"Greatest of all the mansions of the Dwarves was Khazad-dûm, the Dwarrowdelf, Hadhodrond
in the Elvish tongue, that was afterwards in the days of its darkness called Moria."
Hello friends, It's Karl here, and in today's videos we're going to delve into the history
and darkness of the Mines of Moria, the Greatest realm of the Dwarven people.
Khazad-Dum was founded by Durin the first, one of the seven fathers of the Dwarves.
When Durin awoke, he was fascinated with the world around him, and as he walked, he named
the places and things that he saw.
He eventually, came across a lake of immense beauty and he peered into it.
There he saw his reflection, but there were also 7 stars aligned in the form of a crown,
and he took this as a sign, and decided to carve out a home in the mountains above.
He named the lake Kheled Zaram and it was also known as the Mirrormere in the common
tongue.
It remained a sacred place for all the dwarves that followed, and Durin's stone was erected
there as a landmark, to mark the location where Durin is believed to have had his vision.
As Durin made the Mountain his home, he was joined by other dwarves, and together they
carved out the great Gates of Khazad Dum which during his time would be the only entrance
into his Kingdom.
Durin then led the dwarves further inward, where they carved out and built the First
hall and the Bridge of Khazad-Dum.
This bridge served both practical and defensive purposes, for if an enemy succeeding in breaching
the gates they would have to cross the bridge in single file due to its narrow width, and
so they would become easy targets and their numbers rendered obsolete.
Anyway the dwarves kept expanding inwards, carving floors above, and caverns below.
Their realm flourished, and Durin became the King of Khazad Dum, crowned as Durin the first;
the dwarves that followed him, and those of his line became the dwarven clan of the Longbeards,
also known as Durin's folk.
Now Durin's reign lasted a tremendous amount of time, and some thought he might be immortal,
earning him the name of Durin the Deathless.
However he eventually passed way, though it's believed that he lived at least 2395 years,
which is ten times more than the average lifespan of a dwarf.
Some of his line bore such a strong resemblance to him that they too were named Durin, as
the Longbeards believed that Durin would be reincarnated seven times as King.
As Khazad-Dum flourished, tales of its greatness and majesty spread fast to the west, to the
very shores of Beleriand.
This land of Beleriand would host the final Battle against Morgoth the Dark Lord, and
the level of destruction inflicted upon was beyond measure.
Most of Beleriand sank beneath the waves, and the Dwarven cities of Nogrog and Belegost
were laid to waste.
The dwarves that survived fled, and remembering the tales they heard of Khazad-Dum, they chose
to migrate there.
This resulted in a huge influx of dwarves in Khazad-Dum, and it was enriched both in
number and in raw talent, for these dwarves were known to be smiths, craftsmen and builders
of incredible skill.
This resulted in Khazad-Dum experiencing a golden renaissance and a period of unparalleled
prosperity.
It was during this time that Khazad-Dum expanded to the western tip of the mountains.
Some Noldor elves that were survivors of Beleriand, established the Elven Realm of Eregion next
to the western border of Khazad-Dum.
These elves were led by Celebrimbor, and they had an unexpected friendship with the Dwarves
due to their mutual love for Crafting and Smithing which developed into a strong trading
partnership.
By now, the precious metal mithril was discovered in Khazad-Dum which further increased the
wealth of the Dwarves, and the elves of Eregion discovered a way to turn Mithril into an alloy
known as Ithildin that would shine brightly under moon-light.
To make trading faster and easier, the elves and dwarves agreed to build a new entrance
into Moria, the western gate.
This door was made by Celebrimbor the lord of Eregion, and Narvi a dwarf of unmatched
skill from Khazad-Dum.
In times of peace, the door was left open so that trade could flow through it, and it
was adorned with many symbols and runes made of ithildin.
There was the hammer and anvil, the emblem of Durin, and a crown with Seven stars that
represented Durin's vision in the Mirrormere.
There were also two trees representing the Trees of the High Elves and finally a single
Star which represented the house of Faenor, who was the greatest elf-smith that ever lived,
and of whom Celebrimbor was a descendent.
An inscription was etched into the door, reading: The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria.
Speak, friend, and enter.
I, Narvi, made them.
Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs."
These doors were opened by uttering the Elvish word for friend, Mellon.
This prosperous relationship would not last forever though, as Sauron appeared in a fair
form and convinced Celebrimbor to help him make the rings of power.
The first of the Dwarven rings that was created was given to Durin the third, the king of
Khazad-Dum at that time.
Some believe that Sauron gave it to him, while dwarves believe that it was a gift from Celebrimbor.
After the rings' creation, Sauron ordered Celebrimbor to hand over the rings, though
Celebrimbor refused as he was finally aware of Sauron's deceit.
In retaliation, Sauron attacked Eregion.
The dwarves of Khazad-Dum sent some warrior to defend their Elven allies though it was
futile.
The Elves were slaughtered and their leader, Celebrimbor was shot with arrows and his body
was used as a banner.
The dwarves then shut the west gate.
They had reached their hour of twilight, and now they would dwindle.
Despite shutting themselves away from the world the Dwarves would not know peace.
Orcs had invaded their mountains and taken control over Mount Gundabad, the place where
Durin the Deathless is believed to have awoken and so a sacred place for the Dwarves.
The dwarves would have many skirmishes with these orcs, and despite the battles on their
homefront, they still rallied and helped in defeating Sauron.
For some dwarves from formed part of the forces of good during the Last alliance, and together
with the forces of men and elves they succeeded in defeated Sauron.
If the 2nd age was Khazad-Dum's sunrise, the 3rd age can be considered its sunset.
Their wealth still grew for there never was a shortage in demand for Mithril, yet their
numbers had started to decline.
This dependence on Mithril led them to expanding their mines, all in search of this precious
metal.
This metal that defined their kingdom… and led to its fall.
For during the year 1980 of the third age, the dwarves unearthed something other than
Mithril.
A demon of Shadow and Flame.
A balrog of Morgoth that had lain dormant beneath the mountains.
The Balrog wrecked havoc on the dwarves and slew their king, Durin the 6th, thus earning
itself the name 'Durin's Bane'.
The dwarves sturdy and stubborn as always, were not ready to give up their kingdom so
easily, and they persevered for another year under the rule of Durin's son, Nain the
first.
Yet their determination could not hold back such a foe, and their new King also fell to
the balrog's whip.
The dwarves then accepted the futility of fighting back, and they abondoned their home
while being led by Nain's son, Thrain the first who then founded the Kingdom of Erebor.
With Khazad Dum's fall, it was renamed to Moria, meaning the Black Pit.
It would lie empty save for the Balrog and the corpses of the fallen for 500 years, as
in the year 2480 of the Third age, orcs began to populate Moria and create secret strongholds
within the Misty Mountains.
Sauron also started to send his own orcs and trolls into Moria and these orcs plundered
the dwarven ruins, sending treasures and any Mithril they found back to Sauron.
In the 2799 The battle of Azanulbizar was fought outside of Moria's east gate, between
the dwarves and the orcs of Moria.
Both factions suffered significant losses, though the dwarves emerged victorious.
Despite their victory and the fact that very few orcs left in Moria, the dwarves decide
not to reclaim their home, as Dain Ironfoot had looked through the gate and he saw that
the Balrog, Durin's Bane, yet lived.
190 years later, in the year 2989, Balin led an expedition of dwarves to reclaim Moria.
This expedition included others members of Thorin's company such as Oin and Ori.
At first they were incredibly successful, and they managed to establish a colony in
Moria.
Balin declared himself Lord of Moria, and They even found Mithril once again, and it's
believed that they recovered an ancient relic of the dwarves, called Durin's axe.
Balin then set up his throne in the Chamber of Mazarbul.
His rule was shortlived however, for merely 5 years later he was slain by an orc arrow
while looking in the Mirrormere.
He was then buried in the chamber of Mazarbul, and it was in this very room that what was
left of the dwarven expedition made their final stand, as orcs had once again invaded
Moria through the East-Gate, and the Dwarves were trapped inside, because the pool of water
outside the West-Gate had risen and the Watcher prevented any escape through there.
And so the ringing of Dwarven hammers once again died out in Moria.
It would be 30 years before another Dwarf set foot in Moria.
In the year 3019 The Fellowship reached the west-gate of Moria, after failing to cross
the Mountain pass of Caradhras.
Frodo solves the riddle to open the door, and the fellowship are then attacked by the
Watcher in the Water.
I already made a detailed video on the watcher which I'll link above, and so I won't
cover it again in this video.
While I was making notes for this video, I decided to make a map of the Fellowship's
journey through Moria, and I'll be using it for the next part of my video.
I encourage you to pause at times to read my notes, also areas highlighted in blue show
ascent, while those in pink are descent.
So after entering Moria, the fellowship eventually came across three arches and Gandalf was unsure
which one to pick.
They therefore decided to rest in the old guardsroom nearby.
This room contained a massive hole in its centre than used to be a well, and it was
here that Pippin threw a rock down the well, that is believed to have alerted the orcs
to the fellowships presence.
After they rest, Gandalf decides to take the right path as the left one had a foul smell
and he disliked the feeling of the Middle-One.
This path led the fellowship to the Twenty-First hall and they then travelled north to reach
Balin's Tomb.
Here they found the book of Mazarbul that was a record of Balin's expedition in Moria,
and they're then ambushed by orcs and two cave trolls.
Though they succeed in fighting off this first wave of enemies, a nimble orc captain made
his way past Aragorn and Boromir and he stabs Frodo in the chest.
Frodo survives thanks to his Mithril vest, and the fellowship then exit through a small
door on the eastern side of the Chamber of Mazarbul.
Gandalf chooses to stay behind however, in an attempt to buy the others time and he casts
a spell of sealing on the Western Door, though his spell is broken by the Balrog.
The fellowship then make their way to the bridge of Khazad-Dum where Gandalf faces the
Balrog and breaks the bridge asunder causing the Balrog to fall in the abyss below.
As it fell, it swung its whip around Gandalf's knees and dragged him down with it.
The rest of the fellowship then flee via the Great Gates of Moria, leaving the Darkness
of Khazad-Dum behind them.
Now Gandalf and the Balrog fall together into a massive pool of water at the bottom of the
abyss.
Here, at the foundations of the Earth, Gandalf fought the Balrog and he seemed to gain the
upper hand, for the Balrog fled into dark tunnels nearby.
These tunnels were said to be made by nameless creatures that were older than Sauron.
Gandalf then chased the Balrog down these tunnels, till they reached the Endless stair
that led them all the way up to Durin's tower at the highest peak of the Mountain
top Zirakzigil.
There they fought once again, till at last Gandalf defeated the Balrog and threw him
down on the mountain-side below.
With the threat of the Balrog gone, dwarves could once reclaim Moria, though this doesn't
occur until the Fourth age of Middle-Earth.
In the peoples of middle-Earth, Tolkien says that Durin the 7th eventually reclaims Moria
and the dwarves remain there "until the world grew old and the Dwarves failed and
the days of Durins race were ended.
Before I discuss some of Moria's characteristics I'd like to point out that both Aragorn
and Gandalf had journeyed through Moria before the War of the Ring.
So Khazad-Dum was located in the Middle of the Misty Mountains beneath the three mountain
peaks of Celebdil, Caradhras and Fanuidhol.
There is a marked difference between the Eastern part of Khazad-Dum and the Western part.
The Eastern part of the city was better built and less worn out which seems to suggest that
it was the area in which dwarves primarily lived, while the western part contained their
mines and stores.
The city was divided into layers, having 7 levels above ground, and 7 Deeps below.
The treasure holds of the dwarves were spread out throughout Moria, as Gandalf says that
the treasures in the upper halls have been plundered by orcs, while those in the deeps
are drowned in water.
We also know that at least one of their armouries was located in the Deeps as we're told "Oin
to seek for the upper armouries of Third deep" Since these are said to be the upper armouries,
I would understand that there were more armouries further below this level, in the other deeps.
We're told that there were many stream and wells in Moria, and I believe these were the
cause of the flooding in the lower levels, as throughout the fellowship's journey in
Moria the sound of water could be heard far below.
In Durin's time, Khazad-Dum was lit up by lamps made of crystal, and the eastern parts
of the city had natural light as shafts were cut through the rock.
The Second Hall of Moria, had a double line of large towering pillars down its centre
that were shaped like mighty trees holding up the roof.
Across this room, there was a great fissure of fire, and it's interesting to note that
at first when the fellowship were ambushed in the chamber of Mazarbul, they considered
going back to the 21st hall and taking the eastern path, which would have led them to
the western side of the second hall, and so trapped between the orcs and Balrog and the
fissure in the room.
This would have most likely lead to the fellowship's defeat, and so it's quite interesting to
note what an important decision it was.
Anyway this wraps up the video, and I hope you enjoyed it!
If you learnt something new, please tell me in the comments below, I'm curious to know!
And if you enjoyed this video drop a like cause it helps this channel immensely, and
subscribe to join our fellowship today!
I hope to see you all in my next video, where together can once again explore the magical
world and lore of Middle-Earth!
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