Balrog Armor? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lord Halsar · 01-02-2008, 06:48 PM

And yet despite this, most of the artwork that I have seen (including those of Glorfindel's battle) have shown the Balrogs with niether helm nor plate, only weapons and muscle.
I guess they skipped a number of details in their studies before making them.

Lord Gothmog · 01-02-2008, 06:57 PM

I have looked through HoME 10, 11 and 12 which have later writings and so far I have found no futher reference to amour for Balrogs. It may be that most of the images use later views which do not mention either the 'Claws of Steel' or 'Iron Amour'.

I know that my own image of the Balrog (from when I first read LotR) was powerful, demonic and simply covered by shadow. So armour is the last thing I would expect

Imperica · 01-02-2008, 07:02 PM

Walking the line of off-topic and on; John Howe the artist of that illustration is one of my favorite Middle-Earth artists.

Alfirin · 01-02-2008, 07:26 PM

Thats odd, I've always imagined Balrogs with armor if for no other reson than that they would need to be wearing something if for no other resan that that they would need somewhere to keep thier weapons (not only flaming whips, but also the swords shields and axes that they are said to have used at times) when they weren't using them.
On a slight veering I had have a question. We know that the balrogs whips burn with flames but waht about the swords and axes. For some reason I keep imagin them burning as well.

Lord Gothmog · 01-03-2008, 02:12 AM

Well, you don't need Armour to carry weapons, only belts for scabards and such.

As for Balrog weapons, they had of course Whips of Flame also they had Flaming Swords and Gothmog at least had an Axe Though I don't recall anything about that being aflame.

Legate of Amon Lanc · 01-03-2008, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfirin

We know that the balrogs whips burn with flames but waht about the swords and axes. For some reason I keep imagin them burning as well.

Not sure about axes, but the swords are definitely burning:

Quote:

Originally Posted by FotR; The Bridge of Khazad-Dum

From out of the shadow a red sword leaped flaming.

And a side note - someone had to say that: I don't see anything wrong on balrogs wearing armor, and from the quotes provided it seems they do. However, the fact that they were wearing armor implies one side detail. You know, if they wear armor, they most probably don't have wings! Mwahahahaha...

Lord Halsar · 01-03-2008, 04:38 PM

Ugh! I knew that the wings discussion would come up in this thread, and haven't we all heard well enough of THAT!
But nonetheless, the simple questions about flaming swords and axes have brought up another question in my mind. Would the armor also be alight with fire? Would the Balrog be wearing something rather... hot?

Lord Gothmog · 01-03-2008, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Halsar

:Ugh! I knew that the wings discussion would come up in this thread, and haven't we all heard well enough of THAT!

Very true. I could never understand why there was so much argument over something that did not exist.

Quote:

But nonetheless, the simple questions about flaming swords and axes have brought up another question in my mind. Would the armor also be alight with fire? Would the Balrog be wearing something rather... hot?

No doubt what ever the Balrog wore would definately be "HOT" but I think that Burning Armour would cause smoke to get in his eyes. Not good in a fight

01-02-2008, 06:48 PM	#1
Lord Halsar Haunting Spirit Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 'Round the corner, down the well, passed the Balrog, straight to HELL! Posts: 77	And yet despite this, most of the artwork that I have seen (including those of Glorfindel's battle) have shown the Balrogs with niether helm nor plate, only weapons and muscle. I guess they skipped a number of details in their studies before making them. __________________ My time is at an end, for I have walked from Valinor to the Far-east where men have not gone for millennia. Demons have fallen before me. And now... I must rest...

01-02-2008, 06:57 PM	#2
Lord Gothmog Animated Skeleton Join Date: May 2002 Location: South Wales Posts: 49	I have looked through HoME 10, 11 and 12 which have later writings and so far I have found no futher reference to amour for Balrogs. It may be that most of the images use later views which do not mention either the 'Claws of Steel' or 'Iron Amour'. I know that my own image of the Balrog (from when I first read LotR) was powerful, demonic and simply covered by shadow. So armour is the last thing I would expect __________________ If life was just a rehearsal, Would the show be Cancled. Greetings and Felicitations from the Lord of Balrogs!

01-03-2008, 02:12 AM	#5
Lord Gothmog Animated Skeleton Join Date: May 2002 Location: South Wales Posts: 49	Well, you don't need Armour to carry weapons, only belts for scabards and such. As for Balrog weapons, they had of course Whips of Flame also they had Flaming Swords and Gothmog at least had an Axe Though I don't recall anything about that being aflame. __________________ If life was just a rehearsal, Would the show be Cancled. Greetings and Felicitations from the Lord of Balrogs!

01-03-2008, 04:38 PM	#7
Lord Halsar Haunting Spirit Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 'Round the corner, down the well, passed the Balrog, straight to HELL! Posts: 77	Ugh! I knew that the wings discussion would come up in this thread, and haven't we all heard well enough of THAT! But nonetheless, the simple questions about flaming swords and axes have brought up another question in my mind. Would the armor also be alight with fire? Would the Balrog be wearing something rather... hot? __________________ My time is at an end, for I have walked from Valinor to the Far-east where men have not gone for millennia. Demons have fallen before me. And now... I must rest...

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01-02-2008, 07:02 PM	#3
Imperica Animated Skeleton Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 35	Walking the line of off-topic and on; John Howe the artist of that illustration is one of my favorite Middle-Earth artists.

01-02-2008, 07:26 PM	#4
Alfirin Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 435	Thats odd, I've always imagined Balrogs with armor if for no other reson than that they would need to be wearing something if for no other resan that that they would need somewhere to keep thier weapons (not only flaming whips, but also the swords shields and axes that they are said to have used at times) when they weren't using them. On a slight veering I had have a question. We know that the balrogs whips burn with flames but waht about the swords and axes. For some reason I keep imagin them burning as well.