moria
 

how big was the dwarven army in moria in all its splendor?

Really big. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

I don't think Tolkien really gives a number anywhere. However, he does say this:

If Moria could withstand the forces of Sauron at the height of his power, and by strength of numbers at that, it must have been greatly populated indeed.

But they also had their defence there caves and such

True, a fortress such as Moria is a great defence even with limited numbers, but Sauron's forces were so great at the height of his power that the defences wouldn't have been anything without a substantial force. Also, after the height of Moria's power Sauron managed to get a force of orcs into Moria to stir up some trouble. So, if the host of orcs could only penetrate Moria after it's height, at it's height it must have been pretty strong since the host Sauron sent would've been comparatively small too.

You've got to remember that Moria was home to three of the 7 branches of the Dwarven kindred. The survivors of Nogrod and Belegost swelled the numbers of Moria after the destruction of Beleriand.

[ May 21, 2003: Message edited by: Nils ]

WAS THERE ANY COMPETITION BETWEEN HOUSES?YOU NEVER HEAR ABOUT DWARF VS DWARF LIKE YOU READ ABOUT ELF VS ELF IN THE SILMARILLION

Hey, dwarfwarrior, lay off the shouting!

Well, there were the Petty Dwarves (exemplified by Mim and his sons), who were outcasts from mainstream Dwarvish society. That shows us that there was some Dwarf v Dwarf antagonism.

But I don't doubt, given Dwarvish greed for gold, jewels and the like, that there were more major disputes between Dwarves of different (or perhaps the same) houses. We just don't hear of them, in much the same way that we don't hear a lot about Dwarvish history. Elf (and Hobbit) history just happens to be much more comprehensively documented. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[ May 22, 2003: Message edited by: The Saucepan Man ]

I think that the reason for that is that the squables did not result in tragic or Heroic deaths. Dwarves are greedy yes, but most of them have honour and leadership within, so I think they could live with each other. If not, they would have murdered each other a long while. If the fights between houses start, they would only have grown bigger. The leaders must have had great respect from the other dwarves. So the dwarves have a big sence of honour.

What I have been wandering about Moria, how did the Balrog from Lotr get in the depts of Khazad Dûm. It is stated that Balin's people only awoke him, so it must have been there. Where did it come from? It is obvious that it came from Ûdun.

But how did the Balrog travel such a big distance? Maybe he did fly?

Suilad,

Anuion

Wasn't it said that after the final overthrow of Morgoth some of the Balrogs managed to escape and hid themselves in the deep places of the earth.

They would have come from Angband, to say they flew would be contraversial as its still a subject that many ppl disagree about, but they were meant to run very fast so i suppose they could have managed it that way.
The Balrog must have found some secret way into the depths of Moria

And that is why I think they have wings. I think the Balrog entered the same way he left. Is that possible?