However, it is not certain where Sauron dwelt during Melkor's imprisonment. It is possible that Sauron remained in the ruins of Angband with the Balrogs, as he had presumably been commanding the fortress when it was attacked. Eventually, the Orcs began to multiply in great numbers in Angband's ruins, and soon made their way south into Beleriand, threatening the Dwarves and Thingol's kingdom. After Melkor's defeat at Utumno, the Balrogs came to Angband and went into hibernation in its ruined foundations. However, Angband's underground vaults and caverns were left relatively intact after the Valar's onslaught, as they were in great haste to capture Melkor for the sake of keeping the newly-awakened Elves safe. However, at the initiation of the War for Sake of the Elves, the assault of the Valar leveled Angband without much difficulty, and they swiftly moved on to Melkor's primary stronghold of Utumno. Melkor originally built Angband to guard against a possible attack from Aman by the Valar, and placed it under the command of Sauron. There were also mines within Angband that extended deeper than Morgoth's throne room. At the foundation of Angband was the entrance to Morgoth's throne room in the Nethermost Hall. There were also many tunnels leading to the slave quarters or vaults. A tall chimney went from Morgoth's gigantic blast furnaces and smithies, up through the mountain to the smokey towers of Thangorodrim. Through the gate, there was a long great tunnel leading to a 'labyrinthine pyramid' of stairs to corridors, tunnels, and smithy chambers. Before the Great Gate, there was a somber court area flanked by frightening cliffs and walled by the towers of a great battlement. Map of Hithlum and the Northern Lands by Karen Wynn Fonstad from The Atlas of Middle-earthĪngband was a primarily subterranean stronghold under the three volcanic mountains of Thangorodrim, the largest mountains in Middle-earth.
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