Dragons are iconic figures in fantasy, known for their intelligence, fire breath, and immense size. Smaug, from The Hobbit, is a prime example, inspiring countless other dragon depictions. This begs the question: how does Smaug size up against other famous dragons, specifically Balerion the Black Dread from Game of Thrones?
While Game of Thrones dragons can’t speak, they share similarities with Smaug, some even surpassing him in size and destructive capability. Fully grown dragons with strong bloodlines in the Game of Thrones universe can easily outmatch Smaug, who, while formidable enough to conquer a Dwarven kingdom and destroy Lake-town, might be dwarfed by some of his Westerosi counterparts.
Smaug’s Size: A Tolkien Enigma
Smaug’s sheer size overwhelmed entire kingdoms and towns. Only specialized weaponry, like the black arrows used by Bard, could bring him down. Tolkien never specified Smaug’s exact dimensions, only offering estimations. The dragon’s ability to occupy an entire kingdom and hoard immense treasure suggests a colossal stature. The destruction of Lake-town upon Smaug’s death further hints at his enormity.
Tolkien’s illustration of Smaug depicts a serpentine body sprawled across a massive gold hoard, with Bilbo appearing almost as tall. Tolkien later clarified that Bilbo’s size in the illustration was inaccurate. Based on the image, most estimate Smaug’s length to be around 140 meters, a figure adopted for The Hobbit films.
Sizing Up Game of Thrones’ Dragons: Drogon and Balerion
Daenerys Targaryen’s three dragons are crucial to the Game of Thrones narrative, with Drogon being the most prominent. Serving as her mount, Drogon grew throughout the series, becoming the largest by the finale. In the fifth novel, A Dance with Dragons, his wingspan is described as 20 feet. In the show’s Season 8, he stands roughly 50 meters tall – impressive, but only a third of Smaug’s estimated size.
However, another Game of Thrones dragon truly overshadows Smaug: Balerion the Black Dread. Ridden by Aegon the Conqueror, Balerion’s skull is a prominent feature in King’s Landing. While his exact size remains undisclosed, accounts claim his wingspan cast a shadow over entire towns. This suggests Balerion might significantly exceed Smaug in size, considering Smaug’s fall covered only a portion of Lake-town.
The Verdict: Balerion Likely Takes the Crown
Smaug remains a formidable creature, especially compared to Bilbo Baggins. However, Balerion likely surpasses him in size. While Smaug wasn’t the largest dragon in Middle-earth lore, some being described as mountain-sized, among well-known dragons, few rival the Black Dread’s immensity. Even though Smaug devastated Lake-town, Balerion’s shadow engulfing entire towns paints a picture of even greater scale. Ultimately, while definitive measurements are lacking, evidence suggests Balerion was likely larger than Smaug.
