Balrogs: Difference between revisions

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Balrogs, also called [[Valaraukar]], were a group of [[Maiar]] who were seduced by [[Morgoth]] and corrupted for his service before the coming of the [[Elves]]. They were of close relation to [[Arien]], the Maia who guided the sun. The Balrogs were originally gathered by Morgoth in his fastness of [[Utumno]] during the [[Years of the Lamps]]. This ancient fortress was eventually stormed by the [[Valar]], but the Balrogs evaded capture.
Balrogs, also called [[Valaraukar]], were a group of [[Maiar]] who were seduced by [[Morgoth]] and corrupted for his service before the coming of the [[Elves]]. They were of close relation to [[Arien]], the Maia who guided the sun. The Balrogs were originally gathered by Morgoth in his fastness of [[Utumno]] during the [[Years of the Lamps]]. This ancient fortress was eventually stormed by the [[Valar]], but the Balrogs evaded capture.


Three ages later, after Morgoth and [[Ungoliant]] had escaped from [[Valinor]] with the [[Silmarils]], the latter demanded the Silmarils for herself when they had reached [[Lammoth]]. Morgoth, overhelmed, issued a terrible scream, so the Balrogs came out from their hiding-place in the deepest pits of [[Angband]] and swiftly rescued him by cutting him free from Ungoliant's webs using their whips.  
Three ages later, after Morgoth and [[Ungoliant]] had escaped from [[Valinor]] with the [[Silmarils]], the latter demanded the Silmarils for herself when they had reached [[Lammoth]]. Morgoth, overhelmed, issued a terrible scream, so the Balrogs came out from their hiding-place in the deepest pits of [[Angband]] or Utumno and swiftly rescued him by cutting him free from Ungoliant's webs.  





Revision as of 13:47, 28 November 2017

"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.
The name Balrog refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Balrog (disambiguation).


Balrogs
People
Thomas Rouillard - Valaraukar.jpg
General Information
MembersGothmog, Durin's Bane
Physical Description
LifespanImmortal
DistinctionsMan-like, surrounded by shadow and fire, covered in smoke
Average heightTwice the height of a man
GalleryImages of Balrogs

The Balrogs, or Balrogath ("Balrog-kind") were Maiar corrupted by Morgoth during the creation of Arda, who cloaked themselves in shadow and flame and carried whips and swords. Famed Balrogs include Gothmog, slain by Ecthelion, and Durin's Bane, slain by Olórin (Gandalf).

History

Balrogs, also called Valaraukar, were a group of Maiar who were seduced by Morgoth and corrupted for his service before the coming of the Elves. They were of close relation to Arien, the Maia who guided the sun. The Balrogs were originally gathered by Morgoth in his fastness of Utumno during the Years of the Lamps. This ancient fortress was eventually stormed by the Valar, but the Balrogs evaded capture.

Three ages later, after Morgoth and Ungoliant had escaped from Valinor with the Silmarils, the latter demanded the Silmarils for herself when they had reached Lammoth. Morgoth, overhelmed, issued a terrible scream, so the Balrogs came out from their hiding-place in the deepest pits of Angband or Utumno and swiftly rescued him by cutting him free from Ungoliant's webs.


First Age.

The Balrogs were first encountered by the Elves during the last events of the Dagor-nuin-Giliath ("Battle under the Stars"). After the victory of the Noldorin Elves over Morgoth's forces, the Elf Lord Fëanor pressed on towards Angband, but the Balrogs came up against him. He was surrounded and fought long against them before being mortally wounded by Gothmog, Lord of the Balrogs. Though Fëanor's sons fought off the demons of fire, Fëanor died of his wounds soon after.

It was a group of Balrogs to ambush and capture Maedros, who was thereafter enchained to the high cliffs of Thangorodrim.

At the Dagor Bragollach the Balrogs came out of Angband following Glaurung the Urulókë.

At the Nirnaeth Arnoediad they overhelmed, along with Dragons and Wargs, the troops of Maedros; in the same battle, Gothmog and another Balrog killed Fingon, High-King of the Noldor.

A few years later, Gothmog leaded the storming of the city of Gondolin, and hosts of other Balrogs participated to the assault;[1] then he fought with Echtelion and both died. One Balrog ambushed the survivors at Cirith Thoronath; he duelled with Glorfindel and they killed each other.

After the last battles of the War of Wrath, a few Balrogs escaped the Valars and hid deep underground, in inaccessible places at the roots of the earth.


Third Age.

The Dwarves of Khazad-dûm unwittingly released a Balrog, afterwards known as Durin's Bane, while mining for mithril. The Balrog killed Durin VI, then Náin I, so the dwarves were eventually driven out of Moria. The same Balrog later battled with Gandalf on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm and they killed each other.

Other versions of the Legendarium

In one of Tolkien's early Middle-earth writings, The Lay of the Children of Húrin, "Lungorthin, Lord of Balrogs" is mentioned. No other Balrog is known by name.

Originally, in the earlier scripts, the Balrogs were envisioned as being immense in numbers: one thousand, it is said. They were described as large demons of fire in metal armours, armed with steel claws, darts, and iron whips. They were incredibly swift and dreadful, to the point that infamous were the sayings swifter than Balrogs, and the tortures of the Balrogs. They had no wings, though.

With the description of Durin's Bane in The Lord of the Rings, the author changed his mind about these demons. The creature was now depicted, in fact, even more powerful and larger than the previous ones, and armed with a flaming sword and whip, and capable of flying with huge wings. Tolkien had not, however, the time or will to modify the older writings; he only noted that of such creatures there should not be supposed more than say 3 or at most 7 ever existed.[2]

Thus a deep difference still remains between the Silmarillion Balrogs and the one that's depicted in The Lord of the Rings, and it is very difficult to imaginate how these two kinds could cohexist, if not perhaps by postulating that both a lesser and a lord Balrog did exist.

Etymology

Balrog is Sindarin for "Demon of Might" from bal-, "power" and raug, rog, "demon".

The Quenya form Valarauko points to a possible Primitive Quendian form *balaraukô.

In the earlier Etymologies, the word Balrog was derived from ñgwalaraukô,[3] but this is inconsistent with Quenya Valarauko.

A list of Old English equivalents of Elvish words, glosses Balrog as having the equivalent Bealuwearg and Bealubroga. As noted by Christopher Tolkien, the Old English word contains the elements bealu ("evil"; as in bale(ful)) and wearg ("wolf, outlaw") or broga ("terror").[4]

Portrayal in adaptations

See Also

External links

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "III. The Fall of Gondolin"
  2. Morgoth's Ring, Section 2 (AAm*): note 50)
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, The Etymologies, RUK
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "III. The Quenta: Appendix 1: Fragments of a translation of The Quenta Noldorinwa into Old English, made by Ælfwine or Eriol; together with Old English equivalents of Elvish names", p. 209
Ainur
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Maiar Arien · Blue Wizards · Eönwë · Gandalf · Ilmarë · Melian · Ossë · Radagast · Salmar · Saruman · Tilion · Uinen
Úmaiar Sauron · Balrogs (Gothmog · Durin's Bane) · Boldogs
Concepts and locations Almaren · Aratar (indicated in italics) · Creation of the Ainur · Fana · Máhanaxar · Ainulindalë · Order of Wizards (indicated in bold) · Second Music of the Ainur · Timeless Halls · Valarin · Valinor · Valimar