Fëanorian lamps: Difference between revisions

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{{objects
| image=[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Tuor, Gelmir, and Arminas.jpg|250px]]
| name=Fëanorean lamps
| othernames=
| derivation=[[Fëanor]], Prince of the [[Noldor]]
| location=[[Valinor]], later [[Middle-earth]]
| ownedby=[[Noldor]]
| maker=[[Fëanor]] (inventor)
| appearance=Blue flame in a white crystal
| references=
|}}
{{quote|...they were made of old in [[Valinor]], and neither wind nor water could quench them, and when they were unhooded they sent forth a clear blue light from a flame imprisoned in white crystal.|''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', [[Of Tuor and his coming to Gondolin]]}}
{{quote|...they were made of old in [[Valinor]], and neither wind nor water could quench them, and when they were unhooded they sent forth a clear blue light from a flame imprisoned in white crystal.|''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', [[Of Tuor and his coming to Gondolin]]}}


'''Fëanorian lamps''' were lamps which emitted a blue light from a flame from within a white crystal. They are described as "crystals hung in a fine chain net, the crystals being ever shining with an inner blue radiance". The lamps were created in [[Valinor]] and the flame was unable to be extinguished by wind or water. The [[Noldor]] were famous for the flames, but unfortunately the craft was lost with them. [[Gelmir]] had in possession one of these lamps when he met with [[Tuor]].
'''Fëanorian lamps''' were lamps which emitted a blue light from a flame from within a white crystal. They are described as "crystals hung in a fine chain net, the crystals being ever shining with an inner blue radiance". The lamps were created in [[Valinor]] and the flame could not  be extinguished by wind or water The [[Noldor]] were famous for the flames, but unfortunately the craft was lost with them. [[Gelmir (messenger of Círdan)|Gelmir]] possessed one of these lamps when he met [[Tuor]].<ref>{{UT|Tuor}}</ref>
 
Some of the Noldor who had been captured by [[Morgoth]] and put to work in his mines had Fëanorian lamps with them.  [[Gwindor]] was one of these enslaved Elves; when he escaped he took with him one of these lamps.<ref name="CH9">{{CH|9}}</ref>


==Other versions of the legendarium==
==Other versions of the legendarium==
While there is no reference to the lamps in ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', in earlier versions of the story of [[Túrin Turambar]], [[Gwindor]] of [[Nargothrond]] escaped from [[Angband]] and was found by [[Beleg Strongbow]] in the forest of [[Taur-nu-Fuin]] with one of these lamps. [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] illustrated this scene, the painting is published in ''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' (1979), no. 37. It was also the shining of a Fëanorian lamp which revealed to Túrin the face of his friend Beleg whom he had slain.
The lamps were part of the [[legendarium]], but [[Christopher Tolkien]] did not include any such reference in the published ''[[Silmarillion]]''. For example, in one version of the story [[Túrin Turambar]] recognised the face [[Beleg]] whom he had slain by the light Gwindor's lamp;<ref>{{UT|Tuor}}, note 2</ref> yet in the version included in the ''Silmarillion'', it was lightning which revealed Beleg's face to Túrin.<ref name="CH9"/>


==References==
The scene of [[Gwindor]] of [[Nargothrond]], escaped from [[Angband]] and found by [[Beleg|Beleg Strongbow]] in the forest of [[Taur-nu-Fuin (Dorthonion)|Taur-nu-Fuin]] with one of these lamps, was painted by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and published in ''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' (1979), no. 37.
* ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', [[Of Tuor and his coming to Gondolin]]
* ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', [[Narn I hîn Húrin]], Appendix


{{references}}
[[Category:Objects]]
[[Category:Objects]]

Revision as of 22:19, 18 July 2012

Fëanorean lamps
Ted Nasmith - Tuor, Gelmir, and Arminas.jpg
LocationValinor, later Middle-earth
AppearanceBlue flame in a white crystal
"...they were made of old in Valinor, and neither wind nor water could quench them, and when they were unhooded they sent forth a clear blue light from a flame imprisoned in white crystal."
Unfinished Tales, Of Tuor and his coming to Gondolin

Fëanorian lamps were lamps which emitted a blue light from a flame from within a white crystal. They are described as "crystals hung in a fine chain net, the crystals being ever shining with an inner blue radiance". The lamps were created in Valinor and the flame could not be extinguished by wind or water The Noldor were famous for the flames, but unfortunately the craft was lost with them. Gelmir possessed one of these lamps when he met Tuor.[1]

Some of the Noldor who had been captured by Morgoth and put to work in his mines had Fëanorian lamps with them. Gwindor was one of these enslaved Elves; when he escaped he took with him one of these lamps.[2]

Other versions of the legendarium

The lamps were part of the legendarium, but Christopher Tolkien did not include any such reference in the published Silmarillion. For example, in one version of the story Túrin Turambar recognised the face Beleg whom he had slain by the light Gwindor's lamp;[3] yet in the version included in the Silmarillion, it was lightning which revealed Beleg's face to Túrin.[2]

The scene of Gwindor of Nargothrond, escaped from Angband and found by Beleg Strongbow in the forest of Taur-nu-Fuin with one of these lamps, was painted by J.R.R. Tolkien and published in Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien (1979), no. 37.

References