November 1, 2002

Response to the Gate of Moria
Rune of Mirkwood

A great and interesting question was raised by Droio as to why Elvish was spoken at the Gate of Moria...

A little history is needed here first: Eregion,
as a land of the Elves in the west of Middle-Earth, at the Feet of the Misty Mountains. It existed during the Second Age, and is where the famous Elven Rings were made. The name translates into “Land of Holly”. It was famous for the Elves’ smithwork and trade between these Elves and the Dwarves of Moria. As a result, a friendship developed between the two races. Sadly, the Elves of Eregion became under the influence of Sauron and unwittingly, aided him in the making of the Rings of Power.

Since the Moria Gate (considered the door of Khazad-dum) which we see in the movie is facing westward to this old, Elvish land of Eregion, and its history showed us that the Dwarves were once friends to the Elves, it can kind of explain why the Elvish word for friend – “Mellon” – was able to open this great stone wall. Before the Race of Men entered Middle-Earth, Elvish was spoken by almost everyone or undertstood. Quenya, the first and ancient language, was spoken only by the High Elves and rarely spoken in Middle-Earth. Sindarin came later and was more commonly used.