Sauron being known as Annatar, the 'Lord of Gifts', was after Numenor. Sauron's temple in Numenor was a result of his heavy influence on Ar-Pharazon and the corrupted Numenoreans. The temple was built to worship 'Melkor, Lord of All, Giver of Freedom', the one who Sauron presented as the almighty God over Ea. Ar-Pharazon, being blinded by his (and his people's) lust for immortality and his ignorant despise of the Valar, was tricked by Sauron into worshipping Melkor and assailing the Undying Lands with a naval force.
__________________
...where the instrument of intelligence is added to brute power and evil will, mankind is powerless in its own defence.
|