Khazad-dum / Moria

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An encyclopedia of Middle-earth in the Third Age

Geography History Important Dates Names & Etymology

Moria by Alan Lee

Khazad-dum was the greatest of the Dwarf realms in Middle-earth. Its

vast and beautiful halls lay under the Misty Mountains. From its mines
came great riches and it was the only source of the precious metal
called mithril. But a Balrog slept in the deeps beneath Khazad-dum, and
when it awoke the Dwarves were driven from their home. The halls of
Khazad-dum were taken over by Orcs and other evil creatures and it
became known as Moria, the Black Chasm, and was a place of fear and
dread.

Geography:
Khazad-dum was located in the Misty Mountains under the three
Mountains of Moria - Cloudyhead, the Redhorn, and the Silvertine. On
the eastern side of Khazad-dum was the Dimrill Dale where the lake of
Mirrormere lay. On the western side was the region known as Hollin.
The halls of Khazad-dum stretched about 40 miles from east to west.

The Dimrill Gate was the eastern entrance to Khazad-dum. The great
gates were hung on towering doorposts. Inside was the First Hall, which
had high windows on the eastern side that let in light. A wide road led
from the First Hall down a broad set of steps to the First Deep - the
level just below the Dimrill Gate, at a distance of about a quarter mile.

At the foot of the stairs was a deep abyss spanned by the Bridge of
Khazad-dum. The bridge was 50 feet long, and it was narrow with no
railing. It had been built as a defense against any invader who might
get past the Dimrill Gate and take the First Hall. On the other side of
the abyss was the Second Hall, a vast chamber with a double row of
pillars in the center. The pillars were tall and were carved like trees; at
the top their branches supported the high ceiling.

Beyond the Second Hall, the underground city spread out in a vast and intricate network of passages, stairs, rooms,
and halls. There were many streams and wells throughout the city. The Dwarves hung crystal lamps to illuminate their
city, and many of the upper chambers had high windows in the mountainside. One such chamber was the Twenty-first
Hall on the Seventh Level - a huge hall with doors on each side and towering stone pillars and polished black walls.

Down the corridor from the northern door of Hall 21, on the right-hand side, was the Chamber of Mazarbul, or the
Chamber of Records. From the western door of Hall 21, a wide road led eastward and downward. The road grew

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narrower near the bottom and ended at an archway where it met two other corridors also coming from the east - one
running straight and one coming up from the deeps. There was a guardroom at the juncture of the three corridors.

In the Third Deep of Khazad-dum were the upper armories. Far below were the treasuries of the Dwarves. In the mines
of Khazad-dum were found gold, silver, iron, beryls, pearls, opals, and other precious metals and gems. The lodes of
mithril were deep under the mountains, running north toward the roots of the Redhorn.

On the peak of the Silvertine - which the Dwarves called Zirak-zigil - stood Durin's Tower. The tower was carved out of
the living rock of the mountain and stood upon a high eyrie. A spiral staircase of many thousand steps called the
Endless Stair led to the tower from the foundations of the mountain.

At the western end of Khazad-dum, a flight of two hundred stairs led down to the West-door, called the Hollin Gate.
There hung the Doors of Durin, made by the Dwarf craftsman Narvi and engraved by the Elf craftsman Celebrimbor. On
the doors were drawings and writings traced with ithildin, a silvery substance made from mithril. At the top was an
inscription reading: "The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter. I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of
Hollin drew these signs."

Beneath the inscription was the Crown of Durin and seven stars over a hammer and anvil. Below these were drawn the
Two Trees of Valinor, and in the middle of the door was the Star of the House of Feanor. From inside, the doors could
be opened outward with a push, but from the outside they could only be opened by speaking the password: mellon, or
"friend."

Two great holly trees stood on either side of the Hollin Gate. Sirannon, the Gate-stream, flowed through the valley in
front of the gate and over a waterfall called the Stair Falls. A road ran alongside the stream from the gate and down a
flight of stairs beside the falls.

History:
Khazad-dum was founded in ancient times by Durin, the eldest of the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves. After Durin awoke
in Mount Gundabad, he came south to the Dimrill Dale. There he looked into Mirrormere and saw a crown of stars
appear above his head. In the caves above the dale, Durin established his realm.

Durin was long-lived and ruled his people for many years. He died before the end of the First Age, and he was laid to
rest in Khazad-dum. But his line continued and the realm of Khazad-dum grew and expanded over the course of the
centuries. The halls were filled with light and music. The Dwarves found great riches, including the hard, malleable,
silver-colored metal called mithril, which was found nowhere else in Middle-earth. They forged weapons and wrought
many things of beauty, and they traded their works of skill with Men for food.

In the Second Age, Khazad-dum reached the height of its glory. Around the year 40, many Dwarves came to Khazad-
dum from the Blue Mountains after the Dwarf cities of Nogrod and Belegost were destroyed during the War of Wrath
with Morgoth at the end of the First Age. These Dwarves brought new skills and talents with them, and the wealth and
power of Khazad-dum increased.

The Elves founded the realm of Eregion - or Hollin - on the western side of the Misty Mountains in the year 750 of the
Second Age. They engaged in trade with the Dwarves of Khazad-dum and traffic flowed in and out of the Hollin Gate.
The two races were on friendly terms, and in particular the great craftsmen - Narvi of the Dwarves and Celebrimbor of
the Elves - became close friends. Together they wrought the Doors of Durin, which stood open most of the time
guarded only by doorwards, for the land was at peace.

Around 1200 of the Second Age, Sauron came to Eregion in a fair disguise and insinuated himself with the Elven-
smiths. From Sauron the Elves learned secret skills and lore and around 1500 they began making the Rings of Power.
Seven of these Rings were for the Dwarves, and it is said that the first of these Rings was given King Durin III of
Khazad-dum by the Elven-smiths.

But Sauron forged the One Ring in secret to rule the others and Celebrimbor became aware that they had been
deceived. Celebrimbor hid the Three Rings of the Elves - which he had made himself without Sauron's help. Sauron was
enraged and he launched an attack against the Elves. In 1697, Eregion was destroyed and Celebrimbor was slain.
Sauron took the Nine Rings of Men and the remaining six Rings of the Dwarves.

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King Durin III sent a host of Dwarves from Khazad-dum to aid the Elves, but they were forced to retreat. The Dwarves
shut fast the Doors of Durin and Sauron's forces were unable to breach them. Sauron came to hate the Dwarves of
Khazad-dum and his Orcs pursued the Dwarves wherever they found them. Orcs infested other parts of the Misty
Mountains as well as the Grey Mountains. Communication between the Dwarves of Khazad-dum and the Dwarves of
other places such as the Iron Hills became difficult.

During the War of the Last Alliance at the end of the Third Age, some Dwarves from Khazad-dum fought with the Men
and Elves against the forces of Sauron. In that war, Sauron was defeated and afterwards the One Ring was lost.

Sauron returned in secret around 1100 of the Third Age, and by 1300 evil things began to multiply again. Orcs attacked
Dwarves in the Misty Mountains, though Khazad-dum remained impregnable. The Dwarves of Khazad-dum maintained
their wealth, but their numbers began to dwindle. They began to delve more deeply for mithril, which was becoming
harder to find.

While mining for mithril in 1980, the Dwarves discovered a terrible creature in the depths of Khazad-dum. It was a
Balrog - a demon of shadow and flame created by Morgoth in the First Age. It had escaped the War of Wrath and had
hidden at the roots of the Redhorn. The Balrog may have awoken when Sauron began to stir once more, or it may have
been roused by the delving of the Dwarves. King Durin VI was slain by the Balrog, and the next year it killed his son
King Nain I. The Dwarves of Khazad-dum fled and scattered far and wide across Middle-earth.

Khazad-dum came to be known as Moria, the Black Chasm, and few people dared to enter its gates. Around 2480,
Sauron sent Orcs, Trolls, and other evil creatures to live there. In 2509 in the Redhorn Gate over the Mountains of
Moria, Elrond's wife Celebrian was abducted by Orcs. She was wounded and tormented before her sons Elladan and
Elrohir were able to rescue her.

King Thror of Durin's line came to the Dimrill Gate of Moria with his companion Nar in 2790. He had become tired of
wandering homeless and poor and he dreamed of recovering the wealth and majesty of Khazad-dum. He entered the
Dimrill Gate alone and was slain by the Orc-leader Azog, who cut off Thror's head and carved his name on the Dwarf's
forehead. Azog threw Thror's body into the Dimrill Dale and told Nar to warn his people that they would meet the same
fate if they returned to Khazad-dum.

The Dwarves were enraged, and Thror's son Thrain mustered an army to wage war against the Orcs of the Misty
Mountains in 2793. In 2799 they came to the Dimrill Dale and the Battle of Azanulbizar was fought before the gates of
Khazad-dum. Azog was slain by Dain Ironfoot and the Dwarves were victorious, though they suffered great loss. But
Dain looked through the Dimrill Gate and perceived that Durin's Bane, the Balrog, still dwelled within. He counselled
Thrain that the time had not yet come to recolonize Khazad-dum, saying: "The world must change and some other
power than ours must come before Durin's Folk walk again in Moria." (App. A, p. 356)

In 2989, Balin led an expedition to Moria with a number of Dwarves from the Lonely Mountain, including Floi, Frar, Loni,
Nali, Oin, and Ori. When they arrived in the Dimrill Dale, Balin and the Dwarves found Orcs guarding the Dimrill Gate.
Floi was killed, but the Dwarves slew many Orcs and took up residence in the Twenty-first Hall. Ori began to keep a
record of the colony called the Book of Mazarbul.

Balin set up his seat in the Chamber of Mazarbul and was named Lord of Moria. The Dwarves found mithril in Moria but
their colony lasted only five years. On November 10, 2994, Balin went into Dimrill Dale to look into Mirrormere and was
shot and killed by an Orc. He was entombed in the Chamber of Mazarbul.

Many more Orcs came up the Silverlode. The Dwarves barred the Dimrill Gate, but the Orcs broke through and took the
Bridge of Khazad-dum and the Second Hall. Frar, Loni, and Nali were killed there. At the West-door of Moria, an aquatic
creature with many tentacles called the Watcher in the Water killed Oin and dammed Gate-stream, preventing the
Dwarves from escaping that way. The Dwarves were besieged and all of them perished. Moria was reclaimed by the
Orcs.

On January 13, 3019, the Fellowship of the Ring arrived at the West-door of Moria. With the help of a hint from Merry
Brandybuck, Gandalf at last discovered the password and the Doors of Durin opened. At that moment, Frodo Baggins -
the Ringbearer - was attacked by the Watcher in the Water. The Fellowship fled into Moria and the doors were blocked
behind them by the Watcher.

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Gollum was at the West-door when the Fellowship came in. He had entered Moria through the East-gate the previous
August and had become lost in the tunnels. As the Fellowship began their eastward journey through the Mines, Gollum
trailed them.

When the Fellowship came to the archway where the three corridors diverged, Gandalf could not recall which way to
take, so they camped in the guardroom for the night. Pippin Took threw a stone down the well in the guardroom and far
below the sounded of tapping hammers was heard as if in response.

The next morning of January 14, Gandalf decided to take the right-hand passage that rose upward. After eight hours,
the Fellowship came to the Twenty-first Hall where they camped for the night. On January 15, they found the Chamber
of Mazarbul and Balin's Tomb. Gandalf read from the Book of Mazarbul and they learned the tragic fate of Balin's
colony in Moria, and Gimli mourned the loss of his kinsman.

Suddenly the Fellowship heard drums pounding and realized they were trapped. They barred the western door but kept
the east door ajar. A Cave-troll thrust its foot through the door and Frodo stabbed it with Sting. But the Orcs managed
to break down the door and a battle ensued in the chamber. Frodo was speared by an Orc-chieftain, but was saved by
his mithril shirt. Sam Gamgee received a gash on the head and managed to kill an Orc. The others fought valiantly and
thirteen Orcs were slain; the rest fled.

The Fellowship left the chamber through the east door. Gandalf attempted to seal the door with a spell, but he sensed
an opposing presence in the chamber beyond and the effort to counter it cost him much strength. The walls and door of
the Chamber of Mazarbul collapsed and Balin's Tomb was buried in rubble.

Gandalf led the Fellowship down to the Second Hall in the First Deep. They ran to the Bridge of Khazad-dum and were
pursued by a fiery creature that Legolas realized was a Balrog. As the others reached the far side of the abyss, Gandalf
turned to confront the Balrog. He shattered the Balrog's sword with Glamdring and the Balrog leaped onto the bridge.
Aragorn and Boromir started to come to his aid, but Gandalf smote the bridge with his staff and shattered the rock
under the Balrog's feet. The Balrog's fiery whip dragged Gandalf to the edge of the abyss, and with a cry of "Fly, you
fools!" Gandalf fell into shadow as his friends looked on helplessly. Aragorn led the Fellowship through the First Hall and
out the Dimrill Gate.

Gandalf fell into the deep abyss with the Balrog, burned by his fire, until they landed in a subterranean lake. The
Balrog's fire was quenched but still he fought Gandalf in the caverns deep under the roots of the mountains. Then they
climbed the Endless Stair to the pinnacle of the Silvertine where they fought the Battle of the Peak from January 23 to
January 25. In the struggle, Durin's Tower was destroyed and the entrance to the stair was blocked. At last Gandalf
smote the Balrog down upon the mountainside.

Gandalf passed into darkness out of thought and time, but Eru sent him back to Middle-earth as Gandalf the White to
complete his task. He awoke on February 14 on the peak of the Silvertine and was trapped there until Gwaihir the
Windlord came on February 17 and bore him to Lothlorien.

There is no detailed information on what became of Khazad-dum after the War of the Ring. However, according to one
source (HoME XII, p. 278) there came a time when a king named Durin VII returned to Khazad-dum and its halls were
filled with light and music and the sound of hammers once more and the realm endured until the world grew old and
the days of Durin's race were over.

Important Dates:

Ancient Times? - First Age?:

Durin founds the realm of Khazad-dum and rules until his death. (Dates unknown.)

Second Age:

c. 40

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Dwarves from Nogrod and Belegost come to Khazad-dum.

750
The Elves found the realm of Eregion west of Khazad-dum.

1200
Sauron comes to Eregion in disguise.

c. 1500
The Rings of Power are forged in Eregion.

1600
Sauron forges the One Ring and the Elves realized they've been deceived.

1695
Sauron invades Eriador.

1697
Sauron destroys Eregion. Durin III sends out a force, but they retreat and the Doors of Durin are shut.

3434-3441
Some Dwarves from Khazad-dum fight in the War of the Last Alliance. Sauron is defeated.

Third Age:

1100
Sauron returns in secret to Dol Guldur in Mirkwood.

1300
Evil things begin to multiply and Orcs begin to attack Dwarves in the Misty Mountains.

1980
The Balrog awakes and kills King Durin VI.

1981
The Balrog kills King Nain I and the Dwarves flee Khazad-dum.

2480
Sauron sends Orcs, Trolls and other evil creatures to live in Khazad-dum, now called Moria.

2509
Celebrian is captured by Orcs in the Redhorn Pass.

2790
Thror enters the Dimrill Gate of Moria and is slain by Azog.

2793
The War of the Dwarves and Orcs begins.

2799
Battle of Azanulbizar outside the Dimrill Gate. The Dwarves are victorious but do not recolonize Moria, where the Balrog
still dwells.

2989
Balin comes to Moria and establishes a colony of Dwarves.

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2994
Balin and the other Dwarves are killed and Orcs reclaim Moria.

3018
August: Gollum enters Moria through the East-gate and becomes lost.

3019
January 13: The Fellowship enter Moria. They spend the night in the guardroom where Pippin drops a stone down the
well.
January 14: The Fellowship reach Hall 21 and camp there.
January 15: The Fellowship discover the Chamber of Mazarbul and learn Balin's fate. They fight Orcs in the chamber
and flee to the Bridge of Khazad-dum, where Gandalf confronts the Balrog and falls into the abyss. Aragorn leads the
others out of Moria.
January 23: Gandalf and the Balrog climb the Endless Stair to the peak of the Silvertine.
January 25: Gandalf casts down the Balrog. Gandalf dies and his body lies on the peak.

February 14: Gandalf returns to life and lies on the peak in a trance.
February 17: Gwaihir rescues Gandalf from the peak.

Other Names:
Khazad-dum was called Hadhodrond by the Elves and the Dwarrowdelf by Men. Dwarrowdelf is an anglicized
representation of the Common Speech name Phurunargian. After Khazad-dum was taken over by evil creatures it was
called the Mines of Moria or simply Moria - the Black Pit or Black Chasm.

Etymology:
Khazad-dûm means "Mansion of the Dwarves" from khazad, the Dwarves' name for their own race, and dûm
meaning "excavations, halls."
Appendix F: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age," p. 415

The Sindarin name Hadhodrond is the equivalent of Khazad-dum. The word Hadhod, or Hadhodrim, was a name
used for the Dwarves in an attempt to approximate the sounds of the word Khazad in the Elvish tongue. The word
rond means "vaulted or arched roof" or a chamber or hall with such a roof.
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XI, The War of the Jewels: "Quendi and Eldar - Appendix B: Elvish Names for
the Dwarves," p. 387-88
The Silmarillion: "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entry for rond

Dwarrowdelf means "Dwarf-delving" from dwarrow, an archaic plural of dwarf and delf, or "delving, mining."
Appendix F: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age," p. 415

The name Phurunargian is the actual Common Speech name for the Dwarrowdelf, also meaning "Dwarf-delving." The
word phuru is derived from phur meaning "to delve" and the word nargian is related to narac meaning "dwarf."
The History of Middle-earth, vol XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Appendix on Languages," p. 44

Moria means "black chasm" in Sindarin. The word mor means "dark, black" and the word iâ means "void, abyss."
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter #297

Sources:

The Hobbit: "An Unexpected Party" p. 33-34; "A Short Rest," p. 62; "Over Hill and Under Hill," p. 66; "The Clouds
Burst," p. 292, 295

The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Council of Elrond," p. 253-55, 281-82; "The Ring Goes South," p. 296; "A Journey
in the Dark," passim; "The Bridge of Khazad-dum," passim; "Lothlorien," p. 347-49, 351-52, 358, 364; "The Mirror of

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Galadriel," p. 370-71, 374, 375; "Farewell to Lorien," p. 384-85; "The Great River," p. 399-400, 404; "The Breaking of
the Fellowship," p. 417

The Two Towers: "The Departure of Boromir," p. 18; "The Riders of Rohan," p. 38; "Treebeard," p. 75; "The White
Rider," 105-106; "Helm's Deep," p. 140; "The Road to Isengard," p. 153; "Flotsam and Jetsam," p. 167, 175; "The
Black Gate Is Closed," p. 252; "Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit," p. 266; "The Window on the West," p. 271, 279, 285-86;
"Shelob's Lair," p. 326

The Return of the King: "Minas Tirith," p. 31; "Mount Doom," p. 211; "Many Partings," p. 263

Appendix A: "Durin's Folk," p. 352-58

Appendix F: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age," p. 415

The Silmarillion: "Of the Sindar," p. 91; "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age," p. 286-89, 294; "Appendix -
Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entry for rond

Unfinished Tales: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," p. 235-38; "The Hunt for the Ring," p. 345

The History of Middle-earth, vol. XI, The War of the Jewels: "Quendi and Eldar - Appendix B: Elvish Names for
the Dwarves," p. 387-88

The History of Middle-earth, vol XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Appendix on Languages," p. 44; "The
Making of Appendix A," p. 278 (on the recolonization of Khazad-dum by Durin VII); "Of Dwarves and Men," p. 301-305

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