SOUTHFARTHING READING GROUP
13 April 2024
Lynn, Ian, Tim, Laura
Akallabêth (The Downfallen).
(Comments and thoughts outside the meeting are in italics.)
Tim brought a copy of the Lord of the Rings in the French Translation: Le Seigneur des Anneaux. Referring to our previous discussions on the difficulty of translating idioms and dialect words, “Strider” is translated as “L’Arpenteur”; (someone who takes long, swift steps, a pathfinder.)
Brian Sibley, a Tolkien expert and creator of the radio series of LOTR, has drawn together all Tolkien’s writings on the Island of Númenor in his book published in 2022: The Fall of Númenor.
In Tolkien’s letters, he refers several times to what he calls his “Atlantis complex” in that he had recurrent nightmares of: “… the ineluctable Wave, either coming out of the quiet sea or coming in towering over the green inlands. ..” Michael, Tolkien’s second son, also suffered from the recurrent dream. Michael, Tolkien’s grandson, refused to be drawn on whether he has the dream or not at the Return of the Ring conference in Loughborough (or Lugbúrz) in 2005. (Laura’s theory is that it might be a childhood remembrance of the rough sea crossing from South Africa to Southampton when he was three in 1895.)
Tolkien gives Faramir the same dream in Lord of the Rings, explanation being that it was an ancestral memory of Númenor.
The first few paragraphs are a recap of events in the main part of the Silmarillion. The introductory paragraph makes it clear that the text is written by Elves and, in their view, Men were weak and manipulated by Morgoth. This is conveniently forgetting that Morgoth had already corrupted some Elves as soon as they arrived in Middle-earth. However, there were some Men who wanted to travel into the West looking for a light that Morgoth could not extinguish. (Is this the same urge that people have looking for something more than this life and the urge to travel west?) These Men (the Edain – the Three Houses) allied with the Elves and fought against Morgoth.
Men who had fought with Morgoth ran away into the East after he lost the final battle and there is a reference to them “..wandering in the unharvested lands…” This is a poetic image of a lack of farming ie they returned to hunter/gatherers rather than being farmers. The Valar rejected these Men, leaving them to the remnants of Morgoth’s creatures eg evil kings, orcs, dragons etc. Was this a mistake? Chillingly, although Morgoth has been imprisoned in the Void, we read: “Yet the seeds that he had planted still grew and sprouted, bearing evil fruit, if any would tend them.” This refers back to the same image at the end of the main book. There is also a hint that Morgoth’s followers who remained behind would still be encouraging his evil. This is the Second Age.
The Elves that returned to the West lived on an Island called Tol Eressëa just to the east of Valinor. In early writings by Tolkien, Tol Eressëa (the Lonely Isle) is Britain. On the Island is a place called Avallónë, which recalls Avalon, a peaceful mythical place.
As a reward for fighting against Morgoth, the Edain are given an Island by the Valar between Middle-earth and Valinor; the Edain are the chosen of the Valar. The Island has several names but the chief one is Númenor. It was also called Starwards as Men looked towards Earendel in Vingilot in the sky. It is also called Westernesse, rather reminiscent of Lyonesse, a land in Cornwall, destroyed by a tidal wave. It is in the shape of a five-pointed star. (Was there a tunnel back to Middle-earth run by Eurostar?)
The original map of Númenor appeared in Unfinished Tales and was drawn by Christopher Tolkien based on a sketch by his father.
The description of the Island is like Eden and everything that the Edain could want. Númenor was protected by its location and by the Valar but Middle-earth was left to deteriorate.
The Edain, who become Númenoreans, have long lives but they are still mortal. They only have few children. Was so much energy put into maintaining their long lives, they could not spare any for having children?
There is a temple on a mountain, Meneltarma, in the middle of the Island, dedicated to Iluvatar. It is unusual to have a place of worship in any of Tolkien’s work.
The first King is Elros, brother of Elrond. The brothers had Maia, Elf and human blood. They were given the choice of being an Elf or a Man and Elros chose to be with Men and Elrond chose to be with Elves. Elros lived for 500 years.
The Númenoreans kept close links with the Elves and could speak Quenya and Sindarin. They had Elvish names. They could have become aggressive and warlike but chose peace. They built ships and sailed. However, they were under a command of the Valar that they should never sail West out of sight of Númenor; they must not look for Valinor. They could just about see the Lonely Isle from Númenor. However, they were a curious race, like modern man. Was this ban unreasonable?
The Ban of the Valar reminded Tim of the Treaty of Tordesillas between Castille (Spain) & Portugal in the 15th century. The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Portugal and the Crown of Castile, along a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands, off the west coast of Africa. That line of demarcation was about halfway between Cape Verde (already Portuguese) and the islands visited by Christopher Columbus on his first voyage (claimed for Castile and León), named in the treaty as Cipangu and Antillia (Cuba and Hispaniola).
Celeborn sent a seedling of the White Tree, a descendant of Telperion, the silver tree in Valinor. This is the beginning of the link between the Tree and the line of Númenorean kings.
The Númenoreans sailed in all directions except West and landed in Middle-earth where they fought against the weakened race of Men. The descriptions felt like aliens visiting Stone Age man. Later in the story, it appears that the Númenoreans become benevolent leaders.
It is in this time, about 700 years after the creation of the Island, Aldarion, a descendant of Elros, starts to sail on long journeys and becomes happier at sea. His marriage to Erendis, after a long betrothal, fails as, although they were in love, he is obsessed with the sea and she with the Island. This is a major back story.
One of Morgoth’s seeds starts to sprout in that some Númenoreans start to compare the length of their lives with that of the Elves. The Elves, who act as messengers between the Valar and Númenor, visit the Island and report back to Manwë. Men are reminded that if they travelled to Valinor, they would quickly die.
There is an interesting consideration about the lives of Elves and Men. This sets out that Elves’ lives are linked to the world and yet Men, when they die, escape the world. This means that Men’s home is not on Earth. Mortality and immortality are not punishments. The Númenoreans argue that they have to live with “blind trust” which we would call faith.
The plant image recurs when the Elves tell the Men: “Hope rather that in the end even the least of your desires shall have fruit. ….(Iluvatar) does not plant to no purpose.” They also say that Iluvatar’s plans for the world may not be revealed for years but “…to you it will be revealed and not to the Valar.” This must mean that the Valar did not see the future of the world in the Song. Also, it almost appears that Men are more important than Elves and even the Valar.
This concern about the comparison of lives occurs in the reign of the thirteenth King, Tar-Atanamur, who ignores the message from Manwë. He refuses to die and becomes “witless and unmanned” and does not abdicate. We understand that Númenorean kings die when they feel the time is right. His son feels the same and the population polarises into those that follow the King and his resentment (The King’s Men) and others (Elf Friends or The Faithful).
They start to build big fancy tombs for their dead like Minas Tirith in LOTR. They become obsessed with death and their scientists devote themselves to finding ways of cheating death although all they can do is preserve bodies, a little like Ancient Egypt. They no longer visit Meneltarma. The tone of these passages is quite biblical.
The Númenorean management style has changed also in Middle-earth. Instead of being supportive with developments etc, they have taken on the role of master rather than teacher although those still allying themselves with the Elves travel north to visit Gil-Galad, chief Elf.
Sauron has been busy in strengthening Mordor and building the tower of Barad-dûr. He hates the Númenoreans for their previous support for Middle-earth. His creation of the One Ring is rather glossed over but kept for the next chapter. Sauron was Aulë’s Maia so he is crafty and cunning in all senses of the words. He learned from Aulë, who made the Dwarves without Iluvatar’s knowledge, that he could get away with breaking the rules. Also he saw that Morgoth created Orcs out of the Elves.
Sauron can take on the shape of a werewolf and is evil – he is driven out by Luthien.
Lynn said that Sauron has seen Morgoth’s empire extinguished and he has escaped. Could Sauron have gone to either side? Did he have a neutral position? He could step into Morgoth’s shoes or be forgiven. Elves are leaving Middle-earth and he has seen how easily Men are manipulated. He has to make a decision.
Tim said that in the section “Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age” Sauron is given the opportunity to repent by Eönwë which he does; the Valar and Maiar believe this at first as Sauron would have been overwhelmed at seeing Morgoth defeated. But Sauron could not be humble in front of Manwë and perhaps punished and, as he was powerful under Morgoth, stayed in Middle-earth to continue the battle for control.
Lynn felt this was like the two aspects of Gollum/Smeagol in which Gollum starts to return to his old self when touching Frodo, only reverting to his dangerous personality when Sam surprises him. Sauron and Gollum are opposite life forms, one of the spirit and one of the earth, but both come to the point of repenting but turn back to evil.
Tim said that if Gollum had been redeemed and had guided Sam and Frodo towards Mount Doom, Frodo was falling under the spell of the Ring and the outcome would have been different if Gollum had not seized it for himself.
Ian said this was a transgressive act, a trespass against the law. Sam might have tackled Frodo on the brink and they both die in the volcano. Gollum mutilates Frodo by biting his finger to get the Ring and therefore saves Frodo. Gandalf says earlier in the LOTR that Gollum has a part to play. Ian wondered if Gollum would have sacrificed himself to Shelob.
Ian suggested that Sauron hates the Elves and the Númenoreans. As a Maia, he loves the Children of Iluvatar but hates Men and Elves. As a Maia, Sauron has to leave part of himself in Middle-earth. He puts part of himself in the Ring. Sauron just hates. He is pockmarked with Morgoth’s (enmity/energy?)
Three of the Númenoreans defect to Sauron and become three of the Nine Ringwraiths. (Who are the other six?) Sauron attacks the Númenorean settlements in Middle-earth.
The twentieth King, Adûnakhôr, takes on a human name rather than an Elvish one. However, and interestingly given the power of words, he is too nervous to have it written in the records and has an Elvish one recorded.
The twenty-third King, Ar-Gimilzôr, bans the Elvish language and the White Tree begins to die. Númenor has become a totalitarian state with the Faithful being watched. The Valar cut off contact. There is a passive resistance movement by people appearing to support the King but are working from inside to renew links with the Elves. The King marries an unwilling Queen. There are two sons, one of whom supports his father and the other supports his mother. When Inziladûr becomes King, he attempts to return to friendship with the Elves. He predicts that, if the White Tree dies, the line of Kings will end. A chilling pre-echo.
Inziladûr’s nephew, Ar-Pharazôn, succeeds to the throne and is even more unpleasant than his father. He marries his niece, Miriel, who should have succeeded and which breaks deep-seated laws. He even changed her name. Interesting that Tolkien has gone for the rights of the first born here.
The use of the letter Z in Númenorean names is interesting as it is usually associated with the Dwarvish language.
Sauron is calling himself the King of Men, which almost sounds blasphemous, and wants to destroy Númenor and Númenoreans.
Ar-Pharazôn wages war against Sauron who is impressed by the King and his army. He inveigles himself into the court and manipulates the King into taking him to Númenor as a prisoner, exactly what he wanted. After three years, Sauron has been so cunning, he has become Ar-Pharazôn’s chief adviser. He manages to turn people against the Valar and the Faithful are seen as enemy rebels. Sauron tempts them to the darkness with promises of more lands to win and introduces them to the concept of the Lord of Darkness who should be worshipped ie Morgoth and reinforcing the idea that the Valar have invented Iluvatar. Secret worship of Morgoth became open.
The resistance was led by Amandil, a councillor of the King and also Elendil’s father and Elendil, father of Isildur and Anarion. All were ship builders and sailors. Elendil was a descendant of Elros. Ar-Pharazôn came from an off-shoot of the royal line. Sauron persuaded the King to dismiss Amandil who called up the Faithful as he was concerned that the Island was about to be overcome by evil.
The temple on Meneltarma had been neglected and people were forbidden by the King to climb the mountain. Sauron persuaded the King to cut down the White Tree even though he was originally reluctant to do it, aware of the prophecy that the line of Kings would end. Before this happened, Isildur bravely risked guards and, although injured, stole a fruit from the tree which was planted in secret. It was also blessed by Amandil which makes him a priest-like figure. The link between the tree and the Kings is reinforced when it sprouts a leaf and Isildur miraculously recovers from his injuries.
A new temple was built on the hill in the capital city by Sauron for the worship of Morgoth. (This is not the same site as the original temple on Meneltarma.) Tolkien provides a lot of detail about its size and architecture. Sauron sets up a sacrificial altar and burns the White Tree on it which is utter blasphemy.
Sauron’s temple is reportedly based on the Radcliffe Camera in Oxford.
After the destruction of the tree, the Island is covered in darkness, similar to the darkness following the crucifixion of Jesus. Worse follows, as it appears that Sauron is making human sacrifices with people taken from the Faithful although the lie is not that they refuse to worship Morgoth but that they are traitors to the King. This sounds like the Tudor court! However, anarchy seems to prevail on the Island and people start to die early from madness and sickness. Sauron lured people on with the promises of riches and possessions. Light and dark are vying for ascendancy. We discussed the age-old conundrum of can there be God without the Devil, light without darkness. Lynn said that a philosopher said that there no progress without tension between light and dark, otherwise there is stasis. Tolkien creates drama by constant change: light and dark become more powerful in turns.
Did Sauron always have potential for evil? Ian said that Sauron, when he was in Middle-earth after Morgoth’s downfall, turned back to evil. The Valar cannot find him. As a Maia, could he move out of his physical body?
When Ar-Pharazon felt that his death would be soon, Sauron put in place his cunning plan that he had been nurturing all along. He persuaded the King that he should fight the Valar and gain immortality.
Amandil volunteers to travel to the West to seek help from the Valar to overcome Sauron. He advises Elendil to make preparations to leave Númenor with all the people who believe in Iluvatar. Amandil and his three servants are never heard from again. Did they reach Valinor and kept there or arbitrarily killed by the Valar? This quest is like that of Eärendil seeking help and forgiveness from the Valar. Although Morgoth’s influence continues through Sauron and his creatures, there is still hope, a key theme, like pity, in Tolkien’s work.
Elendil prepared a small fleet. They took the young tree and the seven seeing-stones, the Palantiri, gifts of the Elves. “Seven stars and one white tree.” Is the flag of Elendil showing the seven stones or the stars of the Plough/Sickle of the Valar?
The flag of Elendil and Gondor.
As the King’s fleet grouped on the west of the Island, the weather, previously temperate, began to get worse with storms and fatal lightning and increasingly, clouds in the form of eagles appeared in the sky. Despite this, men continued to support the attack on the west. The Island suffered from earthquakes and smoke came from Meneltarma. Sauron survived these phenomena and people treated him like a god, bringing him more human sacrifices. The Valar continue to warn Númenor sending more eagle clouds reflecting red fire.
Manwë’s eagle cloud by Ted Nasmith.
Ar-Pharazôn set off with his fleet. Tellingly as a pointer to the dreadful change in the Island’s culture, the ships are manned by slaves who are beaten.
The ships’ journey into the West is described in dramatic terms as a shocking defiance of the Valar.
The fleet passes Tol Eressëa and moors on Valinor although the dramatic sight of Taniquetil nearly unmans the King but his pride stiffens him and they land, camping around Túna – the Elves had already run away. (Tolkien is a critic of this sort of pride cf “ofermod” in the Battle of Maldon.)
The drama increases in biblical proportions and now takes on an epical form. Manwë asks for help from Iluvatar like Moses seeking help from God. The Valar set aside their control of the Earth in a shocking move. Iluvatar intercedes and changes the world making a great chasm between Valinor and Númenor into which the sea rushes taking Ar-Pharazôn’s fleet with it. The King and the Númenoreans who had landed were crushed by falling rocks and in a wonderful twist, Tolkien writes: “….there it is said that they lie imprisoned in the Caves of the Forgotten, until the Last Battle and the Day of Doom.” So they did achieve immortality of a sort. Also Tolkien hints at an Armageddon, Ragnarok etc in Arda. C S Lewis also wrote a Narnian chronicle called “The Last Battle” in which good appears to be overcome by evil until the arrival of Aslan.
Everything west of Númenor was removed from Arda so that Men could no longer reach it and the Island itself was destroyed. Meneltarma turned into an active volcano and the Island was overcome by a giant tidal wave. Everyone on the Island is killed including the queen, Tar-Míriel, who did not want to be married to Ar-Pharazôn.
Elendil, standing off to the east side with his fleet, saw the destruction of Númenor and was saved by the arrival of a strong wind which blew him and his ships to the east. Afterwards, Elendil and his descendants settled in Middle-earth and were taken as leaders by the men already living there. His two sons founded Anor in the North and Gondor in the South. Evil men from Númenor have already settled in the East and are called Black Númenoreans.
Sauron believed he had won and laughed three times at the severe weather and enjoyed the fact that the Númenoreans and the Island were destroyed. The three times seems to be important enough like Peter’s betrayal of Jesus. However, as he sat in his temple, it fell into the abyss. Because he was a Maia, his spirit was able to return to Middle-earth but any physical form he took was no longer handsome and he returned to Mordor. Sauron still had his Ring and developed a new form, the Eye.
The world was massively changed. It was now a globe rather than flat and no-one from any race could reach Valinor. In the LOTR Elves do leave the world via the Grey Havens. Men still looked westwards because they believed that the temple on the top of Meneltarma still existed and they wanted to look for it. If any set out, they discovered that the world was not flat but round with a girdle ie the equator. They believed that it was possible to take the Straight Road away from the globe to Valinor.
Elendil and survivors often looked out to sea in memory of Númenor, which they now called by different names including Atalantë which means The Downfallen in Elvish. Descendants of Elendil mark their longing for the Island through the Standing Silence in which they face West before meals. Faramir says to Frodo in LOTR: “We look toward Númenor that was, and beyond to Elvenhome that is, and to that which is beyond Elvenhome and will ever be.” This ceremony is carried out at Oxonmoot before the main dinner.
(In previous notes, there is a reference to King Horn, a mediaeval romance.)
Flat earth/round earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad in The Atlas of Middle-earth
(You can clearly see the outline of Africa, Europe and Scandinavia.)