Spiders
 

There is just something i was wondering about. Shelob and Ungoliant(correct me if this is wrong) are both giant spiders. Are they somehow related?

"Shelob the Great, last child of Ungoliant to trouble the unhappy world" - JRRT, The Two Towers

Thanks! I never noticed that. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I am not sure if the word child is meant to be taken literally. It might simply mean 'decendant', not immediate child.

I have a feeling this discussion will turn far away from its original course because of my post. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Yes and I will do it....who here hates or is afraid of spiders?

I hate spiders...yuk.

I was just curious about it. It's hard to get all the details the first few times you read the book. But, I'll keep reading!

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 4:03 AM December 18, 2003: Message edited by: Thorongil ]

Another way you could phrase it is by saying Shelob was one of the spawn* of Ungoliant...I have seen Shelob refered to in this manner multiple times.

*Spawn:- 2. progeny or offspring, especially if numerous.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 5:08 AM December 18, 2003: Message edited by: Iargwath ]

I saw in the silmarillion it sad that Ungoliant mated with other spiders.

Of course she had to, in order to keep her race alive. And Shelob was said to be the last of her race. How she was able to reach Cirith Ungol when Ungoliant came from Nan Dungortheb in Beleriand, I do not know.

Sorry for straying from the topic with my last statement.

I don't care if people strays. When people stray, I learn new things, so that's a god thing. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Ungoliant traveled to the distant south in her last days, so it's not unlikely that she would lay an egg somewhere in the vicinity of Mordor.

Don't forget the spiders of Mirkwood too. Its a nasty habit of spiders that they tend to eat their husbands, create hundreds of offspring and have far too many legs for their own good.

I'd imagine that the Mirkwood spiders were somehow related to Ungoliant as they could understand speech, which surely implies some Maiar or whatever input. I expect Shelob had simply eaten any competitors in her area, whereas in the dense forests of Mirkwood it would be difficult for this to happen.

The ones in Mirkwood are Shelob's kids (and presumably grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc) in LotR! [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img]