The Secret Fire or "Flame of Anor", probably aliases of the "Flame Imperishable" by which the Ainur were made before time, are references to a mysterious heavenly power in Arda.

HistoryEdit

The Secret Fire seems to refer to that aspect of Eru Ilúvatar which is his Power of Creation. This power was with Ilúvatar at the very beginning, so when Melkor sought for it alone it was in vain, for he could never find it because it was solely with Eru himself. Later, Eru set it (or an aspect of it) at the Heart of Arda.

"Therefore Ilúvatar gave to their vision Being, and set it amid the Void, and the Secret Fire was sent to burn at the heart of the World; and it was called Eä."

—Valaquenta, the Silmarillion.

The Secret Fire was also described as being part of all Fëa, the soul of a living being or the spirit: it was that Gift which makes sentient beings capable of independent thought and will. Loosely, it could be taken as an alternate name of the Holy Spirit.

In The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf the Grey referred to both the Secret Fire and the Flame of Anor at the Bridge of Khazad-dum when confronting the Balrog:

"You cannot pass," he said. The orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you here, flame of Udûn. You cannot pass."

—The Fellowship of the Ring Book II, Chapter 5: The Bridge of Khazad-dûm.

Anor was a name for the Sun in the mythology, as well as a name for the True West (i.e. Valinor). Further, some have speculated that Gandalf said "flame of Anor" in reference to the fact that he wielded one of the Three Rings of Power, Narya. Thus it is uncertain if the flame of Anor was identical to the Secret Fire, but both it and The Secret Fire identified Gandalf as a servant of the Valar.

ReferencesEdit

• The Fellowship of the Ring, The Bridge of Khazad-dúm
• The Silmarillion: Ainulindalë

See alsoEdit

• Fëa and hröa

External linkEdit

• Secret Fire at Tolkien Gateway