For the version of the character from The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power - see here
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Shelob was a Great Spider descended from the abhorred ancient monstrosity known as Ungoliant. Inhabiting the tunneled pass Cirith Ungol, she feasted on the hapless beings that made their way into her lair. The ceaseless hunger that controlled her every action drew her to Sauron, whom she only half-heartedly acknowledged as her princely master.
While acting as the convenient border guard of Mordor, she became acquainted with the creature Gollum, whom she spared on the promise that he would fetch her unwitting morsels to consume. Her offspring mingled with the other spawn of Ungoliant and terrorized Mirkwood, with her daughter Saenathra aiding Sauron in all his purposes there.
History[]
With a lineage traced to the dreaded Ungoliant, Shelob lived in the barren black land of Mordor, having made her abode in Cirith Ungol near the stairs leading up from Minas Ithil - later named Minas Morgul. Though not so keen on bending her spindly spider "knee" to Sauron, the two understood the need of each other: Shelob made a far better protector of the pass into Mordor than the local garrison and in return her master sometimes provided her with treats (usually prisoners he had no further use for) or minded not when she fed on the unfortunate Orc patrols that wandered into her cave.
Shelob had many offspring, mightiest among them being Saenathra, who left for Mirkwood alongside other Great Spiders begotten by Ungoliant they gathered to Sauron around the seemingly abandoned fortress of Dol Guldur. There they served him, spread vast networks of webs to ensnare their prey and boldly attacked the neighboring Woodland Realm of Thranduil the Elven-king.[1] Gollum encountered Shelob during his stay in Mordor and would forge an uneasy alliance with her: in exchange for the Great Spider not ending him then and there, the creature would bring her tastier meals for her to sate her appetite.
During the War of the Ring, Gollum led Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee to Cirith Ungol, hoping that Shelob would devour the halflings and indirectly allow him to recover his "precious". Sam turned around just before entering the caves and Gollum abandoned Frodo inside. Shelob attempted to capture the scared Frodo in her webs but he used Sting to cut himself free and used the Phial of Galadriel's light to keep her at bay. Finally outside of the main cave, the halfling was taken by surprise and was stung by Shelob from behind, falling paralyzed to the ground like a "boned fish". She then hastily wrapped up her prey in a cocoon but was interrupted by Sam who attacked her with Sting in hand and after a short skirmish was able to fatally wound the spider. An injured Shelob disappeared through a small crevice back into her and it is unknown whether she died of her wounds by the time of Sauron's downfall.[2]
Relationships[]
Family
Allies
Enemies
- Frodo Baggins
- Samwise Gamgee (assumed slayer)
