Middle-Earth Tours

Tour 1: The People of Middle-Earth

Sauron

Thû, as Wolf More Great,
by Roger Garland		 The following quote is taken from Tolkien's Lays of Beleriand, specifically, the "Lay of Leithien," which tells the story of Beren and Luthien in poetic form. "Thû" is short for "Gorthû," an early name for Sauron.

Now there came slowly forth and glared/ into the night a shape long-haired,/ dank with poison, with awful eyes/ wolvish, ravenous; but there lies/ a light therein more cruel and dread/ than ever wolvish eyes have fed./ More huge were its limbs, its jaw more wide,/ its fangs more gleaming-sharp, and dyed/ with venom, torment, and with death./ The deadly vapour of its breath/ swept on before it. Swooning dies/ the song of Lúthien, and her eyes/ are dimmed and darkened with a fear,/ cold and poisonous and drear.
    Thus came Thû, as wolf more great/ than e'er was seen from Angband's gate/ to the burning south, than ever lurked/ in mortal lands or murder worked.

Guards were set at the haven of Moriondë in the east of the land, where the rocks are dark, watching at the king's command without ceasing for the ships' return. It was night, but there was a bright moon. They descried ships far off, and they seemed to be sailing west at a speed greater than the storm, though there was little wind. Suddenly the sea became unquiet; it rose until it became like a mountain, and it rolled upon the land. The ships were lifted up, and cast far inland, and lay in the fields. Upon that ship which was cast highest and stood dry upon a hill there was a man, or one in man's shape, but greater than any even of the race of Númenor in stature.
    He stood upon the rock and said: "This is done as a sign of power. For I am Sauron the mighty, servant of the Strong" (wherein he spoke darkly). "I have come. Be glad, men of Númenor, for I will take thy king to be my king, and the world shall be given into his hand." --The Lost Road, "The Lost Road"
The Havens of Moriondë,
by Roger Garland

Red Eye of Sauron Atop
Barad-Dûr, by Alan Lee		 It was Gil-Galad, Elven-king and Elendil of Westernesse who overthrew Sauron, though they themselves perished in the deed; and Isildur Elendil's son cut the Ring from Sauron's hand and took it for his own.--Fellowship of the Ring, "The Shadow of the Past"

The eye of Sauron, image from Decipher
Sauron fighting the Last Alliance, image from Decipher

image courtesy of IGN
image from the second commercial, available on the official movie site		 It was Isildur who cut off the finger of the Enemy' [said Frodo].
    'Yes, He has only four on the Black, Hand, but they are enough,' said Gollum, shuddering. --TTT, "The Black Gate is Closed"
The realm of Sauron is ended!' said Gandalf. 'The Ring-bearer has fulfilled his Quest.' And as the Captains gazed south to the Land of Mordor, it seemed to them that, black against the pall of cloud, there rose a huge shape of shadow, impenetrable, lightning-crowned, filling all the sky. Enormous it reared above the world, and stretched out towards them a vast threatening hand, terrible but impotent: for even as it leaned over them, a great wind took it, and it was all blown away, and passed; and then a hush fell. --RotK, "The Field of Cormallen"
The Shadow of Sauron,
by Ted Nasmith


For more on Sauron, visit the Mordor and History of the One Ring pages.
Full-size versions of these pictures are on display at Rolozo Tolkien, the official LotR movie site, and theonering.net.