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InThe Lord of the Rings, few pieces of iconography are more memorable than the doors of the Dwarven kingdom of Moria. Seen inThe Fellowship of the Ring, the Doors of Durin are an unforgettable example of the magical mysteries that lie around every corner of Middle-Earth. But how exactly did these doors come to be, and for what purpose were they originally made?
The Doors of Durin are most famously encountered by the Fellowship when they attempt to pass through the Dwarven kingdom of Moria. They are adorned with a beautiful script, only visible in the moonlight, and guarded by a password which is hidden by a clever riddle. In the original text, the design of the Doors is depicted in a beautiful full-page illustration, a feature that is translated perfectly into the visual interpretation of Peter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Ringsfilm trilogy.
They Were Made By Both Elves and Dwarves
By the time ofThe Lord of the Rings, the races of Elves and Dwarves are staunch enemies with centuries of bloodshed between them. Thousands of years before, however, tensions between them were far less extreme. In the early years of the Second Age, two of the greatest kingdoms in Middle-Earth, Eregion and Khazad-dûm, belonged to the Elves and Dwarves respectively. These two realms bordered each other directly, and as such they maintained a unique friendship between their inhabitants.
The Elves of Eregion and the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm were extremely friendly with one another, engaging in constant trade and passing through each other’s kingdoms freely. This allyship was largely due tothe Lord of Eregion, Celebrimbor,who greatly admired the craftmanship of the Dwarves and sought to learn all that he could from them. Celebrimbor’s closest friend wasthe greatest Dwarven smith in Khazad-dûm, Narvi, and the two of them collaborated constantly on great feats of stonework and jewel-making.
Sometime in the middle years of the Second Age, Narvi and Celebrimbor designed their most ambitious project to date: a grand set of doors carved into the rock-face of the Misty Mountains, which would serve as a symbol of goodwill between the races of Dwarves and Elves and allow easy access to and from each of the kingdoms. The door would be marked withithildin, a purified form of Mithril that shines only in starlight, and flanked by two great holly trees. After choosing a spot on the western side of the Misty Mountains, Narvi and Celebrimbor began work on their project. After years of toil, the Doors of Durin were opened, bringing Eregion and Khazad-dûm closer than they had ever been before.
What Happened to the Doors?
For the following centuries, the Doors of Durin remained open, allowing free access to the kingdom of Moria. It is said that the Elves of Eregion often passed freely into the mountain-halls, and both races benefited greatly from the trade that flowed between them. Celebrimbor and Narvi maintained their friendship, proud that their legacy and companionship would forever be etched into the very stone of the Misty Mountains.
Unfortunately, the peace of the Second Age was not to last, especially not in Eregion. In SA 1695, the armies of the Dark Lord Sauron attacked the Elves of Eregion, launching a brutal war that decimated the kingdom. After years of struggle, the forces of Mordor had nearly slaughtered the entirety of the Elves of Eregion. Luckily, before Sauron could strike the final blow,the Dwarves of Khazad-dûmlaunched a surprise attack, diverting his forces and allowing some of the Elves, including Elrond and Celeborn, to escape.
The ensuing battles were bitter, and although the Dwarves' help had helped turn the tides for a brief moment, both the Elves and Dwarves were overwhelmed by their enemy. The Dwarves were forced to retreat, and against the vast forces of Mordor, they shut the Doors of Durin, which would not again be opened for more than three thousand years. Sauron eventually conquered Eregion, killing Celebrimbor, and so the friendship between the Elves of Eregion and the Dwarves of Moria came to a terrible end.
The Doors DuringThe Lord of the Rings
By the time ofThe Lord of the Rings, Moria has long been abandoned and the Doors of Durin are all but forgotten. In TA 2850, however, Gandalf enters Moria from the eastern gate, and passes unnoticed by the goblins and Balrog within. He leaves Moria via the Doors of Durin, opening them from the inside, and notes their existence for future use.
When it comes time for the Fellowship to cross the Misty Mountains, Gandalf advocates that they travel through Moria. The rest of the company is far more hesitant,except Gimli,but after they are waylaid by blizzards and wargs, the group elects to follow Gandalf into the dark. They make their way to the Doors of Durin, yet they soon discover something Gandalf forgot to notice on his last journey: the doors are unable to open from the outside without the use of a password. A riddle on the door, written in Elvish, gives a clue how to gain entry:
“The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter. I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs.”
Although initially puzzled, Gandalf realizes that the riddle is actually quite simple: the password is “friend” in Elvish (mellon). The Doors are opened, but just before the Fellowship can enter Moria, they are assailed by theWatcher in the Water. Drawn to the power of the One Ring, this tentacled beast attempts to grab Frodo, but is fought off by the rest of the company. The Fellowship rushes into the Mines, and they are quickly barricaded inside when the Watcher blocks the door and collapses the entrance. Thus, in one swift moment, the Doors of Durin, which once symbolized the friendship between Dwarves and Elves, are destroyed.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most iconic names in entertainment. The franchise started with novels from J. R. R. Tolkien before being adapted onto the big screen by Peter Jackson in one of the most critically-acclaimed film trilogies of all time. There have also been numerous The Lord of the Rings video games of varying quality.
