Is there any reference to a Balrog in a non Tolkien book?
Somebody knows what is it or where is come from?

I think it's just a Tolkien thing. But don't take my word for it.

I think Tolkien invented it, though "bal" in Old Norse means "fire".

Whats' rog mean then? It sounds a bit like rug so is the creature Fire Rug?

I haven't seen Balrogs mentioned anywhere else though there are certainly many variations of them with different names and stuff.

In the books Balrog simply means "Demon of Might." If you read The Silmarillion you would know they are maia corrupted by Melkor. Greatest amoung them is Gothmog. He slayed several Elven Kings and Princes IIRC

'Rog' in Balrog comes from 'Rauko', which means Demon.

Well Tolkein was a professor at ancient gailic languages.

'Rog' in Balrog comes from 'Rauko', which means Demon. So the literal translation of Balrog is Fire Demon.

That's interesting because in the Fighting Fantasy series of gamebooks they have a Fire Demon there who's a carbon copy of the Balrog.

[ May 18, 2003, 11:22: Message edited by: dshadow ]

'Rog' in Balrog comes from 'Rauko', which means Demon. In which language, Faragon?
Anyway, 'Fire Demon' is probably the correct explanation for 'Balrog'; Balrogs *are* actually fire demons.

Sindarin, iirc.

If a Balrog is a a fire demon then why does it go slimy when wet?

Final Fantasy isn't the only Balrog ripoffs. Theres the Balor from D&D and the Balron from Ultima IIRC.

I thought it was made from shadows and fire, so when it got wet it would give off steam, but I don't know about slimy.

I think Tolkein got the word balrog by warping the Anglo-Saxon language.

The only thing I know about Balrog is that wouldn't want to come face to face with one. if they can kill Elven Kings, i shudder to think what it'd do to one short mortal girl!
Slimy when wet?? I dunno... maybe it corrupts or fouls the water and thats what you see sloughing off it. Ewwwww.

frog was right in translation; balrog (valaraukar in quenya) means demon of might, not necessarily fire. fire was obviously the preference, but as with all the ainur, balrogs had a degree of shapeshifting inherent in their natures, hence the slime.

I remember seeing balrogs in the last levels of the original Diablo...

Long time since I checked this thread. :heh:

Anyway, Valarauko (Quenya for Balrog) would be literally translated as 'Demon of Power'. Rauko translates as 'demon', as stated before. Val- translates as 'power'. It says Demon of Might in the Names Index though. Power, might, it's pretty much the same.

And yes, many fantasy based 'things' used Balrogs, or some bastardisation of them. A lot of fantasy follows the 'set' picture. Dragons, elves, dwarves, etc. Balrogs are an extension of that.

Its nice to have so many people talking about me :grin: :rolling: :1eye: :holy: