Númenor's Legacy - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Genandra of Mirkwood · 06-04-2002, 04:03 PM

Hi guys- Squatter that's a good point about Numenor tying together elven and human cultures.

Your original question was an either/or but I think one springs from another. The culture of Numenor was great because of Elros and the other Faithful who took both from the elves and, indirectly, from the Valar the lessons that never quite made it to the rest of humanity.

What really struck me about the account of the fall of Numenor was the central place of worship (and lack thereof) of Eru. That was not something that had come up, that I can recall, even in the various elvish rebellions and grumblings. It seems like Tolkien was implying that humans had a special responsibility to remember Eru and they blew it. "The Faithful" being those who remembered and stayed true to the proper order of things, remembering their own place in the created universe. They carry through their role as a faithful remnant when they serve the rest of ME as rangers. Is this perhaps Numenor's greatest legacy, both the larger failing and the deliverance and faithfulness of a few? What do you all think?

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06-04-2002, 04:03 PM	#6
Genandra of Mirkwood Pile O'Bones Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 22	Hi guys- Squatter that's a good point about Numenor tying together elven and human cultures. Your original question was an either/or but I think one springs from another. The culture of Numenor was great because of Elros and the other Faithful who took both from the elves and, indirectly, from the Valar the lessons that never quite made it to the rest of humanity. What really struck me about the account of the fall of Numenor was the central place of worship (and lack thereof) of Eru. That was not something that had come up, that I can recall, even in the various elvish rebellions and grumblings. It seems like Tolkien was implying that humans had a special responsibility to remember Eru and they blew it. "The Faithful" being those who remembered and stayed true to the proper order of things, remembering their own place in the created universe. They carry through their role as a faithful remnant when they serve the rest of ME as rangers. Is this perhaps Numenor's greatest legacy, both the larger failing and the deliverance and faithfulness of a few? What do you all think?