The Tower of Cirith Ungol was a fortress of three tiers built into the rock at the head of the high pass above Minas Morgul, raised by Gondor of old to keep watch upon Mordor, but long since seized and manned by Orcs as a guard upon the secret stair. Thither the orcs bore the paralysed Frodo after Shelob's sting; and there the garrison fell to quarrelling over his mithril coat and slew one another almost to the last, so that Sam, coming alone with Sting and the Phial of Galadriel, was able to climb the tower and rescue his master.