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Dates
Uncertain; Shelob probably originated in the First Age; she was known to have survived into the Fourth Age
Location
Shelob's Lair was a maze of tunnels in the pass of Cirith Ungol on the borders of Mordor
Species
Spiders, of the monstrous kind descended from Ungoliant
Settlements
Shelob's Lair lay close to the Tower of Cirith Ungol
Passes
Shelob watched the High Pass of Cirith Ungol
Title of
Shelob
Note
The title 'Watcher' is also used for the creature more fully known as the Watcher in the Water that guarded the West-gate of Moria

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 17 May 2025
  • Updates planned: 1

The Watcher

A title for the unseen Shelob

When Frodo and Sam ventured into the darkness of Shelob's Lair, at first all they encountered of the monstrous creature were her many eyes. At that time they were unaware of her full form, and so she is referred to simply as 'the Watcher'. Soon afterwards, when they encountered her webs, and then Shelob herself, she was revealed to be a descendant of Ungoliant, and thus a vast spider.


Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 17 May 2025
  • Updates planned: 1

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2012, 2025. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.
Discus is the complete personality profile package, with modules for job matching, relationships, teams and more.
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The Watcher

A title for the unseen Shelob

Dates
Uncertain; Shelob probably originated in the First Age; she was known to have survived into the Fourth Age
Location
Shelob's Lair was a maze of tunnels in the pass of Cirith Ungol on the borders of Mordor
Species
Spiders, of the monstrous kind descended from Ungoliant
Settlements
Shelob's Lair lay close to the Tower of Cirith Ungol
Passes
Shelob watched the High Pass of Cirith Ungol
Title of
Shelob
Note
The title 'Watcher' is also used for the creature more fully known as the Watcher in the Water that guarded the West-gate of Moria

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 17 May 2025
  • Updates planned: 1

The Watcher

A title for the unseen Shelob

When Frodo and Sam ventured into the darkness of Shelob's Lair, at first all they encountered of the monstrous creature were her many eyes. At that time they were unaware of her full form, and so she is referred to simply as 'the Watcher'. Soon afterwards, when they encountered her webs, and then Shelob herself, she was revealed to be a descendant of Ungoliant, and thus a vast spider.


Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 17 May 2025
  • Updates planned: 1

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2012, 2025. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.
Discus is the complete personality profile package, with modules for job matching, relationships, teams and more.