A visitor entering Khazad-dûm through its eastern gate would find themselves in its First Hall, and from there pass along a broad passage, and then down a flight of steps into the Second Hall. In this Second Hall the Dwarves had created a last defence against invaders: a narrow stone span across an unfathomly deep chasm. Though a formidable defence, this Bridge was not impassable: when Balin and his companions re-entered Moria in III 2989, they succeeded in capturing the Second Hall from the force of Orcs that held it. (We're not told how they managed this feat; presumably, knowing the layout of the city, they had brought equipment to help them cross the chasm).
Most famously, the Bridge was the site of Gandalf's encounter with the Balrog of Moria on 15 January III 3019. In the battle that followed, the Bridge was broken, and the First Hall was left isolated from the rest of Khazad-dûm.
Notes
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The Bridge of Khazad-dûm is otherwise known as Durin's Bridge, which implies that it was constructed by Durin the Deathless, the founder of Khazad-dûm. The fact that it was integral to the defences behind the East-gate and the First Hall also tends to support the idea of an early date of construction. Alternatively, it might in principle have been a later addition that was simply given the famous Durin's name, or it might have been the work one of Durin's descendants who also carried the same name, but on balance the Bridge seems more likely to have dated back to the earliest days of Khazad-dûm.
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See also...
Anor, Battle of the Peak, Cordial of Imladris, Durin’s Bane, Durin’s Bridge, First Hall, Flame of Udûn, Frár, Glamdring, Lóni, Náli, Secret Fire, The Terror, Utumno
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- Updated 1 July 2018
- Updates planned: 1
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