Udûn

  1) (fortress)

 / Udûn / Udun

   Melkor's ancient fortress in the far north of the World.

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   "The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow!" (Words of Gandalf, from The Fellowship of the Ring II 5, The Bridge of Khazad-dûm)

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   The Sindarin name of Utumno, the fortress of Melkor in the far north of the World. It was the first and greatest of Melkor's citadels, delved in the earliest days, the home to hosts of demons and monsters. From Udûn, Melkor troubled the world for millennia. From there, he destroyed the Lamps of the Valar, so that Powers left Almaren, their dwelling-place in Middle-earth, and removed into the West. At the time of the awakening of the Elves, though, the Valar attacked Udûn in full force, and destroyed it utterly, carrying its master back to Valinor as their prisoner.

   The name Udûn is much less common as a name for Melkor's fortress than the equivalent Utumno. In The Lord of the Rings it appears just once, in Gandalf's quote given above. It survived, though, as a name for the northern valley of Mordor that lay behind the Morannon. No doubt Sauron chose this name in memory of his ancient master's greatest stronghold.

  2) (valley)

 / Udûn / Udun

   The valley behind the Gates of Mordor.

   The deep valley in the northwest of Mordor, formed at the meeting of the Ered Lithui and the Ephel Dúath, whose northern entrance was guarded by the Morannon.

  3) see Utumno