How did the dwarves wake the Balrog?

The Balrog killed Durin VI, the Dwarf-King of Khazad-dûm, whereafter it was called Durin’s Bane by the Dwarves. Avarice, principally for mithril, drove the dwarves to go too deep and awaken the Balrog. The Dwarves attempted to fight the Balrog, but its power was far too great for them.

What was the monster outside of Moria?

The Watcher in the Water
The Watcher in the Water was a mysterious and horrific beast that lurked in a lake caused by the damming of the Sirannon river, beneath the western walls of Moria.

What happened to the Balrog in The Lord of the Rings?

Gandalf destroyed the physical form of Durin’s Bane but, as a Maia, the Balrog didn’t die in the traditional sense. Like many characters in The Lord of the Rings, the Balrog is deceptively important to the history of Middle-earth.

Are Gandalf and Moria’s Balrog the same person?

When Gandalf confronted Moria’s Balrog, the two opponents couldn’t been less alike in physical terms. In truth, however, the Balrog and Gandalf were once both of the same ilk. Like Gandalf, the Balrogs began as primordial spirits known as Maia, who had existed since before time began and took no physical form.

Why is the Balrog called Durin’s Bane?

The Balrog encountered in Moria is specifically known only as Durin’s Bane – a title that hints at the greater story lurking behind this formidable monster. When Gandalf confronted Moria’s Balrog, the two opponents couldn’t been less alike in physical terms. In truth, however, the Balrog and Gandalf were once both of the same ilk.

How would Tolkien adapt the Balrogs in other books?

J.R.R. Tolkien would adapt the Balrogs over the course of his writing. Between The Fellowship of the Ring and The Silmarillion, Balrogs differ in rarity and strength, and their true nature switches from the monstrous to the divine.