📊Poll: Do Balrogs have wings?

[Cian]

Originally posted by Beorn
What I was saying is that the wings were not shadows, the shadows had taken shape of wings....

Shadows taking shape of wings would be shadows to my mind (but still can be called "wings" in any event). You've lost me here

 

[Beorn]

Originally posted by Cian
You've lost me here

As you have me...

 

[Cian]

Perhaps this will help. What do you think the "wings" were made of?

My opinion is that Balrogs were cloaked in darkness (see Morgoth's Ring), and during the Moria confrontation this darkness/shadow reached out _like wings_ ~ the shadow of a bird can have "wings" too, though the winged shadow of a bird is a cast shadow, while the Balrog has an 'unlight' about it that momentarilly reached out (ie not flesh-type permanent wings like a bat or bird or similar).

 

[Lantarion]

Last posted by Pontifex
It is just MHO, however, that the Balrog's wings were composed solely of ethereal and fiery essense, instead of muscles, tendons and bone.

As an answer to your question, Cian.

 

[Tar-Elenion]

But what were Numenorean wings made of?

 

[Cian]

LoL Tar-E. I'll let folks judge that question for themselves:

"... for the Sea-men spread great cloths like wings to catch the airs, and bind them to tall poles like trees of the forest." JRRT

Then later on in the paragraph:

" ... and ever one of the accursed ships hath black wings." JRRT

And later on therein, even:

"The foul wings of the Sea-men have not been seen in these waters for many a year; ..." JRRT

Quotes from Tal-Elmar

My only question is why sail when one can fly? Well, they did love the sea I guess

Ah the setup

 

[Lantarion]

Haha, a flying ship! With black wings!! LOL

 

[Flame of Anor]

I found a site that goes into a lengthy discussion on whether or not balrogs had wings or not. The site is The Encyclopedia of Arda: http://www.glyphweb.com/arda The section with the info on the balrogs is located here:
http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/default.htm?[url]http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/b/balrogs.html[/url]

 

[Muffinly]

Do Balrogs have wings?

I just had to ask.

 

[Ponte]

Here is a thread that is about if balogrs had wings or not.

And i choosed that they had wings.

 

[Muffinly]

Ok. I didn't see it


but now I voted no

 

[e.Blackstar]

yes balrogs have wings

then why doesnt it fly out of the chasm?personally,i think that its wings are just to weak to support it

do tell
what is your thery

 

[Minas]

The book says wings, so I say wings. There are plenty of flightless birds around with wings that can flap.

 

[Cian]

Originally posted by Minas: The book says wings, so I say wings. There are plenty of flightless birds around with wings that can flap.

The book (author of the) uses the word 'wings' very many times, and of course, does not always mean physical bird-wings (or similar).

Shadow-shapes that look or act like wings are indeed wings, and 'wings' need be nothing more (but they will yet be shadow, and not necessarilly permanent).

 

[Ynhockey]

I don't think balrogs had wings and the evidence also points to that. I think his shadow had wings, though, because his shadow was like a spirit of its own... but then again, he was a Maia so he could have wings at one time and then not have them anymore.

 

[*Anarie*]

Balrogs do have wings, it is clearly mentioned in LotR book.
You'll probably ask me ''then why didn't it fly out in Moria?". So what, ostriches and penguins also have wings, but you don't really expect them to fly, do you?

 

[Ynhockey]

But that's not the point against wings. If he had wings materially, he couldnt've fit through the door to the bridge hall or Khazad-Dum, so he was obviously only about the size of a man, as stated in one of the other Tolkien works (i forget which). So, don't be so sure...

 

[Cian]

Originally posted by *Anarie*
Balrogs do have wings, it is clearly mentioned in LotR book.

Well the word 'wings' is clearly used in a description, but I don't think that's the same thing as the Balrog unquestionably having bat wings (or something ).

The word wings does not have to mean permanent physical appendages (like those of a bat or bird or similar) when it appears in a description, and indeed does not in various Tolkien examples.

[welcome by the way]

 

[FREEDOM!]

I thought if they had wings that he would have flown (or hovered) instead of falling in a pit.

 

[Spartan117]

I agree with "STrider(aragorn". If I had wings, i would have saved myself the swimming lesson. (He fell into a big water pit thingy).