The greatest of the spawn of Ungoliant, Shelob is an enormous and malevolent spider who dwelt in the tunnels of Cirith Ungol, guarding one of the passes into Mordor. Sauron tolerated her presence as a useful guard and occasionally fed her prisoners. She had dwelt there since before Sauron returned to Mordor. Gollum, who knew of her, led Frodo and Sam into her lair, hoping she would kill them so he could recover the Ring. Shelob stung Frodo with her venomous stinger, paralyzing him, but Sam drove her back with the Phial of Galadriel and wounded her with Sting, piercing one of her great eyes and stabbing her belly. She retreated into her tunnels, and her fate is unknown.