Snaga

Snaga was a contemptuous term^[1] that was used in the Third Age for the lowest or lesser breeds of the Orcs of Mordor and Isengard. The term was used most especially among the larger and stronger Uruk-hai.

History[]

In the year 3019, there was an Orc addressed as Snaga in the band of Isengarders led by Uglúk tasked to pursue the Fellowship of the Ring. After the band captured Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took, two of the four hobbits, they were tasked with returning with them to Saruman. When Uglúk believed that the Rohirrim had been made aware of them, Snaga was blamed for it and the Uruk-hai captain then threatened that he would cut off his ears.^[2]

Snaga was killed with the rest of the Orc-band on February 29 by Éomer's éored.^[2]

One of the Mordor-orcs in the Tower of Cirith Ungol under Shagrat's command was addressed as Snaga. He was his only surviving subordinate after the Quarrel with Gorbag's company. He met Samwise Gamgee on the stairs of the tower before running off to the higher levels. However, he then got in the way of Shagrat, whom he had betrayed. The Uruk captain began to threaten that he would either be fed to Shelob or killed in a similar manner to the traitorous Radbug. Snaga mockingly told him that all of his loyal soldiers had been killed by the Orcs led by Gorbag. Shagrat attempted to kill the lesser Orc, who evaded him and climbed the stairs to where the captive Frodo Baggins was. Snaga began to torture the hobbit prisoner until Sam attacked him. The two fought until Snaga lost his balance and died falling through the level's trap door.^[3]

Etymology[]

Snaga is a word in the Black Speech meaning "slave"^[1] or "servant".^[4]

Coincidentally, Snaga means "strength" in many Slavic languages, including Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian.^{[citation needed]}

In adaptations[]

In The Return of the King (1980)[]

Two Orcs appear in the role of Snaga, though none are called or credited as such. Sam encounters one on the stairs, who runs, trips and falls to his doom. A second orc is lashing Frodo. After a short fight, he too falls to his doom.

In the 1981 Radio series[]

The Snaga in Uglúk's band and the Snaga in the Tower of Cirith Ungol appeared in The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series), voiced by Gordon Reid.

In the 1989 Crack of Doom Software Adventure[]

Snaga is simply referred to in-game as a "small rat-faced Orc", and is armed with a short knife. Like in the book, he will flee upon first seeing Sam, leading the player on a short chase through the tower until he reaches the "large angry Orc". He can be killed by Sam.

In Middle-earth Collectable Card Game[]

In the Middle-earth Collectible Card Game, the "Snaga-hai" appear as a faction of Orcs, portrayed on a card by artist Steve Otis.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers[]

"Why can't we have some meats? (notices Merry and Pippin)... What about them? They're fresh."

—Snaga to Uglúk about Merry and Pippin

In Peter Jackson's film adaptation of The Two Towers, the Snaga in Uglúk's band (portrayed by Jed Brophy and voiced by Andy Serkis) is depicted as a young scout brought by Grishnákh to help him gain control of Merry and Pippin and hurry them (though it is unclear if all the lesser Orcs or only Grishnákh are from Mordor, as they look similar to those from Isengard). His personality and role are rather like that of the Moria-orcs who are absent from the film, but appear in the books and attempt to eat the captives. Hunger for fresh meat eventually overcame his limited discipline and loyalty to the Dark Lord Sauron. After one of the Orcs known as Mauhúr begins to say that they haven't eaten anything except maggoty food for three days, Snaga joins in and adds that their captives "look fresh" until he is denied his meal by the Uruk-hai scouts loyal to the Eye of Sauron and the White Hand of Isengard. He eventually tried to get "just a mouthful" of the two captured Hobbits by sneaking in behind Uglúk, who was making sure the captives got to Isengard unharmed and unspoiled. When the Orc attempted to kill Merry and Pippin, Uglúk saw him and lobbed off his head, after which the Uruk-hai cannibalize his corpse.

The term Snaga is often used by the franchise's numerous toy and collectibles manufacturers, such as 3-D entertainment model producer Gentle Giant Studios, which released an exclusive sculpted Snaga bust, limited to 1500 pieces, in May 2008. Most of the models are based on rendering in the live-action films.

Gallery[]

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