Balrogs DO have wings!!! - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Elenhin · 07-11-2001, 05:58 PM

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Re: Balrogs DO have wings!!! Not.

First of all, apologies for rekindling(?) a flame-prone thread.

Ring Lord Rules, I believe that we can try to find out the truths by studying the texts enough. I have noted, though, that different people see different things in them, but that doesn't mean that Tolkien intentionally left it vague. After all, at least to the 50s he had a clear vision of Balrogs: they were wingless. LotR and the following changes to the world may have altered the nature of Balrogs or they may have not; but the truth must be out there.

"...and its wings were spread from wall to wall..."

Pro-wingers insist on literal reading of these words while no-wingers insist on metaphorical reading. Both have lots of arguments to back them up, but I believe that I have one which has not yet appeared in the recent Balrog-threads of this forum.

How large were the wings? The bridge is about 16 meters tall, and it crosses a chasm. That means that the hall must be very wide (so that it's a "chasm" and not a hole or something); I'd give an estimate of 30 meters.

"...spread from wall to wall..."

Even if the wings didn't actually touch the walls, they'd both be about 12 meters wide. So large wings need to be at least 2 meters tall and 10cm thick to support themselves and a flying creature. These measures give one wing the volume of 2.4m^3, and two wings 4.8m^3. That is with almost 100% chance larger than the Balrog itself (unless you believe it's some 40 feet tall movie abomination-of-Tolkien). So: how could it hide these monstrously big wings from the eyes of the fellowship (while they say the man-shaped creature!), or force them through the smaller door of the Chamber of Mazarbul?

--
Elenhin

"My god, it's full of stars!"

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07-11-2001, 05:58 PM	#1
Elenhin Wight Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Vantaa, Finland Posts: 205	<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Newly Deceased Posts: 1</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE> Re: Balrogs DO have wings!!! Not. First of all, apologies for rekindling(?) a flame-prone thread. Ring Lord Rules, I believe that we can try to find out the truths by studying the texts enough. I have noted, though, that different people see different things in them, but that doesn't mean that Tolkien intentionally left it vague. After all, at least to the 50s he had a clear vision of Balrogs: they were wingless. LotR and the following changes to the world may have altered the nature of Balrogs or they may have not; but the truth must be out there. "...and its wings were spread from wall to wall..." Pro-wingers insist on literal reading of these words while no-wingers insist on metaphorical reading. Both have lots of arguments to back them up, but I believe that I have one which has not yet appeared in the recent Balrog-threads of this forum. How large were the wings? The bridge is about 16 meters tall, and it crosses a chasm. That means that the hall must be very wide (so that it's a "chasm" and not a hole or something); I'd give an estimate of 30 meters. "...spread from wall to wall..." Even if the wings didn't actually touch the walls, they'd both be about 12 meters wide. So large wings need to be at least 2 meters tall and 10cm thick to support themselves and a flying creature. These measures give one wing the volume of 2.4m^3, and two wings 4.8m^3. That is with almost 100% chance larger than the Balrog itself (unless you believe it's some 40 feet tall movie abomination-of-Tolkien). So: how could it hide these monstrously big wings from the eyes of the fellowship (while they say the man-shaped creature!), or force them through the smaller door of the Chamber of Mazarbul? -- Elenhin "My god, it's full of stars!" </p>