[Mithadan]

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Shade of Carn Dûm
Posts: 404</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE>
Re: Balrogs

Noldo, pointless? Only to the extent that all of our extended discussions about the details and implications of a long-deceased fiction writer are pointless. I will concede that the issue of whether a Balrog has wings is not exactly paramount in the scheme of things. I've watched threads on this subject come and go without participating in the past, in part because of my view that everyone's vision of the details of Middle Earth is very individual in nature. I just couldn't resist weighing in this time because, for whatever reason, it is a controversial issue.
I've never understood why it is controversial though. As quoted above, JRRT was very clear (and thus canonical) on this point.

Underhill, I agree. No doubt a disembodied (unclothed?) Maia can fly or otherwise transport itself. But with a body and its accompanying limitations, something more is required to enable flight. Wings, an eagle, etc.

--Mithadan--
"The Silmarils with living light
were kindled clear, and waxing bright
shone like stars that in the North
above the reek of earth leap forth." </p>