Balrog size - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Thingol · 02-02-2002, 05:44 PM

During Glorfindel's fight with the Balrog in The Fall of Gondolin in The HoME series it says that the Balrog was well nigh twice Glorfindel's size. Assuming Glorfindel is around 6 ft. that would make the Balrog around 12 feet with a vast shadow surrounding it. The Balrogs were much less powerful when Tolkien wrote the Fall of Gondolin, but there is no indication, as far as I know, that he changed the stature of the Balrogs along with their power. Because Durin's Bane spent alot of time underground, I've always thought that he was little shorter, probably 8-10 feet, thats just my personal opinion though. If the Balrog was indeed tremendous he probably wouldn't have been able to stand on the Bridge of Khazud-Dum and he probably would have just swept Gandalf off the bridge with his sword stroke.

02-02-2002, 05:44 PM	#5
Thingol Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 259	During Glorfindel's fight with the Balrog in The Fall of Gondolin in The HoME series it says that the Balrog was well nigh twice Glorfindel's size. Assuming Glorfindel is around 6 ft. that would make the Balrog around 12 feet with a vast shadow surrounding it. The Balrogs were much less powerful when Tolkien wrote the Fall of Gondolin, but there is no indication, as far as I know, that he changed the stature of the Balrogs along with their power. Because Durin's Bane spent alot of time underground, I've always thought that he was little shorter, probably 8-10 feet, thats just my personal opinion though. If the Balrog was indeed tremendous he probably wouldn't have been able to stand on the Bridge of Khazud-Dum and he probably would have just swept Gandalf off the bridge with his sword stroke. __________________ Yet the lies that Melkor, the mighty and accursed, Morgoth Bauglir, the Power of Terror and of Hate, sowed in the hearts of Elves and Men are a seed that does not die and cannot be destroyed; and ever and anon it sprouts anew, and will bear dark fruit even unto the latest days.