Numenor: Why Tolkien's Atlantis Had to Fall | Silmarillion Explained
Research & Sources
Research Notes: Numenor - The Downfallen Isle
Overview
Numenor (Quenya: "Westernesse"; Adunaic: Anadune) was the greatest realm of Men in the history of Arda, a star-shaped island kingdom raised from the sea by the Valar as a gift to the Edain who had fought alongside the Elves against Morgoth in the First Age. For over three thousand years, it stood as a beacon of human achievement, wisdom, and power - until pride, fear of death, and the corrupting influence of Sauron brought about its catastrophic destruction in S.A. 3319. The Akallabeth ("The Downfallen") represents Tolkien's personal reimagining of the Atlantis myth, born from his own recurring nightmares of an "ineluctable Wave" that haunted him throughout his life.
The tale of Numenor is central to Tolkien's legendarium, representing what he called one of his three major themes: "Fall, Mortality, and the Machine." It serves as a bridge between the mythological First Age and the more familiar Third Age of The Lord of the Rings, and its echoes resound throughout the later history of Middle-earth through the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor, the Black Numenoreans, and the very bloodline of Aragorn.
Primary Sources
The Silmarillion (Akallabeth)
The Akallabeth: The Downfall of Numenor is the fourth part of The Silmarillion, edited by Christopher Tolkien from his father's later texts. It was written in-universe by Elendil near the end of the Second Age and preserved in Gondor.
Key Quotes:On the Ban of the Valar: "But the Lords of Valinor forbade them to sail so far westward that the coasts of Numenor could no longer be seen; and for long the Dunedain were content, though they did not fully understand the purpose of this ban."
On the growing Shadow: "But the fear of death grew ever darker upon them, and they delayed it by all means that they could; and they began to build great houses for their dead, while their wise men laboured unceasingly to discover if they might the secret of recalling life, or at least of the prolonging of Men's days."
On Sauron's arrival: "Sauron passed over the sea and looked upon the land of Numenor, and on the city of Armenelos in the days of its glory, and he was astounded; but his heart within was filled the more with envy and hate."
On Sauron's deception: "Yet such was the cunning of his mind and mouth, and the strength of his hidden will, that ere three years had passed he had become closest to the secret counsels of the King."
On the Downfall: "Then Manwe upon the Mountain called upon Iluvatar, and for that time the Valar laid down their government of Arda. And Iluvatar showed forth his power, and he changed the fashion of the world."
On Sauron's permanent disfigurement: "Sauron could never again appear fair to the eyes of Men."
Unfinished Tales
"A Description of the Island of Numenor" provides the most detailed account of Numenor's geography, flora, fauna, and culture. Christopher Tolkien notes it was "derived from descriptions and simple maps that were long preserved in the archives of the Kings of Gondor."
On Numenor's shape: "The land of Numenor resembled in outline a five-pointed star, or pentangle, with a central portion some two hundred and fifty miles across, north and south, and east and west, from which extended five large peninsular promontories." On Meneltarma: "The Meneltarma or 'Pillar of Heaven' was a mountain in the midst of the land, and was sacred to Eru Iluvatar. No building was raised upon it, and no word was spoken there save only by the King when he offered the Three Prayers: for the year at the time of Erukyerme in the first days of spring, for the summer at Erulaitale at midsummer, and for the harvest at Eruhantale at the end of autumn.""Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife" tells the only complete narrative from Numenor's middle history, exploring themes of the sea vs. the land, duty vs. love, and Numenor's first significant involvement in Middle-earth politics.
The Lord of the Rings (Appendices)
Tale of Years - Second Age Timeline: - S.A. 32: Edain reach Numenor; Elros becomes first King - S.A. 600: First ships of Numenoreans appear off Middle-earth coasts - S.A. 1200: Sauron endeavors to seduce the Eldar; Gil-galad refuses contact - S.A. 1800: Numenoreans begin establishing permanent havens in Middle-earth - S.A. 2251: Death of Tar-Atanamir; Tar-Ancalimon begins reign; Division of Numenoreans begins - S.A. 3262: Sauron taken as prisoner to Numenor - S.A. 3310: Ar-Pharazon begins building the Great Armament - S.A. 3319: Ar-Pharazon assails Valinor; Downfall of Numenor; Elendil escapes - S.A. 3320: Foundations of Gondor and ArnorThe Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
Letter 131 (to Milton Waldman, 1951): Tolkien identifies his three major themes: "Fall, Mortality, and the Machine." On Numenor: "Their reward is their undoing - or the means of their temptation... The Downfall is achieved by the cunning of Sauron in exploiting this weakness. Its central theme is (inevitably, I think, in a story of Men) a Ban, or Prohibition." Letter 154 (to Naomi Mitchison, 1954): "Before the Downfall there lay beyond the sea and west-shores of Middle-earth an earthly Elvish paradise in Eressea and Valinor beyond... It could be reached physically by ordinary sailing ships. After the rebellion Numenor was destroyed and Eressea and Valinor were removed from the physical world." Letter 156 (to Father Robert Murray, 1954): Discusses the theological background of the Numenoreans as monotheists with knowledge of the "True God," and how their rebellion against the divine Ban led to catastrophe. Letter 257 (to Christopher Bretherton, 1964): "This legend or myth or dim memory of some ancient history has always troubled me. In sleep I had the dreadful dream of the ineluctable Wave, either coming out of the quiet sea, or coming in towering over the green inlands. It still occurs occasionally, though now exorcized by writing about it. It always ends by surrender, and I awake gasping out of deep water."The History of Middle-earth
Volume IX (Sauron Defeated) contains: - "The Fall of Numenor" - an Elvish version of the tale - "The Drowning of Anadune" - a Mannish version - Christopher Tolkien's notes on the evolution of his father's conception of Numenor
Volume XII (The Peoples of Middle-earth) contains Tolkien's final revisions to the Numenorean material, including "The Line of Elros: Kings of Numenor."
Key Facts & Timeline
The Second Age of Middle-earth (3,441 years)
The Founding (S.A. 1-600) - S.A. 1: Second Age begins after Morgoth's defeat; Valar raise Numenor from the sea - S.A. 32: Edain complete migration to Numenor; Elros crowned as Tar-Minyatur - S.A. 442: Death of Elros after 500 years of life, 410 years as King - S.A. 600: First Numenorean ships appear off the coasts of Middle-earth The Golden Age (S.A. 600-1800) - S.A. 725-1075: Reign of Tar-Aldarion, the Mariner King; establishes Vinyalonde - S.A. 883: Birth of Tar-Ancalime, first Ruling Queen of Numenor - S.A. 1000: Sauron begins constructing Barad-dur in Mordor - S.A. 1200: Sauron attempts to seduce the Eldar - S.A. 1500-1590: Rings of Power forged; One Ring created - S.A. 1693-1701: War of the Elves and Sauron; Numenor intervenes decisively The Shadow Falls (S.A. 1800-3262) - S.A. 1800: Numenoreans begin establishing permanent colonies and exacting tribute - S.A. 2029: Tar-Atanamir takes sceptre; refuses to surrender it; first to speak against Ban - S.A. 2251: Death of Tar-Atanamir "the Unwilling"; division of Numenoreans begins - S.A. 2280: Umbar made a great fortress of Numenor - S.A. 2899-3177: Reign of Ar-Gimilzor, who persecutes the Faithful - S.A. 3177-3255: Reign of Tar-Palantir, the last Faithful king The Downfall (S.A. 3255-3319) - S.A. 3255: Ar-Pharazon seizes sceptre, forces Miriel to marry him - S.A. 3261: Ar-Pharazon sails to Middle-earth with overwhelming force - S.A. 3262: Sauron surrenders, brought to Numenor as hostage - S.A. 3262-3310: Sauron corrupts Numenor; Temple of Melkor built; human sacrifices begin - S.A. 3310: Ar-Pharazon, fearing death, begins building the Great Armament - S.A. 3319: Armada sets sail; lands on Aman; Iluvatar intervenes; Numenor destroyed - S.A. 3320: Elendil and sons found Arnor and GondorSignificant Characters
The Founders and Early Kings
Elros Tar-Minyatur (First King, S.A. 32-442) - Son of Earendil and Elwing, twin brother of Elrond - Chose mortality when the Valar gave the Half-elven the choice - Lived 500 years, reigned 410 years - longest-lived of all Men save his descendants - Established Armenelos and the traditions of Numenorean kingship - His choice of mortality over immortality sets the thematic foundation for all that follows Tar-Aldarion (Sixth King, the Mariner King) - Called "Son of Trees" (Quenya: alda = trees) for his forestry work - Master shipbuilder who established Numenor's maritime supremacy - Founded the Guild of Venturers; established Vinyalonde in Middle-earth - His tragic marriage to Erendis represents the conflict between sea and land - Changed succession laws to allow his daughter Ancalime to inheritThe Turning Point
Tar-Atanamir "the Great" and "the Unwilling" (Thirteenth King) - First to openly speak against the Ban of the Valar - First to refuse to surrender the sceptre before death - Claimed the life of the Eldar was his "by right" - His reign marks the beginning of Numenor's decline - The Eagles of Manwe departed during his successor's reign Tar-Ancalimon (Fourteenth King) - The division between King's Men and Faithful becomes permanent - Elven tongues begin to be abandoned by the King's Men - The Great Eagles leave NumenorThe Last Generation
Tar-Palantir (Twenty-fourth King, "The Far-sighted") - Born Inziladun; mother secretly of the Faithful - Attempted to restore friendship with Elves and Valar - Prophesied that if the White Tree died, the line of Kings would end - Spent his last years gazing westward from Oromet, but "no ship came ever again" - Died broken-hearted, his repentance unanswered Ar-Pharazon "the Golden" (Twenty-fifth and last King) - Nephew of Tar-Palantir; seized throne illegally - Forced his cousin Tar-Miriel to marry him against law and her will - Greatest warrior-king of Numenor; Sauron surrendered to him - Corrupted by Sauron over 50+ years; led invasion of Valinor - Buried alive in the Caves of the Forgotten until the Last Battle Tar-Miriel (Ar-Zimraphel) - Rightful Queen of Numenor; forced into marriage by Ar-Pharazon - In some versions, ran to Meneltarma as the Wave came, was lost in its destruction - Represents the tragedy of the Faithful caught in the cataclysm Amandil (Last Lord of Andunie) - Leader of the Faithful during Ar-Pharazon's reign - Sailed west to beg the Valar for mercy; never returned - Compared to Earendil's mission, but without success - Father of Elendil; his advice saved the Faithful remnant Elendil "the Tall" (Founder of Gondor and Arnor) - Son of Amandil; led nine ships to Middle-earth - "Noachian figure" - preserved remnant through catastrophe - Founded the Realms in Exile; brought palantiri and other heirlooms - Ancestor of Aragorn; his line preserved into the Fourth Age Isildur (Co-founder of Gondor, ancestor of Aragorn) - Son of Elendil; nearly died stealing fruit of Nimloth - His healing when the seedling flowered foreshadows eucatastrophe - Preserved the line of the White TreeThe Corruptor
Sauron (as Tar-Mairon, "Lord of Gifts") - Came to Numenor as prisoner in S.A. 3262 - Rose to become High Priest of Melkor within 3 years - Established the Temple; instituted human sacrifice - Convinced Ar-Pharazon to invade Valinor - Lost his fair form permanently in the Downfall - "He passed over the sea and looked upon the land of Numenor... and he was astounded; but his heart within was filled the more with envy and hate"Geographic Details
The Island's Shape and Structure
Numenor was a five-pointed star approximately 250 miles across at its center, with five great promontories of nearly equal length extending outward. This gave it an area roughly comparable to modern Great Britain.
The Six Regions:1. Mittalmar (Inlands) - Central region containing: - Armenelos, the City of Kings - Meneltarma, the Pillar of Heaven - Noirinan, the Valley of the Tombs - The most densely populated region
2. Forostar (Northlands) - Rugged, rocky, with few inhabitants - Sorontil, where Eagles of Manwe nested - Windswept highlands facing the cold northern seas
3. Andustar (Westlands) - Facing the Forbidden West - Three great bays on western coast - Andunie, city of the Lords of Andunie (the Faithful) - Closest to the Undying Lands; most visited by Elves from Eressea
4. Hyarnustar (Southwestlands) - Warm, fertile - Great vineyards - Long coastline
5. Hyarrostar (Southeastlands) - Forested - Great plantations of fragrant trees - Source of wood for shipbuilding
6. Orrostar (Eastlands) - Agricultural - Great grain-growing regions - Faced Middle-earth
Meneltarma - The Pillar of Heaven
The sacred mountain at Numenor's heart was the holiest site in the realm: - Only place where Eru Iluvatar was worshipped directly - No building was ever erected upon it - No word spoken save by the King during the Three Prayers - No weapons or tools permitted - The summit was said to allow sight of Eressea on clear days - After the Shadow fell, clouds covered it permanently - Some believe its peak may still exist above the waves
Armenelos - The Golden City
The capital and seat of the Kings: - Location of the King's Palace and courts - Site of the White Tree Nimloth - Later location of Sauron's Temple to Melkor - The Temple was 500 feet high with walls 50 feet thick - Built of marble, gold, glass, and steel - Contained prisons and torture chambers beneath
Position in the World
- Raised from the sea by Osse at the command of the Valar - Located in the Western Sea between Middle-earth and Valinor - Closer to Valinor than to Middle-earth - From Meneltarma, the far-sighted could see Eressea - The star of Earendil guided the Edain to it, giving it the name Elenna ("Starwards")
Themes and Symbolism
Death as Gift and Curse
The central paradox of Numenor: the Numenoreans received the greatest blessings given to any Men - extended lifespan, wisdom, beauty, skill - yet became obsessed with the one thing they could not have: immortality.
Tolkien wrote: "The Numenoreans... began to hunger for the undying city that they saw from afar, and the desire of everlasting life, to escape from death and the ending of delight, grew strong upon them."
The "Gift of Men" - mortality - was intended by Iluvatar as liberation from the circles of the world, a fate the Valar themselves would come to envy. But Morgoth's shadow caused Men to fear it as doom. The tragedy is that in fleeing death, the Numenoreans brought death upon themselves.
The Ban and Prohibition
Every major Fall in Tolkien's work involves the violation of a prohibition: - The Noldor's pursuit of the Silmarils against Valar counsel - Beren and Luthien's forbidden love (leading to blessing through grace) - The Numenoreans' breaking of the Ban of the Valar
Tolkien explicitly states in Letter 131 that "a Ban, or Prohibition" is inevitable in a story of Men. The Ban was not arbitrary cruelty but protection - the Undying Lands would not grant immortality to mortals, only make their mortality more painful.
Pride and Humility
The contrast between: - Early kings who accepted mortality (Elros chose death; early kings surrendered sceptre willingly) - Late kings who clung to power (Tar-Atanamir refused to die; Ar-Pharazon demanded immortality)
The Kings' Men became oppressors; the Faithful (Elendili) maintained humility and friendship with Elves.
The Second Fall of Man
Tolkien called the Downfall "a Second Fall of Man." The parallels to Eden: - Numenor as paradise given as gift - The Ban of the Valar as forbidden fruit - Sauron as serpent/tempter - Ar-Pharazon and Miriel as Adam and Eve (corruption through desire) - Expulsion/destruction as consequence
Atlantis Mythology
Tolkien's deliberate parallels to Plato's Atlantis: - Island civilization of unparalleled power - Geometric/star-shaped layout reflecting harmony - Maritime supremacy - Gradual corruption by wealth and power - Destruction by the gods for hubris - Survivors founding new civilizations
But Tolkien christianizes the myth: the Fall comes not from mere pride in power but from rebellion against divine authority and the desire to be "as gods."
The White Tree
Nimloth represents the connection between Numenor and the blessed realm: - Descended from Telperion through Galathilion and Celeborn - Symbol of the ancient alliance between Men and Elves/Valar - Sauron's first target for destruction - Isildur's rescue of its fruit preserves hope through catastrophe - The White Tree of Gondor continues its line into the Fourth Age - Tolkien noted Sauron particularly hated the Tree for what it represented
Light vs. Darkness
The progression of Numenor traces from light to darkness: - Gift of Elves: White Tree, hallowed ships, lore and art - Middle period: Growing shadows, dimming of Meneltarma - Final period: Temple smoke, human sacrifice, worship of Darkness itself
The literal darkening of Numenor mirrors its spiritual corruption.
Scholarly Perspectives
Catholic/Christian Interpretation
Tolkien described LOTR as "a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision." The Numenorean tale reflects: - Original sin and its consequences - The danger of reward without humility - The necessity of accepting divine limits - Grace operating through faithful remnants - Eucatastrophe (the "good catastrophe" of unexpected deliverance)
The Faithful's escape echoes Noah; Elendil is explicitly compared to a "Noachian figure."
Atlantis Scholarship
Charles Delattre notes Numenor matches Atlantis in multiple details: - Perfect world with geometric harmony - Abundance of valuable resources - Unmatched maritime power - Corruption through prosperity and pride - Divine destruction
But Tolkien transforms the myth from Greek tragedy (pride punished) to Christian theodicy (rebellion against God bringing consequences, but grace preserving a remnant).
The "Atlantis-Haunting"
Tolkien's personal connection to the material is unique in his legendarium. His recurring nightmare of the "ineluctable Wave" preceded and generated the story. That his son Michael independently experienced the same dream suggested to Tolkien that this was "inherited" - perhaps ancestral memory.
He wrote: "I bequeathed [the dream] to Faramir" - the character in LOTR who speaks of dreaming of "a great dark wave climbing over the green lands."
Writing Numenor's destruction "exorcized" Tolkien's nightmare. The creative act transformed personal terror into mythological meaning.
Cosmological Significance
The Downfall marks a fundamental change in Arda's nature: - The world becomes round (bent) rather than flat - Aman is removed from physical existence - The Straight Road becomes the only path west - The age of myth gives way to the age of history
This represents Tolkien's way of explaining how the mythological past becomes the historical present - through catastrophe that changes the nature of reality itself.
Contradictions and Variants
Flat World vs. Round World
Tolkien struggled with this cosmology throughout his life: - Published Silmarillion: world flat until Downfall, then made round - Round World Version: Earth always spherical; Aman removed differently - Christopher Tolkien chose the Flat World version for publication - The Round World version proved impossible to reconcile with existing mythology
Different Textual Traditions
Christopher Tolkien identified two main traditions: - "The Fall of Numenor" - Elvish perspective - "The Drowning of Anadune" - Mannish/Numenorean perspective
Both are preserved in History of Middle-earth Vol. IX (Sauron Defeated).
Tar-Miriel's Fate
Different versions give different accounts: - Some: She ran to Meneltarma and was lost in the waves - Others: She was in Armenelos when it fell - The published Silmarillion leaves her fate somewhat ambiguous
Sauron's Ring During Captivity
Debate exists over whether Sauron wore the One Ring while in Numenor: - Some interpretations: he left it in Barad-dur - Others: he wore it but kept it hidden - The published text does not specify
Numenorean Lifespan
Tolkien revised his conception of lifespan multiple times: - Early versions: commoners lived 200 years, royalty 400+ - Later versions: commoners 300-350 years, royalty similar - Consistent: Elros lived 500 years; lifespans decreased over generations - The decline accelerated after the Shadow fell
Cultural and Linguistic Context
Names of Numenor
The island bore many names reflecting different perspectives:
Elvish names: - Numenor (Quenya): "West-land" or "Westernesse" - Elenna: "Starwards" - from Earendil's star guiding them there - Atalante: "The Downfallen" - after destruction Mannish (Adunaic) names: - Anadune: Equivalent of Numenor - Akallabeth: "The Downfallen" - equivalent of Atalante The name "Atalante": Tolkien described this as a "happy accident" - he realized that his Quenya root TALAT ("to fall, slip down") could produce "Atalante," echoing "Atlantis." The resemblance was intentional, but the word was a genuine Quenya derivative, not merely a borrowing.The Adunaic Language
The native Numenorean tongue, developed from the speech of the Edain: - Related distantly to Elvish through ancient contact - Had its own grammar and vocabulary - Later kings took Adunaic names (Ar-Pharazon vs. Tar-Calion) - The use of Adunaic vs. Quenya for royal names became a political statement - The Faithful preserved Elvish; King's Men rejected it
Key Linguistic Elements
- Tar-: Quenya prefix meaning "king" or "high" - Ar-: Adunaic equivalent - -mir: "jewel" (as in Tar-Miriel, Palantir) - -ion: "son of" - Andunie: "sunset" - the westernmost city, facing the dying light
Questions and Mysteries
Unanswered Questions
1. What happened to Amandil? He sailed west to plead with the Valar "and was never heard of again." Did he reach Valinor? Was he granted audience? Did he die at sea?
2. The Caves of the Forgotten: Are Ar-Pharazon and his army truly immortal? What role will they play in the Last Battle (Dagor Dagorath)?
3. The Numenorean colonies: What happened to all the Numenorean settlements besides Umbar? How many people survived outside the nine ships of the Faithful?
4. Tar-Miriel's fate: Did she make it to Meneltarma? Could she have survived?
5. The peak of Meneltarma: Does it truly survive above the waves? Could it be reached?
Textual Gaps
- No complete history of the middle period (between Aldarion and Tar-Palantir) - Limited information about daily Numenorean life - The process of corruption is sketched rather than detailed - The role of the Faithful during the worst persecutions is unclear
Compelling Quotes for Narration
1. "Sauron passed over the sea and looked upon the land of Numenor, and on the city of Armenelos in the days of its glory, and he was astounded; but his heart within was filled the more with envy and hate." (Akallabeth)
2. "In sleep I had the dreadful dream of the ineluctable Wave, either coming out of the quiet sea, or coming in towering over the green inlands." (Letter 257)
3. "Their reward is their undoing - or the means of their temptation." (Letter 131)
4. "The fear of death grew ever darker upon them, and they delayed it by all means that they could." (Akallabeth)
5. "Thus the days of Tar-Palantir became darkened with grief; and he would spend much of his time in the west... whence he gazed westward in yearning, hoping to see, maybe, some sail upon the sea. But no ship came ever again from the West to Numenor, and Avallone was veiled in cloud." (Akallabeth)
6. "Sauron could never again appear fair to the eyes of Men." (Akallabeth)
7. "Ar-Pharazon the King and the mortal warriors that had set foot upon the land of Aman were buried under falling hills; there it is said that they lie imprisoned in the Caves of the Forgotten, until the Last Battle and the Day of Doom." (Akallabeth)
8. "When Faramir speaks of his private vision of the Great Wave, he speaks for me." (Letter 163)
Visual Elements to Highlight
1. The Star-Shaped Island: Aerial view of Numenor's five promontories extending from the central highlands
2. Meneltarma: The sacred mountain rising from the island's heart, crowned with clouds in the later days
3. Armenelos in glory: The golden city before the Shadow, with the White Tree in the King's Court
4. Sauron's arrival: The fair-seeming captive whose eyes betray his true nature
5. The Temple: The 500-foot dome rising over Armenelos, smoke ascending from its altar
6. Nimloth burning: The White Tree's death, smoke withering flowers in the city
7. Isildur's theft: The desperate nighttime mission to save the fruit
8. The Great Armament: A thousand ships like an archipelago, surrounding Eressea
9. The Ineluctable Wave: The towering wave, green lands drowned beneath
10. The Nine Ships escaping: Elendil's fleet fleeing eastward as the world changes behind them
11. The world made round: The transformation from flat to spherical
12. The Straight Road: Elvish ships departing from the curved world into the eternal West
Discrete Analytical Themes
Theme 1: The Paradox of the Gift (Mortality as Blessing and Curse)
Core idea: Mortality was designed as liberation but became perceived as doom through Morgoth's corruption, creating the central tragedy of Numenor. Evidence: - "The Gift of Men" - Iluvatar's intention that Men's spirits leave the circles of the world entirely (Silmarillion, "Of the Beginning of Days") - "But as the years grow long and Time wears, even the Valar will come to envy the Gift of Iluvatar to the race of Men" (Silmarillion) - "The fear of death grew ever darker upon them, and they delayed it by all means that they could" (Akallabeth) - Early kings surrendered sceptre willingly; Tar-Atanamir was first to refuse, called "the Unwilling" Distinction: This theme addresses the METAPHYSICAL NATURE of death in Tolkien's cosmology - not human reactions to it (Theme 2) or divine prohibitions concerning it (Theme 3).Theme 2: The Psychology of Decline (From Acceptance to Obsession)
Core idea: Numenor's corruption followed a specific psychological trajectory from gratitude through entitlement to rebellion. Evidence: - First generations: "For long the Dunedain were content" - acceptance of the Ban - Middle period: Building "great houses for their dead" - attempts to preserve the body - Late period: Tar-Atanamir claiming Elvish immortality "by right" - entitlement - Final period: Human sacrifice to Melkor seeking escape from death - desperation and evil Distinction: This theme tracks the PSYCHOLOGICAL PROGRESSION of corruption over generations, distinct from the theological meaning of mortality (Theme 1) or the nature of the prohibition (Theme 3).Theme 3: The Function of Prohibition (Why the Ban Existed)
Core idea: The Ban of the Valar was protection, not punishment - the Undying Lands would harm mortals, not help them. Evidence: - Tolkien: "Its central theme is (inevitably, I think, in a story of Men) a Ban, or Prohibition" (Letter 131) - The Undying Lands did not confer immortality - they would only make mortality more painful - Manwe's messengers explained: "The Doom of the World... cannot be changed by any power in this world" (Akallabeth) - Ar-Pharazon's fate proves this: immortality in the Caves of the Forgotten is punishment, not reward Distinction: This theme explains the LOGIC AND PURPOSE of the divine prohibition, separate from the psychological corruption (Theme 2) or the nature of mortality itself (Theme 1).Theme 4: Sauron's Method (Corruption Through Religious Subversion)
Core idea: Sauron conquered Numenor not through force but through theology, inverting their entire religious worldview. Evidence: - "Sauron destroyed the bonds between the Numenoreans and the Valar" - His teaching: Eru Iluvatar was "a lie devised by the Valar" to keep Men compliant - Presented Melkor as the "Giver of Freedom" and true Lord of Arda - The Temple: physical manifestation of inverted worship (500 feet high, prisons beneath) - Human sacrifice: most extreme form of religious corruption Distinction: This theme addresses Sauron's SPECIFIC STRATEGY AND METHODS, separate from his personal nature (Theme 5) or the philosophical weakness he exploited (Theme 2).Theme 5: Sauron's Limitations (The Corruptor Corrupted)
Core idea: Sauron's destruction of Numenor reveals his own character flaws and ultimately costs him permanently. Evidence: - "He was astounded; but his heart within was filled the more with envy and hate" - envy of what he would destroy - His plan worked "too well" - he didn't intend to destroy Numenor, only corrupt it for his purposes - Lost his fair form permanently: "Sauron could never again appear fair to the eyes of Men" - He became "captive of his own desires" - unable to imagine alternatives to domination Distinction: This theme examines SAURON'S CHARACTER AND FATE, not his methods (Theme 4) or his victims' psychology (Theme 2).Theme 6: The Faithful Remnant (Grace Through Resistance)
Core idea: The Faithful preserved hope through persistent resistance, enabling survival and future restoration. Evidence: - The Lords of Andunie: consistent opposition across generations - Isildur's rescue of Nimloth's fruit: individual act preserving cosmic hope - Amandil's final voyage: echoing Earendil, pleading for mercy (even if unheard) - Elendil as "Noachian figure": preservation of remnant through catastrophe - Nine ships carrying palantiri, Narsil, White Tree seedling: cultural continuity Distinction: This theme addresses the FAITHFUL'S ACTIONS AND ROLE, separate from divine intervention (Theme 7) or the nature of the catastrophe itself (Theme 8).Theme 7: Divine Response (Iluvatar's Direct Intervention)
Core idea: The Downfall represents the only direct action by Iluvatar in Middle-earth's recorded history, reshaping reality itself. Evidence: - "The Valar laid down their government of Arda. And Iluvatar showed forth his power" - Physical transformation: flat world made round - Removal of Aman from physical existence - Creation of the Straight Road for Elves only - Caves of the Forgotten: unique punishment/preservation of Ar-Pharazon's host Distinction: This theme examines GOD'S RESPONSE to the invasion, separate from human resistance (Theme 6) or the physical catastrophe (Theme 8).Theme 8: The Atlantis Archetype (Personal Nightmare to Universal Myth)
Core idea: Tolkien transformed his personal "Atlantis-haunting" into a mythological explanation for why our world differs from the legendary past. Evidence: - "In sleep I had the dreadful dream of the ineluctable Wave" (Letter 257) - Michael Tolkien had same dream independently - inherited? - Writing Numenor "exorcized" the nightmare - "When Faramir speaks of his private vision of the Great Wave, he speaks for me" - The Downfall explains how myth-time became historical time Distinction: This theme addresses TOLKIEN'S PERSONAL CONNECTION and the story's mythological function, separate from its theological (Themes 1-3) or narrative (Themes 4-7) content.Additional Context
Real-World Inspirations
Beyond Atlantis, Tolkien drew on: - Biblical narratives: Eden, Babel, Noah, Sodom - Milton's Paradise Lost - Norse mythology (Ragnarok/Dagor Dagorath parallels) - Egyptian culture (Plato claimed Atlantis knowledge came from Egypt)
Connection to LOTR
Numenor's legacy pervades the Third Age: - Gondor and Arnor as "Realms in Exile" - Aragorn as heir of Elendil - The palantiri as Numenorean heirlooms - The White Tree as living symbol - Black Numenoreans as persistent threat - Faramir's dream connecting to Tolkien's nightmare
The "Fall of Numenor" (2022)
Brian Sibley's compilation brings together all Second Age material into one volume with Alan Lee illustrations. Not new Tolkien writing, but valuable for accessibility.
Sources Consulted
Primary Texts
- The Silmarillion (Akallabeth) - Unfinished Tales (A Description of the Island of Numenor; Aldarion and Erendis) - The Lord of the Rings Appendices - The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien (Letters 131, 154, 156, 163, 257) - The History of Middle-earth Vol. IX (Sauron Defeated) - The History of Middle-earth Vol. XII (The Peoples of Middle-earth)Secondary Sources
- Tolkien Gateway wiki articles on Numenor, Akallabeth, and related subjects - Encyclopedia of Arda entries - Council of Elrond literary analysis - Tea with Tolkien blog series on Numenor - Dallas Baptist University Tolkien resources (Dr. Philip Irving Mitchell) - Various scholarly analyses of Atlantis parallels and Catholic themesSources: Numenor - The Downfallen Isle
Primary Sources (Tolkien's Works)
The Silmarillion
- Akallabeth: The Downfall of Numenor - Primary narrative source for the entire story - Most useful for: Direct quotes on the Ban, Sauron's corruption, the Downfall itselfUnfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-earth
- A Description of the Island of Numenor - Definitive geographic and cultural source - Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife - Only complete narrative from Numenor's history - The Line of Elros: Kings of Numenor - Chronological king list with details - Most useful for: Geography, cultural details, the Mariner King storyThe Lord of the Rings
- Appendix A: History of the Dunedain - Appendix B: Tale of Years (Second Age timeline) - Most useful for: Timeline, aftermath in Third AgeThe Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
- Letter 131 (to Milton Waldman): Themes of "Fall, Mortality, and the Machine" - Letter 154 (to Naomi Mitchison): Flat/round world cosmology - Letter 156 (to Father Robert Murray): Theological background of Numenoreans - Letter 163 (to W.H. Auden): Faramir inheriting Tolkien's Atlantis dream - Letter 257 (to Christopher Bretherton): "Ineluctable Wave" dream description - Most useful for: Tolkien's own interpretation and personal connectionThe History of Middle-earth
- Volume IX: Sauron Defeated - Multiple versions of the Downfall narrative - Volume XII: The Peoples of Middle-earth - Final revisions to Numenorean material - Most useful for: Textual variants, Christopher Tolkien's editorial notesWeb Sources Consulted
Wiki/Encyclopedia Resources
Tolkien Gateway (tolkiengateway.net) - Numenor - Comprehensive overview - Akallabeth - Analysis of the text - Second Age Timeline - Detailed chronology - Ar-Pharazon - Last king profile - Tar-Palantir - Last faithful king - Tar-Aldarion - Mariner King - Tar-Atanamir - When the Shadow began - Nimloth) - White Tree symbolism - Faithful - The Elendili - Gift of Iluvatar - Mortality as gift - Atlantis-haunting - Tolkien's dream - Changing of the World - Cosmological change - Straight Road - Post-Downfall passage west - Black Numenoreans - King's Men survivors - Caves of the Forgotten - Ar-Pharazon's fate - Most useful: Comprehensive reference material, cross-referenced facts LOTR Fandom Wiki (lotr.fandom.com) - Numenor - Downfall of Numenor - Temple for Morgoth - Gift of Men - Most useful: Additional details, cross-references Encyclopedia of Arda (glyphweb.com/arda) - Second Age - White Tree of Isildur - Most useful: Concise, authoritative summariesScholarly/Analytical Resources
Tea with Tolkien (teawithtolkien.com) - Guide to the Akallabeth - Detailed chapter analysis - The Shadow Falls on Numenor - Fall of Numenor series - Introduction to Letter 131 - Waldman letter analysis - Aldarion and Erendis - Mariner's Wife analysis - Most useful: Accessible scholarly analysis, thematic exploration Dallas Baptist University - Dr. Philip Irving Mitchell - Tolkien and the Atlantis Myth - Most useful: Academic treatment of Atlantis parallels Council of Elrond (councilofelrond.com) - The Ineluctable Wave - Classical comparison - Most useful: Literary analysis of Atlantis connections Silmarillion Writers' Guild (silmarillionwritersguild.org) - Ar-Pharazon Character Biography - Tar-Palantir Character Biography - Tar-Aldarion Character Biography - Akallabeth Summary - Most useful: Detailed character profiles with citations Reactor (formerly Tor.com) - A Farewell to Kings: The Fall of Numenor - Mortal Men Doomed to Die - Most useful: Popular-level but informed analysis Wikipedia - Numenor - Overview with academic citations - Dunedain - Numenorean descendants - Christianity in Middle-earth - Religious themes - Tolkien's round world dilemma - Cosmological issues - Most useful: Overview and academic referencesReligious/Catholic Perspectives
Catholic Stand - Dante and Tolkien, Hell and Numenor Catholic Culture - Universe According to Tolkien - Fundamentally Religious and Catholic Pastor Theologians - Twice-Told Tales: Tolkien's Numenor, America, and the ChurchMost useful: Catholic interpretation of Fall themes
Other Useful Sources
Middle-earth & J.R.R. Tolkien Blog (middle-earth.xenite.org) - Various articles on Numenorean topics - Most useful: FAQ-style explanations The Grey Havens (tolkien.cro.net) - A History and Complete Chronology of Numenor - Most useful: Detailed timeline with color-coding Henneth Annun (henneth-annun.net) - Character biographies and event entries - Most useful: Cross-referenced database LitCharts - The Silmarillion Akallabeth Summary - Most useful: Chapter-by-chapter breakdownBooks About the Second Age
The Fall of Numenor (2022) - Edited by Brian Sibley, illustrated by Alan Lee - Compilation of all Second Age material from published Tolkien works - Not new Tolkien writing, but convenient single-volume collection - Amazon listing History of Numenor and Middle-earth of the Second Age by Martin Simonson and Bernard Torello - Scholarly treatment of the entire Second Age - Amazon listingSource Quality Assessment
Most Valuable Sources
1. Tolkien Gateway - Comprehensive, well-cited, regularly updated 2. Tea with Tolkien - Excellent analytical blog series 3. The Letters - Tolkien's own commentary invaluable 4. Silmarillion Writers' Guild - Detailed character work 5. Council of Elrond literary articles - Quality analysis
Abundant Information Available
This topic has excellent source coverage because: - The Akallabeth is a complete, published narrative - Unfinished Tales provides extensive supplementary material - Tolkien wrote extensively about it in letters - It connects to LOTR, generating scholarly attention - The Atlantis parallel attracts academic interest
Gaps in Available Research
- Limited material on daily Numenorean life - Middle period (between Aldarion and Tar-Palantir) sparsely covered - Black Numenorean history after Third Age mostly inferred - The Mannish perspective ("Drowning of Anadune") not widely analyzed
Notes on Citation
When citing in scripts: - Primary text quotes: "(Akallabeth)" or "(Letter 131)" - Secondary analysis: mention by description rather than formal citation - Scholarly interpretations: attribute to "scholars have noted" or "commentators suggest"