The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: The Glory and Fall of Khazad-dum

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER

August 28, 2024 at 21:00

“The Lord of the Rings” showed us Khazad-dum only as the gloomy ruins of Moria. Thanks to the Amazon series “The Rings of Power” we experience the dwarves’ mining town for the first time before its destruction.

The Amazon Prime Video series “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” is about the dark ruler Sauron, who threatened the peace in Middle Earth. In a battle between the elves and Sauron, the dwarves of Khazad-dum helped the forces of the half-elf Elrond (Robert Aramayo).

In the deep, unexplored depths of the Misty Mountains lies a legend that tells of fame, wealth and immeasurable tragedy: Khazad-dum. This massive underground fortress known as Moria was once the shining heart of the Dwarven kingdom in Middle-earth. Yet the story of Khazad-dum is not only one of greatness and splendour, but also of pride and fall.

Khazad-dum was founded in the First Age by Durin I the Undying and built by the Dwarves. Khazad-dum was the greatest of all the Dwarven cities.

The city consisted of numerous halls, chambers and an extensive cave system. In these, the dwarves mined for mithril, a very valuable and rare metal. This brought the dwarves untold wealth, because mithril was only found in the mines of Khazad-dum. Later, small deposits were also found in Aglarond, from which the great gate of Minas Tirith was made.

The rise of the dwarven empire

In the early Second Age, Khazad-dum flourished under the rule of the Dwarves. The proud inhabitants dug deep tunnels into the mountains, discovered the rare Mithril, and built an empire unrivaled in its splendor. Their halls were adorned with precious stones, and their works were legendary. The name “Khazad-dum” itself means “Empire of the Dwarves,” and its splendor attracted visitors from all over the world.

But the story of Khazad-dum took a dark turn. The dwarves’ insatiable urge to dig ever deeper led them to the darkest depths of the mountain. There they awakened something that would have been better left forgotten: the Balrog. The creature was an ancient fire demon. It came from Chaos and brought destruction and ruin to the halls of the dwarves.

The battle against the Balrog was devastating. The once magnificent halls became a place of terror. The Dwarves were forced to abandon their beloved city, and Khazad-dum became a ghostly shadow of its former self, known as Moria, meaning “black deep”.

The dark shadow dwellers of Moria

After the Dwarves left Khazad-dum, it became a mysterious and dangerous place. For centuries it was populated by the dark being of the Balrog and other creatures who dwelt in its abandoned halls. Tales of lost wealth and glory of Khazad-dum became legend that only the bravest adventurers dared to explore.

Khazad-dum in “The Lord of the Rings”

In “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”, the nine companions reached the Gates of Durin and were able to escape in Moria after fleeing from the Watcher in the Water.

There they found the Chamber of Mazarbul, where the last dwarf ruler of the city, Balin, had his burial place. As the companions crossed the bridge of Khazad-dum, Gandalf stood in the way of the Balrog and fell with him into the depths. The rest of the group was then able to escape through the Shadow Gate.

Khazad-dum in “The Rings of Power”

In the Rings of Power series, Khazad-dum is depicted as a radiant and impressive subterranean realm. The architecture is majestic and ornate, with sprawling halls and intricately designed details that reflect the wealth and skill of the dwarves. The city is presented as a place of tremendous beauty and engineering mastery.

Dwarf King Durin IV and his family are central figures who control the fate of the city and its inhabitants. Even though Khazad-dum is still in its prime in the series, the first signs of problems and conflicts are already being hinted at that will later lead to its destruction.

Streaming service Amazon Prime Video is showing “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” in its program. The second season of “The Rings of Power” revolves around the rise of Sauron with a focus on the creation of the Rings of Power. He strives to lead Middle Earth into a dark future. The peoples of Middle Earth must face new threats and forge alliances that will have a decisive influence on the fate of the world in the Second Age.