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Balrogs are fictional creatures who appear in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. Such creatures first appeared in print in his novel ''The Lord of the Rings'', where the Fellowship of the Ring encounter one known as Durin's Bane in the Mines of Moria. Balrogs figured in Tolkien's earlier writings that appeared posthumously in ''The Silmarillion'' and other books. Balrogs are described as tall and menacing with the ability to shroud themselves in fire, darkness, and shadow. They frequently appeared armed with fiery whips "of many thongs",〔''The Silmarillion'' and its early drafts speak frequently of the whips of fire. ''The Lays of Beleriand'' describe Morgoth's prisoners tortured by Balrogs with scourges; and the Balrog in Moria (''The Fellowship of the Ring'', "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm") is armed explicitly with a "whip of many thongs" or strands.〕 and occasionally used long swords. In Tolkien's later conception, they could not be readily vanquished—a certain stature was required by the would-be hero. Only dragons rivalled their capacity for ferocity and destruction,〔''Lost Tales'', Part II, "Turambar and the Foalókë", p.85: "yet of all are they () the most powerful, save it be the Balrogs only."〕 and during the First Age of Middle-earth, they were among the most feared of Morgoth's forces. ==History== According to ''The Silmarillion'', the evil Vala Melkor corrupted lesser Maiar (angelic beings) to his service in the days of his splendor before the making of Arda.〔''The Silmarillion'', "Valaquenta", p. 31.〕〔''The Silmarillion'', "Quenta Silmarillion", Chapter 3, p. 47.〕 These became known as "Demons of Might": ''Valaraukar'' in Quenya, and (with an anglicized plural) ''Balrogs'' in Sindarin. Upon the awakening of the Elves, the Valar captured Melkor and destroyed his fortresses Utumno and Angband. But they overlooked the deepest pits,〔''The Silmarillion'', "Quenta Silmarillion", Chapter 3, p. 51.〕 where, with many of Melkor's other allies, the Balrogs fled into hiding. When Melkor returned to Middle-earth from Valinor, now bearing the epithet ''Morgoth'', he was attacked by Ungoliant, a spider-like creature; his piercing scream drew the Balrogs out of hiding to his rescue. When the Noldor arrived in Beleriand in pursuit of Morgoth, they won a swift victory over his Orcs in the Dagor-nuin-Giliath. Fëanor pressed on towards Angband, but the Balrogs came against him, and Fëanor was mortally wounded by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs. Fëanor's sons fought off the Balrogs, but Fëanor died of his wounds shortly afterward.〔''The Silmarillion'', "Quenta Silmarillion", Chapter 13, p. 107.〕 In ''The Lays of Beleriand'', ''The Lay of Leithian'' mentions Balrog captains leading Orcs: "the Orcs went forth to rape and war, and Balrog captains marched before".〔''The Lays of Beleriand'', p.281〕 Tolkien tells of two Balrogs slain by Elves in the fall of Gondolin.〔''The Silmarillion'', "Quenta Silmarillion", Chapter 13, pp. 242–3.〕 During the assault on the city, Ecthelion of the Fountain fought Gothmog, and "each slew the other." Glorfindel fought a Balrog who waylaid an escape party from the fallen city; both fell from the mountainside in the struggle and perished. In the War of Wrath that ended the First Age, most of the Balrogs were destroyed, although some including the Balrog known as Durin's Bane, managed to escape and hide in "caverns at the roots of the earth".〔''The Silmarillion'', "Quenta Silmarillion", Chapter 14, p. 251.〕 In ''The Fellowship of the Ring'', the Fellowship ventured through Moria and were attacked in the Chamber of Mazarbul by Orcs and the Balrog.〔''The Fellowship of the Ring'', "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm".〕 Gandalf faced the Balrog at the Bridge of Khazad-dûm and broke the Bridge, but was dragged down by the Balrog. He slew the Balrog but perished himself at the same time — to be sent back as the more powerful Gandalf the White. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Balrog」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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