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In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional world of Middle-earth, Angband (Sindarin for 'Hells of Iron', although the literal meaning is 'iron prison') is the name of the fortress of Melkor, constructed before the First Age, located in the Iron Mountains in the enemy's realm Dor Daedeloth north of Beleriand. Morgoth built it to guard against a possible attack from Aman by the Valar, and put Sauron in command of it. Nonetheless, the Valar's attack succeeded in capturing Melkor (who had been called 'Morgoth') and destroying his other stronghold Utumno. After three ages of imprisonment, Melkor returned to Middle-earth and set himself up in Angband, raising the volcanic Thangorodrim over the Fortress as protection. He never came out of it again but once, when challenged to a single combat by the Elven king Fingolfin. He reigned there until the end of the First Age, when it was destroyed in the War of Wrath.
[edit] Trivia
In earlier versions of Tolkien's mythology (see The History of Middle-earth) it was called Angamandi, the Quenya form of the name.
