Minas Morgul

'Tower of Sorcery'

topon. 'Tower of Sorcery'. >> Minas Tirith

minas morgul

place name. Tower of Sorcery

The name of Minas Ithil after it fell into the hands of Sauron, translated “Tower of Sorcery” (LotR/245). This name is a combination of minas “tower” and morgul “sorcery” (MR/350, PE17/31).

Conceptual Development: In Lord of the Rings drafts from the 1940s, this name first appeared as N. Minas Morgol “Tower of Sorcery” (TI/127), soon revised to N. Minas Morghul (TI/146) and eventually to its final form N/S. Minas Morgul (WR/230).

Cognates

• S. morgul “black arts, sorcery, necromancy” ✧ SA/gûl

Elements

Word	Gloss
minas	“tower, fort, city (with a citadel and central watch tower)”
morgul	“black arts, sorcery, necromancy”