What do the Ring Wraiths Ride On?
The Ringwraiths, also known as the Nazgûl, are infamous for riding Hell-hawks, which resemble a “cross between lizards and featherless birds“, and normal horses, not a specific breed, but rather ordinary horses that they use as mounts. These Hell-hawks were bred by Sauron in mockery of the Great Eagles and are found wild in southern Mirkwood and, after the War of the Ring, in Gondor.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
- What breed of horse did the Nazgul ride? The Nazgul rode normal horses, not a specific breed, but rather ordinary horses that they used as mounts.
- Who are the 9 Ringwraiths? All the Nazgûl are named, including The Witch-king of Angmar, The Dark Marshal, Khamûl The Easterling, The Betrayer, The Shadow Lord, The Undying, The Dwimmerlaik, The Tainted, and The Knight of Umbar.
- Why can’t Ringwraiths cross water? The Nazgûl feared the power of Ulmo, and believed that some of his power might still flow through the waters of Middle-earth, hence why they avoided it as much as they could.
Character-Specific Questions
- Is Isildur a Ringwraith? In the book, Isildur is not a Ringwraith, but in the video game Middle-earth: Shadow of War, he is made into a Nazgûl or Ringwraith by Sauron.
- Why did Isildur become a Nazgûl? According to the video game, Sauron revived Isildur with one of the nine rings, and then tortured him until his spirit was broken and he became a Nazgûl.
- Is Isildur Aragorn’s Father? No, Isildur is not Aragorn’s father, but rather his ancestor, as Aragorn is a descendant of Isildur and Elendil.
Ring and Nazgûl Questions
- Why didn’t Gollum become a Ringwraith? Gollum was resistant to the Ring because he was of hobbit-kind, and the Ring’s power was slower to affect him.
- Can the Nazgul see Frodo with the ring on? Yes, if someone were to put on the One Ring, the Nazgûl would be able to see them clearly.
- Why didn’t the Ringwraiths go after Smeagol? The Ringwraiths were unable to pursue Smeagol because they were too weak and unaware that they should be seeking the Ring.
Character Background Questions
- Was Celebrimbor evil? In the book, Celebrimbor is not inherently evil, but in the movie, he is portrayed as the mastermind behind the creation of the Rings of Power.
- Who was the Witch-king of Angmar before he turned? The Witch-king is believed to be one of the three Black Númenóreans who became Nazgûl, possibly Isilmo, a Númenórean prince.
- Why are the Nazgul afraid of water? The Nazgûl fear the power of Ulmo, which they believe still flows through the waters of Middle-earth.
Aragorn and Horse Questions
- What does Legolas call Shadowfax? Legolas recognizes Shadowfax as one of the Mearas, a breed of horse.
- What is Aragorn’s horse called? Aragorn rides a horse named Brego, which was invented for the Lord of the Rings film series.
- Did Aragorn know Frodo had the Ring? Aragorn knew about Frodo and the Ring because Gandalf confided in him and asked him to look for Frodo.