Is the Balrog a Maia?

The Balrogs, or Balrogath ("Balrog-kind") were Maiar corrupted by Morgoth during the creation of Arda, who cloaked themselves in shadow and flame and carried whips and swords. Famed Balrogs include Gothmog, slain by Ecthelion, and Durin's Bane, slain by Gandalf.

What is a Maia Lord of the Rings?

The Maiar (singular: Maia) are a class of beings from J. R. R. Tolkien's high fantasy legendarium. Supernatural and angelic, they are "lesser Ainur" who entered the cosmos of Eä in the beginning of time.

Does Gandalf know he is a Maiar?

He's aware of the Blessed Land and those residing there. But he has never seen a Maia before, not unlike Galadriel, Elrond or even Glorfindel. He couldn't have known Gandalf was a Maia; all he knew is that he came from Valinor as a messenger.

Is a Balrog an angel?

According to the fictional history in The Silmarillion, the evil Vala Melkor corrupted lesser Maiar (angelic beings) to his service, as Balrogs, in the days of his splendour before the making of Arda.

Is Gandalf and Balrog the same species?

In truth, however, the Balrog and Gandalf were once both of the same ilk. Like Gandalf, the Balrogs began as primordial spirits known as Maia, who had existed since before time began and took no physical form.

Lord of the Rings - Gandalf vs Balrog [Entire Battle HD 1080p]

Is Shelob a Maia?

Middle-earth: Shadow of War

The mobile version of Shadow of War classifies Shelob as a Maia, though J.R.R. Tolkien never specified her exact nature.

Did Legolas know what a Balrog was?

It seems likely to me that Legolas has not encountered a Balrog before in his life, yet when the fellowship first sees the Balrog in Moria he is able to immediately identify it.

Was Durins Bane the last Balrog?

[edit] Beyond the Third Age

Durin's Bane is the only Balrog mentioned after the War of Wrath, and the only one of two ever given a name, the other being Gothmog. It is unknown how many, if any, other Balrogs still lived on or where they dwelled, hibernating or awakened.

Did the Balrog have wings?

On the other hand, the explicit reference to "wings of shadow" leaves open the interpretation that Balrogs had no physical wings. Balrogs were never exactly described as flying in any of Tolkien's works, including the "winged speed" language quoted above.

Do Balrogs serve Sauron?

The Balrogs were originally the servants of Morgoth in the First Age, of whom, Sauron was also his servant. The Balrogs and Sauron were all Maiar and somewhat coeval; it is debatable whether a Balrog would recognize Sauron as successor and serve him willingly.

Is Tom Bombadil a Maiar?

One, that Bombadil is a Maia (or an "unaffiliated" Ainu), presumably one not named specifically elsewhere in the texts. The other, that Bombadil is some sort of nature spirit of a type never explicitly mentioned in Tolkien's writings after LotR.

Who is the strongest Maiar?

~ Sauron was indeed the most powerful of the maiar and what made him excessively more powerful than any other being under the valar was the power he was given by Melkor. Remember the ballrogs were maiar too, so take the mightiest (Sauron) and add the extra might of power Morgoth passed on to him.

Is Sauron a Valar?

Though subordinate to the Valar, the Maiar were powerful nonetheless, and included Melian, Sauron (named Mairon), Olórin (later named Gandalf) and the other Istari, and those who would become the Balrogs.

Is Saruman a Maiar?

Saruman, who was a Maia, had lost his shape with his "death". As a discorporate spirit, he turned westward, but a wind came from the West and pushed him away. Apparently his spirit was left naked, powerless, and wandering in Middle-earth, not unlike Sauron after the One Ring was destroyed.

Are the Eagles Maia?

In earlier texts, Tolkien once envisioned the Great Eagles as bird-shaped Maiar. However, he had remembered that he abandoned the concept of the Children of the Valar, and that Gwaihir and Landroval were descendants of Thorondor during the events of The Lord of the Rings.

Is the Witch King a Maiar?

Gandalf is a Maiar who has been sent to Middle-earth, with reduced powers, the Witch-king is a human wraith with some of Sauron's power.

How many Balrogs are there?

In Tolkien's later writings, he made note of the fact that there could not have ever been more than seven Balrogs, yet they were able to drive away Ungoliant in what was described as a "tempest of fire". In another early writing, the Lord of the Balrogs was named Lungorthin.

Can the Balrog fly?

Yes, they can fly. There was that one scene in that The Silmarillion book where Mel whined that Ungoliant was trying to steal his stuff, and a bunch of balrogs swooshed directly over.

Where did the Balrog come from?

The Balrogs, or Balrogath ("Balrog-kind") were Maiar corrupted by Morgoth during the creation of Arda, who cloaked themselves in shadow and flame and carried whips and swords. Famed Balrogs include Gothmog, slain by Ecthelion, and Durin's Bane, slain by Gandalf.

How did Gimli not know about Moria?

There are a few reasons why Gimli would have been unaware of Balin's fate: a messenger could have been killed by orcs on the way to spread the news, or they could have been trapped within the mines for some time before they were killed.

Did Gandalf know the Balrog was in Moria?

I just read through this part in the book and it seems like Gandalf didn't know about the Balrog pretty much until he saw it step out in Moria. I thought it was well known among Middle-Earth lore, especially among the wise, that a Balrog chased Durin's folk out of Moria.

What awakened the Balrog?

Short Answer: The novel indicates the Balrog was awakened by mining Dwarves or by the will of Sauron over a thousand years earlier, but the movies don't explain the causes of events as much or give the dates of historical events, so it is more vague in the the movies.

What is the Flame of Anor?

Anor is the Sindarin name for the Sun, and so literally the "flame of Anor" would be the light of the Sun, which originated in the fiery fruit of Laurelin, one of the Two Trees of Valinor. Alternatively, the "flame of Anor" may refer to Gandalf's possession of Narya the Great, whose stone was red as fire.

Who killed fingon?

Fingon, with a host of Men from Dor-lómin led by Húrin, was surrounded. Eventually, being pushed back, Fingon fought Gothmog, lord of Balrogs in battle, but was killed by Gothmog's black axe after another Balrog bound him with a whip.

What were the undying lands?

The Undying Lands were a realm inhabited by Ainur and Eldar. The area included the continent of Aman and the island of Tol Eressëa. The ocean Belegaer separated the Undying Lands from the western shores of Middle-earth. Only immortals and ring-bearers were allowed to live in this realm.