June 23, 2002

Orcs: Are They Immortal?
Tomas

I've been wondering about the orcs and their age. As everybody knows, they were elves that were corrupted and converted into orcs. The elves didn't die because of old age and that gift was bestowed upon them by Illuvatar. I don't think that Morgoth could change that.

Here are some clues from the writings of Tolkien.

1. In the war of five armies one of the front figures is the orc Bolg. He is the offspring of Azog who diedat the battle of Azanulbizar, which were fought 142 years before the battle of five armies. This means that Bolg is more than 142 years old and in the prime of his life at the battle of five armies.

2. In the LOTR there is a conversation between Shagrat Gorbag: ...but think - there's someone loose hereabouts as is more dangerous than any other damned rebel that ever walked since the bad old times, since the Great Siege. This suggests that these orcs has been around since the end of the second age.

3. A little bit earlier in the conversation they are talking about nazguls: "'But He likes 'em; they're His favourites nowadays, so it's no use grumbling. I tell you, it's no game serving down in the city." This suggests that these orcs remember a time when it wasn't the nazguls that were His favourites.

What do you think about this theory? Maybe this was generally known? or am I totally stupid and ignorant.