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

Man-of-the-Wold · 12-14-2003, 01:13 AM

Fair enough, good post pandora.

I would conclude and concur, that it is probably best to assume that Sauron had The Ring as part of his person (so-to-speak) while he was in Númenor.

(Right arm indeed!, it is a separate object, even if a bearer with power may keep it inherently hidden)

Likewise, there is no clear reason to assume that it played a direct or decisive role in the Númenóreans' fall.

Rather, their own folly, fear, greed and pride, manipulated by Sauron's lies and cunning, caused their downfall. That's the story, and JRRT stuck to it.

It might be said that for that, as well as the deception of Celebrimbor, Sauron did not need the Ring, and I'd argue that he would have been prudent to keep the Ring under wraps (so-to-speak), if not really needing it, for two reasons:

1. The proximity to Valinor, as pandora shrewdly notes.

2. That while the Ring on its own might work subtly on minds, when actively wielded by Sauron it may not be so subtle of an instrument.

Finally, it just occurred to me that Númenor was supposed to be separate and different from Middle-Earth, and that perhaps outside of Middle-Earth, the Ring would not necessarily function too well, bound up as it were with Middle-Earth and the evil that Morgoth and Sauron had seeded there.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 2:22 AM December 14, 2003: Message edited by: Man-of-the-Wold ]

12-14-2003, 01:13 AM	#15
Man-of-the-Wold Wight Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: With Tux, dread poodle of Pinnath Galin Posts: 239	Fair enough, good post pandora. I would conclude and concur, that it is probably best to assume that Sauron had The Ring as part of his person (so-to-speak) while he was in Númenor. (Right arm indeed!, it is a separate object, even if a bearer with power may keep it inherently hidden) Likewise, there is no clear reason to assume that it played a direct or decisive role in the Númenóreans' fall. Rather, their own folly, fear, greed and pride, manipulated by Sauron's lies and cunning, caused their downfall. That's the story, and JRRT stuck to it. It might be said that for that, as well as the deception of Celebrimbor, Sauron did not need the Ring, and I'd argue that he would have been prudent to keep the Ring under wraps (so-to-speak), if not really needing it, for two reasons: 1. The proximity to Valinor, as pandora shrewdly notes. 2. That while the Ring on its own might work subtly on minds, when actively wielded by Sauron it may not be so subtle of an instrument. Finally, it just occurred to me that Númenor was supposed to be separate and different from Middle-Earth, and that perhaps outside of Middle-Earth, the Ring would not necessarily function too well, bound up as it were with Middle-Earth and the evil that Morgoth and Sauron had seeded there. <font size=1 color=339966>[ 2:22 AM December 14, 2003: Message edited by: Man-of-the-Wold ] __________________ The hoes unrecked in the fields were flung, __ and fallen ladders in the long grass lay __ of the lush orchards; every tree there turned __ its tangled head and eyed them secretly, __ and the ears listened of the nodding grasses; __ though noontide glowed on land and leaf, __ their limbs were chilled.