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33 votes
5 answers
87k views

Who were the Nazgûl before they became wraiths?

I recall reading somewhere of the history of the nine riders, but I cannot remember where it was. (It seems perhaps they were from northern kingdoms?) The leader of the Nine was the Witch-king of ...
S. Albano's user avatar
  • 2,912
33 votes
1 answer
6k views

Where were the Dúnedain when the Nazgûl entered the Shire?

The Dúnedain Rangers had been guarding the Shire for some time when the Nazgûl came and entered the land of the Hobbits during their hunt for the Ring. How did the Nazgûl get past the border patrols, ...
user31546's user avatar
  • 7,682
31 votes
1 answer
14k views

The Nazgûl are afraid of fire, but can they be harmed by it?

When Aragorn and the Hobbits are on Weathertop, just after seeing the Nazgûl below them and prior to inflicting Frodo's knife wound, Aragorn says the following: Sauron can put fire to his evil uses, ...
bazz's user avatar
  • 14.4k
30 votes
1 answer
32k views

How Was the Sound of the Nazgûl Composed?

Yes, yes, I am a complete freak. I think the screech/scream of the Nazgûl is both AWESOME and terrifying at the same time. I love it even though it makes me shiver! How was the sound of the Nazgûl ...
Slytherincess's user avatar
30 votes
1 answer
7k views

What kind of Wraith would Frodo have become?

When Frodo is stabbed by the Witch King of Angmar's Morgul blade at Weathertop, Aragorn explains that Frodo is slowly becoming a wraith himself, the longer he goes untreated. If Frodo had become a ...
Slytherincess's user avatar
28 votes
7 answers
9k views

How did the Witch King of Angmar get his sword back?

Spoilers for Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: The Witch King clearly has his sword in The Fellowship of the Ring. How and when did he get his sword back? Judging by the shape of the ...
Slytherincess's user avatar
28 votes
2 answers
2k views

In 'The Lord of the Rings', are the Ringwraiths really alive?

In the book, The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien often talks about the central concept of the Rings of Power, namely that the Great Rings preserve life. Gollum, for one, is incredibly old, having possessed ...
Ed999's user avatar
  • 1,596
27 votes
3 answers
20k views

Is it Éowyn or Merry who kills the Lord of the Nazgûl (or both)?

In the Lord of the Rings when the Lord of the Nazgûl is killed, there seems to be some confusion as to exactly who is responsible? Is the reason down to the sword of the Barrow Downs that Merry stabs ...
bazz's user avatar
  • 14.4k
27 votes
2 answers
23k views

What exactly is the Witch-king of Angmar?

The movies tell you that the Witch-king is another just Nazgûl, albeit their king, but the books seemed to suggest that he was a man. And the fact that he was the Necromancer, briefly mentioned in The ...
Lord Apricot's user avatar
  • 2,736
25 votes
5 answers
19k views

What is the creature that the Nazgûl ride called?

What are the dragon-like creatures that the Nazgûl ride in the later part of the series called? Anything in relation to the books or movie and out of universe answers.
KyloRen's user avatar
  • 24.7k
25 votes
1 answer
5k views

Why did the Witch King wait till the gate was broken before entering Minas Tirith?

In The Return of the King, the Witch King of Angmar is mounted on a flying fell beast. When the gate of Minas Tirith is broken down, he quickly rushes in to confront Gandalf. But he is mounted on ...
Wad Cheber's user avatar
  • 70.1k
24 votes
3 answers
5k views

What did the Nazgûl do before Sauron rose again?

It is my understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong) that hundreds, if not thousands, of years passed between Isildur defeating Sauron, and Sauron's renewed rise to power. Is there any detail in ...
DVK-on-Ahch-To's user avatar
23 votes
2 answers
6k views

Shrieking noise, Nazgûl or his beast?

Who makes that shrieking noise, the Nazgûl or the beasts they ride on?
IamVeryCuriousIndeed's user avatar
23 votes
4 answers
8k views

Why did the Rings turn Nazgûl invisible and their clothes visible, while The One Ring turned both invisible?

Nazgûl themselves are invisible as human flesh, due to their 9 rings transposing them into the realm of shadows: And they became forever invisible save to him that wore the Ruling Ring, and they ...
DVK-on-Ahch-To's user avatar
22 votes
5 answers
4k views

Are Ringwraiths the only Wraiths in Middle-earth?

After reading this answer to my question about wraiths, ghosts, and wights in Middle-earth, I understand that Ringwraiths are the result of people who have been corrupted by using the rings, but that ...
Tango's user avatar
  • 108k

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