The Downfall of Numenor

[Mithadan]

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wight
Posts: 154</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE>
<img src="http://www.barrowdowns.com/images/posticons/sting.jpg" align=absmiddle> Re: The Downfall of Numenor

Your last point about the Numenoreans who landed on Valinor being merely asleep and whose side they will fight on in Dagor Dagprath is interesting.

On the Music of the Ainur, the scope of the music was limited and did not touch upon all matters or all details. The vision of Arda which followed ended early, though precisely when is unknown. Some say it ended before the coming of the Children. Others say before the rebellion of the Noldor. I think the earlier is the more likely. As a result only the Ainur who took part in a particular portion of a theme understand that portion, with Mandos and Manwe knowing more because they participated to some extent in all portions.

However, man is utterly unpredictable. Iluvatar gave man a &quot;new gift&quot;. &quot;Therefore he willed that the hearts of Men should seek beyond the world and should find no rest therein; but they should have a virtue to shape their life, amid the powers and chances of the world, beyond the Music of the Valar, which is as fate to all things else...&quot; Sil. p.41.

Man is not strictly governed by fate, except, as I have argued here and on other boards before the Downs came into existence, to the extent they intertwine themselves in the affairs of the Eldar. In fact, I will start one or more threads to discuss this issue again. Anyway, not &quot;all was sung&quot; in the Music, and as to men, much can be avoided because man is not subject to such &quot;fate&quot; or &quot;predestination&quot; as might have been established by the Music.

--Mithadan--
"The Silmarils with living light
were kindled clear, and waxing bright
shone like stars that in the North
above the reek of earth leap forth." </p>