The Balrogs are fire spirits, a type of Maiar corrupted into Melkor’s service. As Melkor’s servants they take physical forms composed of shadow and fire and carry whips. Gothmog is the Lord of Balrogs and the captain of Melkor’s fortress Angband.
Balrog Quotes in The Silmarillion
The The Silmarillion quotes below are all either spoken by Balrog or refer to Balrog. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 20
Quotes
Thus was the treachery of Uldor redressed; and of all the deeds of war that the fathers of Men wrought in behalf of the Eldar, the last stand of the Men of Dor-lómin is most renowned.
[…]
Last of all Húrin stood alone. Then he cast aside his shield, and wielded an axe two-handed; and it is sung that the axe smoked in the black blood of the troll-guard of Gothmog until it withered, and each time that he slew Húrin cried: ‘Aurë entuluva! Day shall come again!’
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Balrog Term Timeline in The Silmarillion
The timeline below shows where the term Balrog appears in The Silmarillion. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Valaquenta
...by his lies and promises into joining his side. Among these are the spirits called Balrogs and one of Aulë’s Maiar named Sauron.
(full context)
Chapter 9. Of the Flight of the Noldor
Ungoliant wraps Morgoth in darkness, and he cries out. The Balrogs hiding in Angband hear him and come to his aid, burning Ungoliant’s webs and driving...
(full context)
Chapter 13. Of the Return of the Noldor
...ahead of the Noldor and follows the orcs back alone to attack him. Morgoth sends Balrogs to surround Fëanor, who is wounded by Gothmog (the Lord of Balrogs) and carried away...
(full context)
Chapter 18. Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin
...of peace. Before they can agree, Morgoth attacks suddenly in winter, sending Glaurung and the Balrogs to burn the plains of Ard-galen and killing many Noldor caught in the fire. This...
(full context)
Chapter 20. Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad
...battlefront and drives Turgon and Húrin to the east. Fingon faces him alone until another Balrog attacks him from behind. Gothmog strikes Fingon’s helmet with his axe, killing him.
(full context)
Chapter 23. Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin
...by orcs. Glorfindel, the lord of one of the noble houses of Gondolin, fights the Balrog that’s with them, and both fall from the mountain. Tuor and the survivors follow the...
(full context)
Chapter 24. Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath
...Houses of men fight alongside the Valar’s armies, though other men fight for Morgoth. The Balrogs and most of the orc armies are destroyed.
(full context)
