27/07/2024
Khazad-Dûm: The Dwarf's Mansion - Part 1
The name of this beautiful and imposing city of the Dwarves means Mansion of the Khazâd and represents the pinnacle of art and power of this formidable race. It is even considered a symbol for its people, and it is one of the grandest works of engineering and architecture in all of Middle Earth. Another translation of Khazad-Dûm is from Westron, meaning The Mine of the Dwarf.
The name in Sindarin would be Hadhodrond, which means Vault of the Dwarves. However, this was not the Elvish name most commonly used to refer to this city; that name was Moria, which translates to Dark Pit or Black Abyss.
This kingdom is known to be the oldest, most famous, and most powerful of the Dwarf kingdoms. It was located in the caves overlooking Azanulbizar, situated at the center of the Misty Mountains, just below the peaks of Caradhras, Fanuidhol, and Celebdil, in what are rightly known as the Mountains of Moria. Khazad-Dûm was composed of a long series of mines, caves, and caverns located under the peaks of Caradhras, Celebdil, and Fanuidhol in the Misty Mountains.
The origin of this system of mines and caves remains unknown due to the scarcity of information regarding the characteristics and geological forms. As a result, it is difficult to establish the origin and formation of these caverns. The limited descriptions available suggest that the mines featured holes, cracks, chasms, arches, and bridges. However, it cannot be determined for certain whether these were natural formations or works made by the Dwarves. Despite the lack of information about Khazad-Dûm, it is certain that these caves and caverns housed large, vast, and rich mines filled with veins of precious metals and gems, with Mithril being the main source of wealth. Therefore, it is probable that the predominant composition was some type of crystalline rock. Unlike its sister peaks, Caradhras had a pink hue, while Celebdil and Fanuidhol had greyish or silvery colors. Based on this, it is assumed that at least Caradhras has a fiery origin, which would mean that it was created after a volcanic eruption.