"You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of
Udûn. Go back to the
Shadow! You cannot pass."
From
Gandalf's challenge to the
BalrogThe Fellowship of the Ring II 5
The Bridge of Khazad-dûm
Gandalf's name for the Balrog that dwelt in the depths of Moria, that he faced on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm, and ultimately defeated. 'Flame' is a reference to its nature as a fire-demon, while 'Udûn' was the name of Morgoth's oldest and greatest fortress in the North of the world, more commonly called Utumno, and the Balrog's ancient home.
There is no direct connection between this 'Udûn' and the rounded valley to the northwest of Mordor with the same name. There is an indirect connection, though: that region also took its name from the stronghold of Sauron's master.
Indexes:
About this entry:
- Updated 26 June 2006
- Updates planned: 1
For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.
Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2003, 2006. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.
SHARE
