Dragons vs. Balrogs?

[Kuruharan]

Ahh, obloquy, how are you? It's been awhile. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I'd just like to point out that we actually have no reason whatsoever to believe that Dragons were incarnate Maiar. I proposed it early on as a possibility that couldn't be ignored, but there is really no textual evidence at all to support it.

And there is no reason whatsoever to believe that they did not. In fact, as I have pointed out (a few times) there are some good hints in the text that suggest that they did. The references to various dragons spirits, and the "putting of [their] power" against someone (in reference to the power in their eyes).

There is actually an interesting parallel to that last power, to trick and bemuse, in the Voice of Saruman. There is no doubt that Saruman was Maiar in origin. He was able to use his voice to cloud the minds of his listeners. Dragons were able to accomplish a similar feat through their eyes. While not proof, this is another instance that is suggestive.