Chariots of fire

In the Old Testament, the prophet Elijah was carried into heaven by a chariot of fire. “Chariots of Fire” was also the title of a famous British film in 1981 with stirring music by Vangelis, centred on the 1924 Olympics. The film won four Academy Awards in 1981, including best picture and best musical score. The title of the film was inspired by the hymn Jerusalem, written by Sir Hubert Parry in 1916, which includes the words “bring me my chariots of fire” from William Blake’s poetical tribute Milton A Poem (c. 1804-1810). Blake’s words in turn were sourced from the Bible, Kings II, 2:11, “There appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire.” This same chariot transported Elijah into heaven. The phrase also appears in Kings II, 6:17, “The mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire.”