Posted: June 23, 2000 at 14:27:24: by Michael Martinez
: I don't believe that Balrogs have wings and I don't believe
: that they fly or glide even in short range. My argument is
L Gandalf's tactics when he recognize Balrog: "Over the bridge!"
: cried Gandalf, recalling his strength. "Fly! this is a foe
: beyond any of you. I must hold the narrow way. Fly!" I MUST
: HOLD THE NARROW WAY!!! Why? Because Gandalf knew well that
: Balrog unable to fly (or glide too).Yes. It was too large to fly through the cavern. That has been established. [snip] : The main argument on Balrogs ability to fly is this
: passage: "Swiftly they arose, and they passed with winged speed
: over Hithlum, and they came to Lammoth as a tempest of fire."
: For me "with winged speed" is only metaphore as Gandalf's cry -
: "Fly!... Fly, you fools!" In Silmarillion we have many examples
: that great distances are covered without wings or fly: You're taking "winged speed" out of context. It's the ENTIRE PASSAGE which shows that the Balrogs flew over Hithlum (and the fact that they didn't burn it to the ground in the fiery passage). : 1st example: Feanor pursued orcs from Ered Wethrin to Dor
: Daedeloth. This range isn't so great as from Hithlum to
: Lammoth, but it is quit long. And the battle lasted for quite a long time. : 2nd example: When news about Dagor Bragollach reached
: Fingolfin, he galloped to Thangorodrim and battled Morgoth.
: From Hithlum to Angband - this is a great distance (somewhere
: 250 miles). How he cover such range? On horseback, and he did it over a period of many hours or several days. : So, fly-ability isn't necessary to cover great distances
: with speed. Nope, but the Balrogs flew. : And, if in Silmarillion Balrogs fly well, why they not
: discovered Gondolin? First of all, they didn't know where to look for it. Morgoth thought it was way to the south. Secondly, there was an army of giant eagles patrolling the region and keeping out unwanted intruders.
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