Your initial idea — that some ancient lock lay in the center of the gate — proves wrong. The "gate" is sealed,

EnglishDeutschFrançaisРусский简体中文日本語

Your initial idea — that some ancient lock lay in the center of the gate — proves wrong. The "gate" is sealed, a solid wall with neither lock nor latch nor keyhole. Perhaps the gate was not meant to be opened — it was meant to seal something inside.

Related passages

Your initial idea — that some ancient lock lay in the center of the gate —… — Kingmaker