Was Sauron a Balrog?

[Aganzir]

No.

Did you only want the answer, or do you want some further explanations about Sauron also?

[alatar]

Here's a link concerning Balrogs.

And Welcome to the Downs, HurinThalion!

Originally Posted by Aganzir

No.

Did you only want the answer, or do you want some further explanations about Sauron also?

Yes further explanation of your standpoint would be appreciated. I guess I should have mentioned that.

[Aganzir]

That "Yes or No" just made me think that you might only want the answer.

Both Sauron and the balrogs were maiar, balrogs being spirits of fire (like Arien). There were never that many balrogs, but they had their own, certain characteristics (whips of flame and whatever). Tolkien spoke about balrogs and he spoke about Sauron, but he never even hinted that Sauron might have been a balrog. Usually I don't think that because Tolkien didn't say something it didn't exist, but if Sauron had been a balrog, Tolkien would have said it. It's a thing that has much more to do with the mythology than eg. the characters using bathroom.

That is a valid argument, yes. On the other hand I must point out that in the Silmarillion Tolkein says that the first spirits to join Melkor and that were the most like unto him were called Balrogs. Now who was the first of the Maiar that followed Melkor? Sauron.

[alatar]

Originally Posted by HurinThalion

That is a valid argument, yes. On the other hand I must point out that in the Silmarillion Tolkein says that the first spirits to join Melkor and that were the most like unto him were called Balrogs. Now who was the first of the Maiar that followed Melkor? Sauron.

But wasn't Sauron of Aulë's kin? He was a Maker, not a Whipper. He might have liked to decorate with flames, but can't remember ever reading that he was always wreathed in flame.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

You can compare the moments when Sauron is introduced and there are balrogs coming also as a separate group. Sauron is mentioned separate from the other balrogs, so he was not one of them. You might say that it's because he was one of Morgoth's captains, thus an important individual figure, but other good evidence is if you look at Gothmog: he was a leader, like Sauron, but we are told he was a balrog. With Sauron, you never read about such a thing.

In other words, Sauron was a Maia of Aulë - while the Balrogs were, I believe, Maiar of Varda (it is said they were originally like Arien). Saruman was also a maia of Aulë - and Sauron was, I believe, no more a Balrog than Saruman was.

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by HurinThalion

TOn the other hand I must point out that in the Silmarillion Tolkein says that the first spirits to join Melkor and that were the most like unto him were called Balrogs. Now who was the first of the Maiar that followed Melkor? Sauron.

Treebeard and Tom Bombadil and who knows who else are described as the oldest living creatures in Middle-earth or the first ones to be there. Tolkien's use of superlatives is relative.

Originally Posted by alatar

But wasn't Sauron of Aulë's kin?

Weren't the balrogs of Aulës kin as well?

edit: xed with Legate

[alatar]

And note whereas Balrogs taste like roast chicken, Sauron would taste more feline.