The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Did Sauron take the ring with him to Numenor

Westerly Wizard · 12-04-2002, 08:12 PM

The best insight into this comes from Letter 211, which Thingol quoted. Earlier in the letter, Tolkien writes: "He naturally had the One Ring, and so very soon dominated the wills of Most of the Numenoreans." This directly states he has it, while the passage in the "Akallabeth" could be interpreted to mean that Sauron had the Ring all along, just not in Barad-dur.

As to why he wouldn't leave it, that comes from the Passage Thingol quoted (as well as the one I included). Tolkien shows that Sauron's ability to bend minds to his will relied largely on the One Ring; consequently, he would not have been able to corrupt Ar-Pharazon and the Numenoreans as greatly, and perhaps not be able to effect the attack on Valinor, which brought him success in his cunning.

12-04-2002, 08:12 PM	#7
Westerly Wizard Haunting Spirit Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 72	The best insight into this comes from Letter 211, which Thingol quoted. Earlier in the letter, Tolkien writes: "He naturally had the One Ring, and so very soon dominated the wills of Most of the Numenoreans." This directly states he has it, while the passage in the "Akallabeth" could be interpreted to mean that Sauron had the Ring all along, just not in Barad-dur. As to why he wouldn't leave it, that comes from the Passage Thingol quoted (as well as the one I included). Tolkien shows that Sauron's ability to bend minds to his will relied largely on the One Ring; consequently, he would not have been able to corrupt Ar-Pharazon and the Numenoreans as greatly, and perhaps not be able to effect the attack on Valinor, which brought him success in his cunning. __________________ "He was sent by a mere prudent plan of the angelic Valar or governors; but Authority had taken up this plan and enlarged it, at the moment of its failure."