Mines of Moria
Once sealed against the world, the gates now yawn open to guard a shadow that has slept for an age.
Khazad-dûm—now whispered only as Moria, the Black Chasm—is a colossal subterranean realm hewn from stone beneath the Misty Mountains. Once the glittering heart of Dwarven civilization, renowned for its mastery of mithril and grand architecture, it fell into silence when the miners dug too deep and woke a ruinous fire in the dark. Now a labyrinthine grave, its halls echo with the skitter of goblins, the tread of trolls, and the shadow of the Balrog that guards the abyss.
Quick Facts
- Original inhabitants
- Dwarves of Durin's Folk
- Location
- Beneath the Misty Mountains
- Primary antagonist
- Durin's Bane (Balrog)
- Notable event
- Fellowship's Passage
Lore & Background
By the War of the Ring, Moria had become a place of dread, avoided even by desperate travelers. The Fellowship chose this perilous path only when snow rendered the mountain passes impassable. Inside, the ruins bore witness to Durin's Folk—a magnificent civilization reduced to crumbling stone and endless tunnels. It was here that Gandalf the Grey confronted Durin's Bane, sacrificing himself on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm to allow his companions escape into the light.
Reader's Guide
Gandalf confronts the Balrog at the Bridge of Khazad-dûm, declaring 'You shall not pass,' before falling into the abyss to save his companions. The survivors escape through the East-gate, emerging near the banks of the Silverlode toward Lothlórien, forever altered by the loss of their leader and the horror witnessed in the deep.
Did You Know?
- The name 'Moria' means 'Black Chasm' in Sindarin, a name given after the fall of the Dwarves, whereas 'Khazad-dûm' was their original name meaning 'Dwarf-hall'.
- Durin's Bane is revealed to be one of the Balrogs, ancient spirits of fire and shadow that served Morgoth in the First Age.
- The doors to Moria could only be opened by speaking a password; Gandalf deduced it meant 'Speak, friend, and enter'.
- Mithril was so valuable in Moria that its weight was worth ten times its own weight in gold.
More in Story Arcs & Timeline
Elsewhere in The Lord of the Rings
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