The flying Nazgul - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Aragost · 11-01-2002, 04:47 PM

I know that it doesn't clearly state what they rode but does anyone have somewhat of an idea of where they came from or what they might have been.

Rumil · 11-01-2002, 06:14 PM

If I remember, the fell beasts were found by Sauron in 'Mountains under the moon' and nurtured on 'fell meats' until they grew to the gigantic size necessary for use by the Nazgul. I've always imagined them as similar to Pterodactyls but bigger and spikier.

The mountains concerned could be near Minas Morgul (having been Minas Itil - tower of the moon) though i favour the Mountains of Mirkwood as in Frodo's vision on Amon Hen he saw the strife of men and elves and 'fell beasts' in Mirkwood. Though of course fell beasts could refer to giant spiders, orcs etc.

elfling · 11-01-2002, 10:39 PM

Bow to Rumil, you have all the answers today.
Good quotes! Thanks

Dimaldaeon · 11-02-2002, 03:11 PM

Wait a minute didn't we go through all this before.

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 11-03-2002, 10:37 AM

I wonder how big they were when Sauron found them.

Legolas · 11-03-2002, 11:18 PM

Tolkien wrote this in response to a reader's question - "Did the Witch-King ride a pterodactyl at the siege of Gondor?"

Quote:

Pterodactyl. Yes and no. I did not intend the steed of the Witch-King to be what is now called a 'pterodactyl', and often is drawn (with rather less shadowy evidence than lies behind many monsters of the new and fascinating semi-scientific mythology of the 'Prehistoric'). But obviously it is pterodactylic and owes much to the new mythology, and its description even provides a sort of way in which it could be a last survivor of older geological eras.

***Sharkû*** · 11-04-2002, 08:16 AM

Tolkien did not imagine them to look like pterodactyls, he imagined them to be pterodactylic, which means nothing but 'wing-fingered', and implies the beasts had wings perhaps similar ot bats, and no front claws.

[ November 04, 2002: Message edited by: Sharkû ]

Azaelia of Willowbottom · 11-04-2002, 04:09 PM

hmmmmm. I always imagined them as entirely black with the bat-like wings described in Sharku's post, long lizardish necks, four legs with clawed toes, and a diseased-looking dinosaur head. I'm not entirely sure what I based my imaginings on, but I always had a very clear picture of them in my mind.

alkquareiel02 · 11-06-2002, 07:50 AM

Maybe it was like the battype thingie in the silmarillon Thuringwethil but a more up to date version i'm not sure but it must be battiefied in some way i think. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

11-01-2002, 04:47 PM	#1
Aragost Wight Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Arthedain Posts: 137	The flying Nazgul I know that it doesn't clearly state what they rode but does anyone have somewhat of an idea of where they came from or what they might have been. __________________ Where there's a whip there's a will

11-01-2002, 06:14 PM	#2
Rumil Sage & Onions Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Britain Posts: 893	If I remember, the fell beasts were found by Sauron in 'Mountains under the moon' and nurtured on 'fell meats' until they grew to the gigantic size necessary for use by the Nazgul. I've always imagined them as similar to Pterodactyls but bigger and spikier. The mountains concerned could be near Minas Morgul (having been Minas Itil - tower of the moon) though i favour the Mountains of Mirkwood as in Frodo's vision on Amon Hen he saw the strife of men and elves and 'fell beasts' in Mirkwood. Though of course fell beasts could refer to giant spiders, orcs etc. __________________ Rumil of Coedhirion

11-01-2002, 10:39 PM	#3
elfling Haunting Spirit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: asheville,nc Posts: 86	Bow to Rumil, you have all the answers today. Good quotes! Thanks __________________ And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the morning and the night...All shall love me and despair!

11-02-2002, 03:11 PM	#4
Dimaldaeon Wight Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ireland & damn proud of it. Posts: 125	Wait a minute didn't we go through all this before. __________________ Dear Saddam, Do not disunderestimate me.Yours G.W.Bush You're not drunk if you can still hold onto a blade of grass to stop yourself from falling off the face of the Earth

11-03-2002, 10:37 AM	#5
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	I wonder how big they were when Sauron found them. __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

11-04-2002, 08:16 AM	#7
*Sharkû* Hungry Ghoul Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 1,719	Tolkien did not imagine them to look like pterodactyls, he imagined them to be pterodactylic, which means nothing but 'wing-fingered', and implies the beasts had wings perhaps similar ot bats, and no front claws. [ November 04, 2002: Message edited by: Sharkû ]

11-04-2002, 04:09 PM	#8
Azaelia of Willowbottom Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: By the Sea Posts: 446	hmmmmm. I always imagined them as entirely black with the bat-like wings described in Sharku's post, long lizardish necks, four legs with clawed toes, and a diseased-looking dinosaur head. I'm not entirely sure what I based my imaginings on, but I always had a very clear picture of them in my mind. __________________ "Wherever I have been, I am back."

11-06-2002, 07:50 AM	#9
alkquareiel02 Animated Skeleton Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: england Posts: 31	Maybe it was like the battype thingie in the silmarillon Thuringwethil but a more up to date version i'm not sure but it must be battiefied in some way i think. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]