Friday, December 11, 2020

The Nordic Origins of Tolkien's Balrog

 

Tolkien's Balrog is based on Fire Ettins, described in Lokasenna stanza 42 as the sons of Muspell (fire) flying over Myrkvið (yes, Mirkwood, "The Dark Forest"). Even the name means "Fire Power" (Bál + Rök) in Norse.

Below: Surtr ("Black"), a Fire Ettin, wielding a flaming sword:

Lokasenna, 42:
Gulli keypta
léztu Gymis dóttur
ok seldir þitt svá sverð;
en er Múspells synir
ríða Myrkvið yfir,
veizt-a þú þá, vesall, hvé þú vegr.



In English:
You purchased
Gymir's daughter with gold,
and sold your sword:
when the sons of Muspell (fire)
ride over the dark forest (Mirkwood)
you, creep, don't know what to fight with.



Varg Vikernes - November 2020
Source : MyFaRog Twitter


SEE ALSO:
A Meeting of Giants
Tolkien's Middle Earth - A Historical Resemblance
Wolfhead, Tolkien and The Primal Fear of Man

 

3 comments:

  1. That's very interesting!Indeed, Balrogr is very similar to Surtr and what's more important Tolkien was inspired by Paganism. What do you think about Varg Vikerness now? I mean his Youtube channel before and Twitter community now. Once he has influenced many, while since many years his views evolved.

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    Replies
    1. Indeed Tolkien's works are based on the European mythical & historical past.
      Coming to Varg Vikernes now, I disagree with 60-70% of what he says these days. However from time to time I found some intresting things amongst his writtings. Thats why I post them here.

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    2. I agree with you about Varg Vikernes. Thanks for the answer!

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