What are the Balrog

[joe]

I missed the discussion about the balrogs. What are they - where did they come from Are they servants from Sauron (or Morgoth) or are the creatures with own free will?? Who knows?

[Rûdhaglarien]

I could be completely wrong, but I always thought that they were creatures with their own free will... hey, I am just a teenager, afterall, what do I know?

[Ñólendil]

There are many teenagers here who have come claim to knowledge. I am a lover of knowledge, though I have lived but six and ten years under the Sun.

The Balrogs are essentially Demons. "Balrog" in full signifies "a powerful, terrible, hostile creature of might". It is usually translated "Demon of Might". The Balrogs were in their beginning of the Ainur, the Holy Ones. The Balrogs however Fell and came to serve Morgoth the Dark Lord. There were, according to Tolkien "(say) three or at most seven" of them. They were the chief servants of Melkor, save, it may be said, Sauron his Lieutenant. They seem to have been akin in their beginning to Arië, the Maia of the Sun.

[Rûdhaglarien]

Like I said, what do I know?? Hey, I'm not ashamed of being uninfrormed, it allows me to learn something new, right??

[Sister Golden Hair]

Ok, this thread will remain open, unless the subject of wings is brought up. NO WINGS!!!

[Sister Golden Hair]

I think that the Middle-earth forum is more appropriate for this thread. Moving.

[Archbob the Elder]

They were Maiar spirit at first who came to the splendor of Melkor in the days before the earth. After Melkor's fall, he made them his servants in his benevolence and game them great power. They were some of the great lord's best servants.

[Artanis]

Originally posted by Ñólendil
The Balrogs were in their beginning of the Ainur, the Holy Ones. The Balrogs however Fell and came to serve Morgoth the Dark Lord.

Just to make sure I understand you: Are you saying that the Balrogs ceased to be Maiar after their fall?

[Radagast The Brown]

(i think) they were still "the holly ones" but evil holly ones, like Melkor and Sauron (they were still strong and immortal). However, they were more week and they were stuck in the balrog boddy.

[Artanis]

Melkor was in origin of the Ainur but was expelled from the order. So perhaps the Ainur that became Balrogs were expelled as well?

[Radagast The Brown]

Melkor didn't expell from the order of the Ainur, he did from the order of the valar.

[Artanis]

Ah... you are right of course. Thanks.

[Ñólendil]

Just to make sure I understand you: Are you saying that the Balrogs ceased to be Maiar after their fall?

Yes and no. "Maiar" is a name in Quenya given those spirits by the Vanyar and/or Ñoldor of Aman. It means "the Beautiful".* It is most definitely unsuitable for a Balrog. The Balrogs, Fallen though they were, were nonetheless still of the same order they always were: of the first created spirits, servants of the Authorities. Of course, as Balrogs they served only one Authority, the Dark Enemy who was not accounted among the Valar. So it depends on who you ask. A more fitting word (than "Maiar") for the Balrogs would be Raucar, though in Sindarin this is Rogs. Balrogs are Balrogs.



*They must have been beautiful indeed, to have been called so by the High Elves, most fair of all the Fair Folk, all of whom's beauty is beyond mortal measure.

[Michael Martinez]

I just want to say that Balrogs did NOT have wigs.

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Michael Martinez
I just want to say that Balrogs did NOT have wigs.

Very funny fella.

[Archbob the Elder]

Melkor is not the enemy, he is a benevolent dark lord!

[Radagast The Brown]

originally posted by Nolendil
Yes and no.

amm.. Nolendil, what's the "no"?

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Archbob the Elder
Melkor is not the enemy, he is a benevolent dark lord!

Is that a typo or a mis-spell? I believe the word is menevolent, not benevolent.

[Ñólendil]

amm.. Nolendil, what's the "no"?

The Valaraucar were not Maiar in the sense that "Maiar" is a most unfitting term for them, and it can be argued that fallen Maiar are not quite Maiar anymore, but something else (Raucar, perhaps).

[Xeta]

The Balrogs, or Valaraukar as they were originally called, were just Maiar that were corrupted in the beginning by Melkor. After Melkor was captured, they hid in the dark places of the world. Most of them woke up when Melkor escaped, and some helped him flee from Ungoliant. Then of course there was the one in Moria.
But on a lighter note, does anyone here post on Xenite.org? I assume you, SGH, are the same SGH that posts there.... If so, is there anything wrong with Xenite.org ? Because for the last three days, the site won't let me in. Whenever i try to go to it, it times out, and it wont let me in anywhere. Any ideas?


Daegil@hotmail.com