the Seven Gates, the Gate of Silver.