Undoubtedly, Sauron chose this name in memory of his ancient master's greatest stronghold. It survived, though, as a name for the northern valley of Mordor that lay behind the Morannon. In The Lord of the Rings, this name appears just once, in Gandalf's words to Durin's Bane. It meant "dark pit, Underworld" or "hell". Udûn was the less commonly used Sindarin name of Utumno. In the Annals of Aman, Tolkien wrote: "'Utupnŭ √TUP cover over hide'" and "'that stronghold was ever after called Utumno the Deep-hidden'" while in The Etymologies, the root is TUB and the original form of the name is given as Utubnu. An older version of the name, Utumna, is said to derive from Tumna ( Quenya, "low-lying, low, profound, deep"). The name Utumno, contains the stem Utumnu. After the destruction of Utumno, Melkor chose to rebuild and fortify Angband as his lair. This became Angband, which was at first held by Sauron. Melkor had established a second and lesser fortress at the western end of the Ered Engrin to act as the first line of defence for Utumno from Aman.
#ANGBAND VS UTUMNO FULL#
The Valar attacked in full force, and until they broke the gates and unroofed it Melkor hid in the uttermost pit, but they carried him to Valinor as their captive. 1099, in the war that the Valar began against Melkor for the sake of the Elves. Utumno was also where the first captured Elves were taken and the creation of Orcs began as a mockery of the Firstborn. :53 :74-5 From there he had destroyed the Two Lamps, so that the Powers left Almaren, their dwelling-place in Middle-earth, and removed into the West. 1090, when the Valar assailed Melkor's fortress. Melkor used Utumno as his base of operations from the Valian Year 3400 until Y.T. As a result the lands of the far north were made desolate, and remained so in the following ages. Though the Valar did not yet know it, from this place, "the blight of his hatred flowed out thence, and the Spring of Arda was marred." Utumno was delved exceeding deep, with pits filled with fires and great hosts of servants, caverns and vaults "hidden with deceit". Utumno was built under the Iron Mountains, where the light of Illuin and Ormal was dim and cold. The Valar had by this time created the Two Lamps. Utumno was built by Melkor after his first arrival in Arda. It was the home to hosts of demons, the fallen Ainur who allied with Melkor, and numerous monsters of corruption that were made in mockery of Middle-earth's naturally intended creatures and beings. It was the first and greatest of Melkor's citadels, delved in the earliest days. Utumno, or Udûn, was a fortress of Melkor in the far north of Middle-earth. Go back to the Shadow!" ― Gandalf, The Fellowship of the Ring, " The Bridge of Khazad-dûm" " The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Vast and very cold, with pits extending deep into the earth For a list of other meanings, see Udûn (disambiguation). The name Udûn refers to more than one character, item or concept. This article or section needs more/new/more-detailed sources to conform to a higher standard and to provide proof for claims made. " Who told you, and who sent you?" - Gandalf