"IN A RAVINE SHE LIVED, AND TOOK SHAPE AS A SPIDER OF MONSTROUS FORM, WEAVING HER BLACK WEBS..."
PIC(S) INFO: Mega spotlight on a First Age piece titled "Melkor Calls Forth Ungoliant," artwork by renowned Tolkien Legendarium illustrator, John Howe, c. 2003.
"In a ravine she lived, and took shape as a spider of monstrous form, weaving her black webs in a cleft of the mountains. There she sucked up all light that she could find, and spun it forth again in dark nets of strangling gloom, until no light more could come to her abode; and she was famished. Now Melkor came to Avathar and sought her out; and he put on again the form that he had worn as the tyrant of Utumno: a dark Lord, tall and terrible. In that form he remained ever after.
There in the black shadows, beyond the sight even of Manwë in his highest halls, Melkor with Ungoliant plotted his revenge. But when Ungoliant understood the purpose of Melkor, she was torn between lust and great fear; for she was loath to dare the perils of Aman and the power of the dreadful Lords, and she would not stir from her hiding. Therefore Melkor said to her: "Do as I bid; and if thou hunger still when all is done, then I will give thee whatsoever thy lust may demand. Yea, with both hands." Lightly he made this vow, as he ever did; and he laughed in his heart. Thus did the great thief set his lure for the lesser.”
-- J.R.R. TOLKIEN, "The Silmarillion," page 73-74, "Of the Darkening of Valinor," published 1977
Sources: www.reddit.com/r/tolkienfans/comments/10hxh5z, Hennen-Annun, www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/data/media/35/026-Melkor--Ungoliante-por.jpg, various, etc...
