Spotlight On Middle-Earth : Khazad-dûm

For many thousands of years the Dwarf clan known as the Longbeards lived in Moria. The name given to Moria by the Dwarves is Khazad-dûm, which means Delving of the Dwarves. Khazad-dum was founded before the Fist Age, in The Years of the Trees by Durin 'the deathless', the eldest of the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves. After Durin awoke in Mount Gundabad, he came south to the Dimrill Dale. There he looked into beautiful lake Mirrormere and saw a crown of stars appear above his head. In the caves above the dale, Durin established his realm Khazad-dûm, what would one day known as Moria.

Durin was a fair ruler and ruled his people for many years. He died before the end of the First Age, and he was laid to rest in Moria but his line continued along the ties of time and the realm of  Khazad-dûm grew and expanded over the course of the centuries.  The halls were once filled with light and music and life. The Dwarves found great riches, including the metal called Mithril, which can be found nowhere else in Middle-earth. They forged weapons and many things of incredible beauty, and they traded their crafts with Men and Elves for food.

In the Second Age,  Khazad-dûm reached the height of its glory. The Elves founded the realm of Eregion on the western side of the Misty Mountains in the year 750 of the Second Age. They engaged in trade with the Dwarves of  Khazad-dûm and traffic flowed daily in and out of the West-gate. The two races were on friendly terms, and in particular the great craftsmen - Narvi of the Dwarves and Celebrimbor of the Elves - became close friends. Together they crafted the Doors of Durin, which stood open most of the time guarded only by wardens, for the land was at peace.

Unknown to the dwarves a Balrog slept in the deeps beneath Khazad-dûm  - in their constant search for Mithril, the dwarves dag deeper and deeper into the mountain, so deep that one day they awoke the Balrog,  and when it awoke the Dwarves were driven from their home. Today the halls of  Khazad-dûm are taken over by Orcs and other evil creatures and it is now known as Moria, the Black Chasm, was, and still is a place of fear and dread. 

In 2989 of the Third Age , there was an attempt by the Longbeards to reclaim their ancient home. The expedition was led by Balin,son of Fundin who had accompanied Bilbo Baggins on the quest to reclaim Erebor from the dragon Smaug. Balin led a colony of Dwarves to Moria from Erebor. The Colony was successful at first, killing a considerable number of Orcs, taking many of the Eastern halls and finding many lost treasures. They were however defeated and slain by the Orcs in 2994 T.A. Possibly at some point after this, Aragorn Chieftain of the Dúnedain came to Khazad-dûm for some unknown purpose, sadly our sources were unable to reveal more about the most recent expedition in Moria.

article by Amorey - Laurelin Archives Webteam