Fëanorian lamp

In J.R.R Tolkien's legendarium, Fëanorian lamp appears mainly in the story Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin. It is described as lamps that gave blue radiance from a flame trapped within a white crystal. These lamps used by Noldor were made in Valinor and their light could not be quenched by wind or water. Even though Noldor in Middle-earth were famous for these lamps, their secret was lost to them. Gelmir of Finarfin's people had one of these lamps in his possession when he met Tuor. A similar citing of these lamps can be found in the same story when Tuor and Voronwë encounter Elemmakil and his guards of Gondolin.

Another instance when this lamp make an appearance in Tolkien's earlier writings is in the story of Narn i Chîn Húrin where Gwindor of Nargothrond, an elf who escaped from Angband had possession of one such Noldorin lamp. This lamp helped Beleg to identify Gwindor in the forest of Taur-nu-Fuin. This is illustrated in paintings by Tolkien himself. When Beleg Cúthalion was slain, it was from the light of this lamp that Túrin was revealed that he had slain his friend. But in the published version of The Silmarillion there is no occurrence of Fëanorian lamps.

For other objects which had a similar property of emitting light without fire see:

• Arkenstone
• Silmarils
• Phial of Galadriel

External links

• Feanorian lamps Annals of Arda
• Fëanorian lamps Encyclopedia of Arda
• Fëanorian lamps Tolkien Gateway