The island kingdom of Númenor, featured prominently in Amazon Prime Video’s The Rings of Power, is a significant location never before seen in The Lord of the Rings films. This raises the question: where exactly is Númenor in relation to Middle-earth? This article will explore Númenor’s geographical location, its relationship with Middle-earth, and why it’s absent in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Númenor’s Location: An Island Between Two Worlds
Númenor is situated in the Great Sea, specifically in the Belegaer, west of Middle-earth. According to maps provided by Amazon Prime, Númenor lies approximately 905 miles west of the southern shores of Umbar, a significant port city in Middle-earth. This places the island kingdom over 2,000 miles from Lindon, a major elven settlement on the western coast of Middle-earth.
Importantly, Númenor is also positioned relatively close to Valinor, the Undying Lands where the Valar, powerful angelic beings, reside. This proximity is crucial to understanding the island’s history and eventual fate. The Valar forbade the Númenóreans from sailing west to Valinor, suggesting a distance perhaps as close as 100-200 leagues.
Why Númenóreans Rarely Visit Middle-earth in The Rings of Power
While the Númenóreans were once close allies with the elves and even established settlements in Middle-earth, The Rings of Power depicts a growing isolationism within the island kingdom. Several factors contribute to this estrangement.
- Jealousy of Elven Immortality: The Númenóreans, though gifted with long lifespans, are mortal, unlike the elves. This difference creates envy and resentment, straining relations between the two peoples.
- Resentment of the Valar’s Ban: The prohibition against sailing west to Valinor fuels resentment towards the Valar and, by extension, their elven allies. This restriction is perceived as an infringement on Númenórean freedom and ambition.
- Growing Pride and Isolationism: As Númenor grows in power and wealth, a sense of superiority and self-reliance develops, leading to a decline in interaction with Middle-earth.
These growing tensions play a crucial role in the political and social dynamics of Númenor and contribute significantly to the island’s ultimate downfall.
Númenor’s Absence in The Lord of the Rings: A Legacy Remains
By the time of The Lord of the Rings, Númenor no longer exists. The island’s destruction marks the end of the Second Age of Middle-earth, thousands of years before the events of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which takes place at the end of the Third Age.
However, Númenor’s legacy endures through its descendants who established kingdoms in Middle-earth, most notably Gondor. Aragorn, a central figure in The Lord of the Rings, is a direct descendant of the Númenóreans, inheriting their long lifespan and noble qualities. The Númenórean influence is also evident in the architecture and culture of Gondor, particularly in its capital city, Minas Tirith.
Conclusion: Númenor’s Strategic Importance
Númenor’s geographical location – between Middle-earth and Valinor – is central to its narrative significance in The Rings of Power. Its strategic position, coupled with the growing internal conflicts and external tensions, foreshadows the island’s eventual tragic fate. While Númenor is physically absent in The Lord of the Rings, its legacy continues to shape the world of Middle-earth through its descendants and the enduring impact of its rise and fall.
