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Tolkien and Silvermines/Moria

Posted By: Olorin (spider.wokingham.gov.uk)
Date: 5/24/2002 at 4:53 a.m.

Here's another connection,:) :
Moria and Silvermines are both ancient (Siilvermines was around in the Wind Age, probably built in the Axe Age like everything else West of the Cloudspine, Moria was built in the First Age) settlements next to the main mountain chain (Cloudspine/Misty Mountains). Both are built around silver mines (mithril = true silver, silver = well, silver), from which they take their names from the fact that they are mines (Moria = Black Pit, Silvermines...).
Both are also abandoned, and for a very good reason.
Both had a "nameless terror" [LotR], "a demon of the ancient world" [LotR] buried nbeneath them as a result of the Dark's defeat. The Watcher (his true name Bahl'al was not common knowledge, as the Journal Writer says that they've found some new weapon even more powerful than knowing his true name) was imprisoned beneath the mountians at Silvermines as a punishment after his defeat. The Balrog, whose name is simply not known, buried himself under the mountains beneath Moria in order to escape from the Light after Morgoth was defeated at the War of Wrath.
Both were killed, but managed to take those who killed them down with them (the Balrog kills and is killed by Gandalf, and the Watcher, though petrified, kills all those who were sent to petrify/kill him. The 100 'zerks of course didn't have to worry about him personaly causing any trouble.)
Slighty sketchy links now:
Both were released through greed (the Balrog through the Dwarves' lust for mithril, the Watcher through Balor's need for powwerful allies), and an small but elite expeditionary force went through their places of imprisonment due to unfortunate circumstances (the Fellowship due to the fact that Caradhras was snowed under and there was no other way through, the Journal Writer's party bacause they had to get the Watcher's arm as The Head had told them that the Deciever was looking for it).

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