High Elves and the Balrogs - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Galin · 07-27-2007, 08:11 AM

The Fall of Gondolin from The Book of Lost Tales concerns the early version of Balrogs.

Tolkien never updated this tale in long form beyond that which was published in Unfinished Tales. I see no great reason to assume a character named 'Rog' killed even one Balrog in the theoretical 'rest of' the version begun decades after The Book of Lost Tales was abandoned.

If there was to be no more than seven then the Balrogs arguably slain by Ecthelion, Glorfindel, Gandalf count for three. And probably some were to be slain in the War of Wrath.

07-27-2007, 08:11 AM	#9
Galin Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,036	The Fall of Gondolin from The Book of Lost Tales concerns the early version of Balrogs. Tolkien never updated this tale in long form beyond that which was published in Unfinished Tales. I see no great reason to assume a character named 'Rog' killed even one Balrog in the theoretical 'rest of' the version begun decades after The Book of Lost Tales was abandoned. If there was to be no more than seven then the Balrogs arguably slain by Ecthelion, Glorfindel, Gandalf count for three. And probably some were to be slain in the War of Wrath.