Silmarillion - Valaquenta - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Bêthberry · 10-06-2006, 11:32 AM

I was PMing last week with Nogrod about the connotations of flame and we discussed the various meanings of the word. One of the meanings might bear on this absence of a specific god or goddess of love.

Nogrod pointed out that 'flame' can mean 'lover', as in old flame (or current flame).

The upshot was that we wondered if the Flame Imperishable could be love eternal. Love would then be with Eru/Illuvatar and it would be this primal creator who was (is?) the god of love. The Void and any creatures therein would thus be devoid of love as Melkor failed to find the Flame there. (I think this would pertain to Ungoliant.)

Perhaps Nogrod would be able to expand upon this more fully. Would there be any other indications that Eru is the god of love? Clearly, not quite the amorous divinity of other mythologies.

10-06-2006, 11:32 AM	#13
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	I was PMing last week with Nogrod about the connotations of flame and we discussed the various meanings of the word. One of the meanings might bear on this absence of a specific god or goddess of love. Nogrod pointed out that 'flame' can mean 'lover', as in old flame (or current flame). The upshot was that we wondered if the Flame Imperishable could be love eternal. Love would then be with Eru/Illuvatar and it would be this primal creator who was (is?) the god of love. The Void and any creatures therein would thus be devoid of love as Melkor failed to find the Flame there. (I think this would pertain to Ungoliant.) Perhaps Nogrod would be able to expand upon this more fully. Would there be any other indications that Eru is the god of love? Clearly, not quite the amorous divinity of other mythologies. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.