The island kingdom of Númenor in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is an essential plot point in the show, and also important to the history of Middle-earth. However, since the fabled kingdom of men did not exist by the time of The Hobbit And the lord of the rings Númenor has also become a source of intrigue for viewers unfamiliar with JRR Tolkien’s books. with The rings of power Founded during the Second Age of JRR Tolkien, over 3000 years earlier The Lord of the Rings. This is the main reason why the Númenóreans and their ancient island kingdom are referred to in passing The Lord of the RingsBut do not physically appear.
The history of Númenor is detailed in The SilmarillionTolkien’s Lord of the Rings Appendices, and other extensive writings on the landscape of Arda. And although Númenor himself does not appear during Frodo’s quest and the War of the Ring, his influence is strongly felt, with decisions taken by Númenóreans in the Second Age directly influencing matters in the Third. While The rings of power has recreated the place quite well, there is much more about Númenor and the Númenóreans from Tolkien’s writing that will give viewers a full idea of ​​its significance.
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How was Númenor created, when and by whom?
Númenor rose from the sea as a reward for the first people of Middle-earth
Númenor was specifically created for the first humans of Middle-earth, and was a reward for their party in defeating the precursor to Sauron – the great evil known as Morgoth. The first era has come to a violent end. A host led by the Valar (archangels of JRR Tolkien’s mythology) personally entered Middle-earth to defeat Morgoth, the first enemy. Although the Valar were victorious, Morgoth’s dark influence and the cataclysmic battle terraformed the landscape of Middle-earth, causing eternal damage.
One of several native races that joined the Valar against Morgoth were the Edain – Middle-earth’s first recorded people. As a reward for their loyalty (not to mention the fact that Middle-earth was not left in great shape), the Valar raised an island out of the ocean especially for the Edain to live on. Located between Middle-earth and the Valar’s own realm of Valinor, people gradually migrated to the star-shaped island, and the kingdom of Númenor was officially established there in year 32 of the Second Age under Tor-Miniature – Elrond’s brother , who left. It’s half past eleven.
How was the island of Númenor
Compared to Gondor or Rohan, Númenor was a paradise
Númenor was a large five-pointed island situated between the mainland of Middle-earth and the western region of Valinor, the mystical paradise that is home to the elves. In terms of its geography, Númenor resembles Middle-earth much more than Valinor, but it is still unique. If Middle-earth humans from Third Age realms like Gondor and Rohan had the opportunity to visit the fabled island kingdom, they would likely have seen it as a near-paradise.
There were many unique plants and animals on Númenor that could not be found anywhere outside Valinor, as they were gifted to the Númenóreans along with the island itself. The landscape of the island is defined by a large mountain in its center called Meneltarma, an Elvish name that translates to “pillar of the heavens”.
The five coastal regions of Númenor all border Meneltarma, with the land around the island itself forming the region of Mittalmar. There are multiple settlements on Númenor, with the capital at Armenelos. Armenelos, located in the region of Arandor, is also known as the city of kings or Armenelos the Golden, which already lets readers know that it was an achievement of human city-building and truly a sight to see.
The political structure of Númenor
The ancient kingdom hinged on its monarchy
The political structure of the Númenóreans is, in many ways, similar to that of Gondor before the kings and queens were replaced by stewards. This is not surprising, since Gondor was founded by humans from Númenor. Númenor was a monarchy, ruled by a succession of various kings and queens who all descended from the first king, the half-aged Elrus Tor miniature.
This helped to provide stability to the island, because the royal Numinor had a long life even compared to the other long-lived inhabitants of the Numinor. The Unimenorean kingdom lived for around 300 years compared to the normal two centuries of their relatives. The longer lifespans ensured that there was a stable presence on the throne for multiple decades at a time, even centuries, and thus Númenor was relatively free of the succession-based political turmoil that most monarchies were plagued by.
There have been 25 kings and queens throughout the history of Númenor. The last was Tar-Kalion, also known as Ar-Pharazôn. While monarchy worked well for Númenor, Tar Calion was a key reason the island ultimately fell. His obsession with finding eternal life was a key reason why the kingdom experienced the political split that ultimately led to Sauron’s influence spreading among the Númenoreans.
The culture of Númenor
Númenor was culturally distinctive and the pinnacle of humanity
In terms of culture, Númenor resembles Gondor most closely out of the Middle-earth kingdoms seen in The Lord of the Rings. However, the similarities are only because of the former’s importance in the history of the latter. Direct comparisons would immediately show Numenórean culture as far grander than the battle-weary Gondorians, to the point that the average citizen of Gondor would likely consider the way of life in Númenor to be borderline-indulgent and decadent.
Númenor enjoyed a peace no human kingdoms in the Third Age of Middle-earth would be able to comprehend. Without the threats of regular orc raids or Mordor being geographically next door, the people of Númenor have more time to invest in developing their culture through art, impressive architecture and other pursuits that living in a state of perpetually-impending war cannot allow for.
This was captured incredibly well by Amazon Mit The rings of power. The armor of the Númenóreans is far more aesthetic and complex, and the buildings and structures of its various locations are incredibly grandiose than all but the upper echelons of Minas Tirith (which were ancient in the time of Lord of the Rings).
However, the people of Númenor are far from pampered or pathetic. They make for fierce warriors, and are integral to the eventual defeat of Sauron. Due to the gifts given to them by the Valar, the people of Númenor outshined the rest of humanity in almost every way, whether on or off the battlefield. This was reflected in their culture, which in the simplest terms was the pinnacle of what the people of Middle-earth could achieve.
How Númenóreans differ from Middle-earth people
The Valar rewarded the humans of Númenor with many gifts, including prolonged life
Just like the land of Númenor itself, there are several unique aspects of its people, the Númenóreans, that set them apart from the humans who inhabited realms like Rohan and Gondor in the time of The Lord of the Rings. Númenor is nothing like the human settlements seen in The Lord of the Rings And The Hobbit. Human societies of Third Age Middle-earth were mostly humble, simple, rural cultures (see Edoras in Rohan), with cities such as Gondor’s Minas Tirith rare examples of more grandiose architecture and greater accomplishments.
The most advanced human culture in LotR is arguably Gondor, with the impressive city-fortress of Minas Tirith being a bustling metropolis on a scale seen nowhere else during the Third Age of Middle-earth. However, even Gondor’s mighty and visually impressive capital does not quite match the majesty of Númenor. The second age island was a wonder to behold, more advanced in technology, rife with awe-inspiring temples and buildings, and heavily influenced by the knowledge of elves who visited from the shores of Valinor.
The Númenóreans themselves were a cut above the people who later populated Middle-earth. As another reward for fighting Morgoth, the Númenóreans were given longer lives (some living up to 400 years). They became taller and stronger, and their wisdom was naturally greater, due to mixing with superior races. Descendants of men who did not help the Valar against Morgoth do not receive such gifts and are considered less noble.
Until then THe of the rings Rolls around, the entire race is diluted compared to man’s mighty Númenórean ancestors. The rings of power Features human characters living in Númenor and the villages of Middle-earth, and even if the islanders are not overshadowed in Amazon’s adaptation, their superior status will likely be evident on screen.
What Second Age events Númenor was involved in
The Numenoreans were key to defeating Sauron
For the first 600 years of its existence, N̼menor thrived and flourished in watery isolation, but a growing preoccupation with the art of seafaring eventually brought the people of N̼menor back to Middle-earth Рthe land their ancestors left behind at the dawn of the second age.
At first the arrival of the Númenóreans was celebrated by all. The visitors made a friendship with the elves of Middle-earth, then made contact with their human cousins ​​and passed on knowledge and Wisdom. The rings of power Adjusted the friendly relations between Númenor and the pointed-ored population of Middle-earth by Galadriel visiting the island to discuss an encroaching darkness.
The presence of Númenor on the shores of Middle-earth grew exponentially over the centuries, during which time Sauron infiltrated the elves by disguising himself as “Annatar,” and tricked them into making the Rings of Power. He then tried to destroy Middle-earth by secretly forging the One Ring, and when his plot failed, the war between Sauron and the Elves began in the year 1693 of the Second Age.
Naturally, the elves called Númenor for help, and when the fleet of reinforcements eventually arrived, Sauron was quickly defeated in the Battle of the Gwathlo. This conflict is a good opportunity to be adopted by Amazon The rings of power Sooner or later.
The Fall of Númenor Explained
The destruction of Númenor was a great victory for Sauron
The seeds of Númenor’s downfall were actually sown in the beginning. As soon as the Valar raised the island, they forbade its population to sail west to Valinor. And despite possessing more life than their kin in Middle-earth, the Númenóreans would be visited by elves blessed with immortality.
When Númenor helped reclaim Sauron, his shadow almost seemed to draw out their underlying greed. Whereas the Numenóreans were once friendly to the people of Middle-earth, they become increasingly domineering from 1700 onwards, ruling over the lesser people harshly. At the time Tor-Ankalimon took the throne in the year 2221 of the Second Era, In the Numen culture, a mercy emerged – the faithful, who still trusted the Valar and wanted to remain friendly with the elves, and the king’s men, who were jealous of the elves and wanted to rebel against the Valar.
When Sauron tried his luck at conquering Middle-earth again in the 3200s, the Númenórean forces marched for Middle-earth to meet him. This time, however, their cause is not a righteous one – Sauron’s claim as Middle-earth’s undisputed ruler has simply insulted Núminor’s king. The Dark Lord was dragged back to Númenor as a prisoner, but such was his talent for lies and manipulation, Sauron took advantage of the cultural divide in Númenor and unleashed the wrath of the King’s Men.
Temples are built in honor of Morgoth, and flats are prepared for an invasion of Valinor. As punishment for their corruption, Eru Ilúvatar – the god of JRR Tolkien’s world – threw Númenor into the seaDestroyed the fleet bound for Valinor, and removed Sauron’s ability to change shape.
How Númenor is connected to Gondor
Minas Tirith was built by the first Numenoreans to settle on the mainland of Middle-earth
When Eru Ilúvatar destroyed Númenor to punish the Númenoreans for falling sway to their own greed and the influence of the Great Deceiver, he spared those of the faithful who did not abandon the Valar by joining Sauron. The lucky few surviving Númenoreans included Elendil and his sons Isildur and Anárion. Upon landing in Middle-earth, Elendil and his sons built two kingdoms: Arnor and Gondor. Arnor would fall early in the Third Age, but Gondor was destined to endure.
Settlements like the famous Minas Tirith of The return of the king Were constructed by those who survived the fall of Númenor, meaning the famous White City of Gondor represents the style, architecture and ambition of the ruined island. Gondor itself carries on the spirit of Númenor in the third age of Middle-earth, and this thread of continuity is represented by the famous white tree standing at the top of Minas Tirith.
Before Númenor was consigned to a watery doom, the king’s court contained a beautiful tree named Nimloth the Fair. Isildur secretly stole a fruit from Nimlot, and it was planted in Minas Tirith to become the White Tree of Gandor.
What Nomenorians are in the rings of power?
Isildur and several other important characters of Númenor are present
Amazon Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Fudges the dates of JRR Tolkien’s timeline to bring his most famous Númenórean characters into the mix earlier. As such, Maxim Baldry portrays Isildur, and Lloyd Owen plays his father, Elendil. The rings of power Also introduces Isildur’s made-for-TV sister, Eärien from Ema Horvath. Cynthia Addai-Robinson is Tor-Miriel, heir to the throne of Númenor, and Trystan Gravelle plays the villainous role of Ar-Pharazôn, who steals the crown for himself before finally succumbing to Sauron’s manipulations.
These characters would typically not appear until the end of Tolkien’s Second Age, shortly before Númenor’s destruction. Lord of the Rings: The rings of power Seems to deal with Sauron’s comeback and the forging of the Rings of Power, suggesting the long history of Númenor has been truncated for the purposes of television.