Thangorodrim

Thangorodrim was a group of three volcanic mountains in the Iron Mountains in northern Middle-earth during the First Age. They were the highest peaks in Middle-earth and were raised by Morgoth, who delved his fortress of Angband beneath them, extending far back into the Iron Mountains.

Thangorodrim was said to be formed from the slag of Morgoth's furnaces and the rubble from Angband’s delving, though it was solid enough to form sheer cliffs. Húrin Thalion was imprisoned on a high terrace until he was freed by one of the sons of Fëanor. The peaks perpetually smoked and sometimes spewed lava, functioning as furnaces for Morgoth’s great smithies deep below.

For a time, Great Eagles nested on Thangorodrim, but they later moved to the mountains near Gondolin. At the base of the south face of the middle peak lay the great gates of Angband, a deep canyon lined with towers and forts. Secret gates were also scattered around the mountains, allowing Morgoth’s forces to issue forth unexpectedly.

Thangorodrim was destroyed in the War of Wrath at the end of the First Age when the defeated dragon Ancalagon the Black fell upon them.

Etymology

Thangorodrim is Sindarin for "Mountains of Tyranny" or "mountain-chain of tyranny," from thang ("compulsion, oppression") + orodrim ("mountain-chain"). In earlier Noldorin, it is glossed as "Mountains of Duress."

In-game mentions

• Echo of the Breaking of Thangorodrim
• Núrzum (Wildermore)
• The Breaking of Thangorodrim
• The Breaking of Thangorodrim (Effect)
• The Breaking of Thangorodrim (Trait)

References

• The Silmarillion
• Tolkien, J.R.R., The History of Middle-earth, Vol. 10: Morgoth’s Ring