Numenoreans attacking the Valar

[Ulmondil]

I remember reading in the Book of Lost Tales that although the Númenóreans were in early times a peaceful people, their weapons, armour, and horsemanship were unsurpassed by any, save the Valar.

I interpret the passage as saying that no Eldar could surpass Ar-Pharazon's invading force by martial prowess alone and snce the Valar could not/would not take up arms agains Eru's children, they had no choice but to defer to him.

[littlemanpoet]

Well said. And welcome!

[skip spence]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

Whereas I'm sympathetic with the notion that the Valar ought not to be faulted for the destruction of Beleriand, is it realistic (within the confines of Tolkien's cosmos) to hold that Morgoth had enough power by this time to pull off such a destruction?

It is hard to visualize what really happened during The War of Wrath since it's described briefly and in in a very distant and mythological manner. What is the story behind the text published in the Sil by the way? Is it a complete (early) JRRT text, or has CT interpolated anything into it? Anyway, I don't see how the army from Aman could or would destroy the very earth unless by some arcane maiaric powers, and if so, weren't they rather heavy on the hand?

I hardly think Morgoth could command the earth to rend either, but when the army out of Aman broke Morgoth's persona and wrestled Middle Earth out of his grasp, the earth was somehow broken too. I imagine the fall of the Dark Lord was followed by cataclysmal geological events such as terrifying earthquakes with fiery chasms opening up, huge tsunami waves rolling onto the shores, volcanic eruptions, all kinds of mayhem. This probably relates to what we are told in HoME X where it's described how Morgoth became incarnate to identify himself with the 'hroa' of Middle Earth, in order to wholly make himself master of it. It was because of this his vast powers became dispersed which I suppose is a metaphor for the seemingly ever-present evil in the world. The book's title "Morgoth's Ring" refers to how all of Middle Earth became what the One Ring was to Sauron, that is, a sort of materialisation of his powers. I believe that the destruction of Beleriand happened because of this close relationship between Morgoth and the very earth. Somehow.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

What is the story behind the text published in the Sil by the way? Is it a complete (early) JRRT text, or has CT interpolated anything into it?

It is pretty much verbatim the conclusion of the old Quenta Noldorinwa of 1930, which is why it's so compressed and 'distant.' Although T actually recopied this half-chapter into the 1937 Quenta Silmarillion manuscript, he made almost no alterations. CT's editorial hand did little besides the change from "Manwe's son Fionwe" to "Manwe's herald Eonwe."