The story of Khazad-Dûm

Khazad-Dûm, also known as Moria, is one of the oldest and most prestigious Dwarven cities in Middle-earth in JRR Tolkien 's universe. Located beneath the Misty Mountains, this gigantic underground city is both a testament to the Dwarves' ingenuity and mastery of construction, as well as the scene of some of the most significant events in the history of their people. Its history is deeply linked to the wealth of mithril , a rare and precious metal, and to the tragic destiny of the Dwarves who lived there.

The founding of Khazad-Dûm

Khazad-Dûm was founded during the First Age by Durin I , also called Durin the Deathless, the oldest and most respected ancestor of the Dwarves. According to legend, he settled near Lake Kheled-zâram (the Mirror Lake) where he received a prophetic vision of the future greatness of his people. He named the mountain Khazad-Dûm , which means "Home of the Dwarves" in Khuzdul (the language of the Dwarves).

Durin I then began the construction of a vast underground city beneath the Misty Mountains. Over the centuries, Khazad-Dûm became not only an impregnable fortress, but also a thriving trading center thanks to its vast mines. The Dwarves, known for their exceptional craftsmanship, extracted various resources there, including gold, silver and, above all, mithril , a unique metal highly coveted for its lightness and strength.

The Golden Age of Khazad-Dûm

The Second Age marks the height of Khazad-Dûm. The city becomes the largest and most powerful of all the Dwarven colonies. It attracts craftsmen, merchants, and even trade relations with other peoples, such as the Elves of Eregion to the west. The latter, under the leadership of Celebrimbor , form an alliance with the Dwarves to create objects of great power. It is during this period that the production of mithril reaches its peak, ensuring the prosperity of the city.

During this age, the road to Khazad-Dûm stretched across the Misty Mountains and beyond. The city was immensely wealthy, and the Dwarves built immense halls, bridges, and stairways that demonstrated their architectural ingenuity. Their influence extended far into Middle-earth.

The Decline and Fall

The decline of Khazad-Dûm began in the Third Age , when the Dwarves became too greedy for mithril. They dug deeper and deeper into the mountains, until they awakened an ancient and fearsome creature: a Balrog , also called Durin's Bane . This creature is one of the Maiar corrupted by Morgoth, and its power exceeds that of the Dwarves. When awakened, the Balrog sows destruction throughout the city.

Durin VI, King of Khazad-Dûm at the time, was killed by the Balrog, as was his son Náin I , causing the Dwarves to abandon the city. Those who survived went into exile, and Khazad-Dûm, now known as Moria (meaning "the black abyss" in Sindarin, the language of the Elves), was left to the darkness and control of the Balrog.

For centuries, Khazad-Dûm remained an abandoned city, haunted by the Balrog and other dark creatures such as Orcs. Several attempts were made by the Dwarves to reclaim it, but they all ended in tragic failure.

The temporary reopening and redemption of the Dwarves

Towards the end of the Third Age, Balin , a Dwarf of the line of Durin, decides to lead an expedition to restore Khazad-Dûm to its former glory. Accompanied by several Dwarves from the Lonely Mountain, he succeeds in settling in Moria for a few years. However, this attempt to restore the Dwarven kingdom is short-lived. The Orcs, still present in the depths of Moria, end up besieging and killing Balin and his companions, leaving Khazad-Dûm to darkness once again.

The Fellowship of the Ring and the Destruction of the Balrog

One of the crucial stages of the Fellowship of the Ring's quest in The Lord of the Rings takes place in Moria. Fleeing Saruman's forces, the Fellowship travels through the dark corridors of the abandoned city. It is there that Gandalf the Grey confronts and ultimately destroys the Balrog in an epic duel over the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm . This confrontation definitively ends the threat of Durin's Bane, but at the cost of Gandalf's (temporary) life.

Conclusion

Khazad-Dûm embodies both the greatness and the tragedy of the Dwarven people. From a prosperous and influential city, it becomes a place of curse, darkness and solitude. Despite several attempts to rehabilitate it, Khazad-Dûm remains forever marked by the fall of Durin and the creatures that haunted it. However, its history lives on in Dwarven legends, and it symbolizes the perseverance and love of this people for stone and manual work.

Image credit: @JulienGauthier