Also known by the name Durin’s Bridge, the Bridge of Khazad-dum holds significance in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. It was made across a huge delved pit of Khazad-dum in Moria and was situated near the East gate as a side door to the kingdom. It was a narrow bridge, fifty feet in length, without any railing and curved a little upward towards the center. This bridge was a form of defense against enemies trying to enter the gate. In the absence of this bridge, an enemy could get past the East gate and capture outer passages and the First Hall. Those who walked on the bridge could cross it in a single file only.
History
During the Third Age 3019, The Fellowship of the Ring was pursued by Balrog of Morgoth and the orcs at the Bridge of Khazad-Dum. Gandalf had stood on the bridge in the center and let others escape. He held his sword in his right hand, shining white and cold and his staff on the left. The Balrog also stepped on the bridge and faced Gandalf as his shadow spread out like two enormous wings. When he raised the whip, the thongs cracked. His nostrils emitted fire, but Gandalf stood firm and announced that he would not let the Balrog pass. The two fought each other, and Balrog’s sword was destroyed.
At this, the Balrog came fully on the bridge and Gandalf defended by lifting his staff and hitting on the bridge. The staff shattered, cracking the bridge at the feet of the Balrog. The bridge took Balrog with it deep down. [1] The thongs of its whip trapped Gandalf at the knees and he also fell into the depth of the mountain with Balrog. While falling, Gandalf had cried to the Fellowship to fly. It is not clear whether the bridge was reconstructed at a later point in time. [2]
At this, the Balrog came fully on the bridge and Gandalf defended by lifting his staff and hitting on the bridge. The staff shattered, cracking the bridge at the feet of the Balrog. The bridge took Balrog with it deep down. [1] The thongs of its whip trapped Gandalf at the knees and he also fell into the depth of the mountain with Balrog. While falling, Gandalf had cried to the Fellowship to fly. It is not clear whether the bridge was reconstructed at a later point in time. [2]
Significance
The Bridge of Khazad-dum is significant as the location of the encounter between the Balrog and Gandalf. It was destroyed in Gandalf’s fight but could have undergone repair later as it was a primary entrance into the kingdom from the east. The bridge was mainly built narrow for defensive use. Enemies who crossed the external gates were compelled to cross a distance of about fifty feet in a single path. The gorge was quite deep, and the top was high. The outer side of the bridge had a flight of stairs that led to the exit through the gates of Moria and the First Hall.
Adaptations
The Bridge of Khazad-dum is described in the second book of ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’. Gandalf came to know that the Dwarves were attacked by Orcs and by a strange creature without any form. The Orcs returned all of a sudden. At the end of a fierce battle wounding Frodo, Gandalf seized the Orcs using a spell. However, a more robust power made it impossible for Gandalf to exercise power. As they moved further, they felt hotter and realized that they were on fire. They finally reached a deep chasm that could be crossed by a narrow bridge, the Bridge of Khazad-Dum. Gimli led the group, and he saw a giant shadow in the shape of a man but having great power. It was Durin’s Bane or Balrog, the creature that had attacked the dwarves. He possessed fierce weapons in two hands. He quickly approached them. Boromir and Aragorn ran to help Gandalf, but he commanded them to stay with the team. The two fought, and Gandalf cut the bridge under the Balrog. Both of them fell into the abyss.
References
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Bridges
