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the lord of the rings - What exactly are the Watchers that guard the Tower of Cirith Ungol in Mordor?


When Sam attempts to rescue Frodo from the Tower of Cirith Ungol his path is initially blocked by the Two Watchers and he has to use the phial of Galadriel to pass them:



He drew Sting and ran towards the open gate. But just as he was about to pass under its great arch he felt a shock: as if he had run into some web like Shelob's, only invisible. He could see no obstacle, but something too strong for his will to overcome barred the way. He looked about, and then within the shadow of the gate he saw the Two Watchers.



There is no mention as to what exactly the Watchers are, only some insinuation that they contain some kind of evil force. Is a description of what the watchers are made in any of the literature outside of the Lord of the Rings?



Answer




No, we never receive any further information about the Watchers other than what is in LotR.


There are roughly three scenarios:



  • They were built and magicked into sentience by the Gondorians when the Tower was first built, then corrupted when it was captured by Sauron.

  • The statues were built by Gondorians, but they were possessed by evil spirits of some kind after the Tower's capture.

  • The statues/creatures were added after Sauron's capture of the Tower and are undoubtedly evil.


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