secret fire

In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional mythology, the Secret Fire and Flame Imperishable as well as possibly the Flame of Anor are references to a mysterious power. The Secret Fire, also called the Flame Imperishable, seems to refer to that aspect of Eru Ilvatar which is his Power of Creation. It was with Ilvatar at the beginning, so Melkor sought for it in vain, and later Ilvatar set it (or an aspect of it) at the centre of Arda.

Therefore Ilvatar 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 E. — Valaquenta, the Silmarillion.

The Secret Fire is also described as being part of all fe: it is that Gift which makes sentient beings capable of independent thought. Gandalf the Grey referred to both the Secret Fire and the Flame of Anor at the Bridge of Khazad-dm:

"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. You cannot pass." — The Fellowship of the Ring II 5: The Bridge of Khazad-dm.

Anor is 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 is identical to the Secret Fire, but both it and The Secret Fire identified Gandalf as a servant of the Valar.

Secret Fire

See also