Where is Númenor?

In the LOTR books there are a lot of referances to Numenor.It was a place that was high when MiddleEarth was low,but it vanished.Does anyone knows it´s location in Tolkien´s universe?


Given that some rather long posts have been made, I'm a little reluctant to lock, but this is slightly out of place. Helm's Deep: The Middle Earth Discussion Thread is the place for Middle Earth discussion.

Questions specific to a genre or work should be put into an existing thread if possible, to cut down on redundancy. If no such thread exists already, create a new thread to be the central discussion thread on whatever you want to ask about and just ask in the opening post.

 

Is that the place over the sea where the Elves are going?

 

Numenor basically covered ground from south of Lorien by the Anduin River down into Gondor. They were an ancient race which were magnificent constructers of stone...the first race of Men, I believe. The two statues of the Argonath before the falls of Rauros was the entrance. Also, the stone ruins on Amon Hen are ancient remnants of the Numenor.

EDIT: The undying lands that the Elves sail to in the West is called Valinor.



...for the black speech of Mordor may be heard in every corner of the West!!

 

GoA, the land in the south is Gondor, it was "colonized" by the Numenoreans.

Numenor was an island in the ocean inbetween Middle-Earth and Valinor. It was created by the Valar (gods) to be the home for the "Higher Men" They were of three houses and had longer lives than normal men and were actually more akin to elves. This is due to the fact that Elrond's brother was the first Numenorean king. Their father was a man, and their mother an elf. THe gods gave them the choice of the people they would remain with. Elrond chose the elves. His brother (I forget his name) chose men.

That was at the start of the Second Age.

Over the course of thousands of years, the Numenoreans became great sailors, and returned to Middle-Earth, founding large kingdoms and enlightenning the lesser men there.

Eventually, Sauron began his rise to power, and when confronted by a great hoat of Numenoreans, chose to surrender and returned to Numenor with them. He assumed a fair guise, and gradually became the counselor of the King. Sauron gradually corrupted the Numenoreans, and they began to worship the Black Arts.

The loyal Numenoreans (led by Elendil and his sons Anarion and Isildur) fled to Middle-Earth and formed the realms of Gondor and Arnor.

The Fallen Numenoreans set out with a great fleet of ships to attack the Undying Lands in the West, where they had been forbidden to go to. The Valar smote down the fleet and sank Numenor into the sea. Sauron escaped to Middle-Earth.

The Last Alliance of Men and Elves (the prologue of the FOTR movie) marked the end of the Second Age.

The Rangers in the north and the men of Gondor carried on the blood of the Numenoreans, though it gradually lessened from being mixed with lesser men.

Aragorn is Isildur's heir and is a direct descendant of the line of kings.

(that was kind of a long answer, but I hope it helped.)

 

Ghosts_of_Anakin, you would be reffering to the Numenoreans or the people of Numenore themselves.

Numenor was an island in the extreme west of Arda (the world). It was gifted by the Valar (gods)to the three houses of the fathers of men who fought with the Eldar against Morgoth. The first King of Numenor was Elros Tar-Minyatur (the brother of Elrond ). The Numenoreans enjoyed prosperity until they began to fear death again. Originally, the Numenoreans had been given a great life-span, of which they "gave up" when they wearied of life. However, they turned to trying to find a way to become immortal.

When Sauron revealed himself in Middle Earth, the Numenoreans were at the height of their glory, having many outposts in Middle Earth. Being still friendly with the Eldar of Middle Earth, they came to their aid and Sauron was humbled by the King and taken back to Numenor as a prisoner. Quickly however, Sauron became the Kings advisor and poisoned his mind. He convinced the King (Ar Pharazon) to break the ban of the Valar, which was that Men may not sail to the Undying Lands (Valinor and Eressea). So, Ar-Pharazon and build a great fleet and sailed for the Undying Lands.

When he landed, the Valar gave up their government of Earth to Iru Illuvatar (God) and he destoryed the King and his fleet under a landslide. He then made the world round so that none save the Eldar might find their way into the Undying Lands. During the upheaval, a great wave came upon Numenor and it was sunk. Sauron's body was destroyed and he could never again take fair shape.

For the last few centuries before the Downfall of Numenor, the people had broken off their contact with the Eldar. Yet some remained kind and "faithful" to them. These were Elendil and his sons Isildur and Anarion. They escaped the downfall in boats and reached Middle-Earth, where they founded the Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor, thus preserving the line of the Men of Westernesse. Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings is the descendant of Isildur and is the rightful King of Arnor and Gondor, the Numenorean realms.




Wow, that was quite a post.


Edit: Ack JediHobbit, you beat me to it