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Dates
Uncertain, but probably dated back to the late Second Age1
Location
In Ephel Dúath on the northern side of Imlad Morgul, climbing to the pass of Cirith Ungol
Settlements
Climbed toward the Tower of Cirith Ungol
Passes
Associated with Cirith Ungol
Meaning
The straighter of the two Stairs of Cirith Ungol (the other being the Winding Stair)

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 2 February 2017
  • This entry is complete

Straight Stair

The lower of the Stairs of Cirith Ungol

One of two sets of stairs cut into Ephel Dúath that led away from the main road through the Morgul Valley and up towards the Tower of Cirith Ungol. The Straight Stair was the lower of the two, leading steeply from the city of Minas Morgul through a narrow cutting in the mountainside. At its upper end was a long rising passage, which led on to the second of the two Stairs of Cirith Ungol, known as the Winding Stair.

The origins of the Stairs are not known, but by the end of the Third Age, they had long fallen out of repair. It was by this treacherous route that Gollum chose to lead Frodo and Sam up into the mountains and towards Shelob's Lair.


Notes

1

We have no definite information about the origins of the stairs that led up to Cirith Ungol. They were perhaps most likely created to provide a passage from the Tower of Cirith Ungol down to Minas Ithil (later Minas Morgul) implying that they probably dated from the late Second Age. If so, the steep Straight Stair would have been more than three thousand years old at the time Frodo and Sam used it to help find their way into Mordor.

See also...

Stairs of Cirith Ungol, Winding Stair

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 2 February 2017
  • This entry is complete

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

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2008, 2017. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

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Straight Stair

The lower of the Stairs of Cirith Ungol

Dates
Uncertain, but probably dated back to the late Second Age1
Location
In Ephel Dúath on the northern side of Imlad Morgul, climbing to the pass of Cirith Ungol
Settlements
Climbed toward the Tower of Cirith Ungol
Passes
Associated with Cirith Ungol
Meaning
The straighter of the two Stairs of Cirith Ungol (the other being the Winding Stair)

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 2 February 2017
  • This entry is complete

Straight Stair

The lower of the Stairs of Cirith Ungol

One of two sets of stairs cut into Ephel Dúath that led away from the main road through the Morgul Valley and up towards the Tower of Cirith Ungol. The Straight Stair was the lower of the two, leading steeply from the city of Minas Morgul through a narrow cutting in the mountainside. At its upper end was a long rising passage, which led on to the second of the two Stairs of Cirith Ungol, known as the Winding Stair.

The origins of the Stairs are not known, but by the end of the Third Age, they had long fallen out of repair. It was by this treacherous route that Gollum chose to lead Frodo and Sam up into the mountains and towards Shelob's Lair.


Notes

1

We have no definite information about the origins of the stairs that led up to Cirith Ungol. They were perhaps most likely created to provide a passage from the Tower of Cirith Ungol down to Minas Ithil (later Minas Morgul) implying that they probably dated from the late Second Age. If so, the steep Straight Stair would have been more than three thousand years old at the time Frodo and Sam used it to help find their way into Mordor.

See also...

Stairs of Cirith Ungol, Winding Stair

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 2 February 2017
  • This entry is complete

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

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2008, 2017. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by Axiom Discovery aptitude and skill testing.
Axiom Discovery gives you comprehensive online aptitude testing covering core skills across a wide range of disciplines.