Númenórean

Númenóreans or Dúnedain were the Men of Númenor, descendants of the Edain of the First Age, who were granted the island of Elenna as a dwelling place. Eventually, they turned against the Valar, and their island home was destroyed in the last years of the Second Age.

Origins

The Númenóreans were descendants of the Edain of the First Age, who proved themselves great allies of the Elves, from whom they gathered knowledge of all things surrounding them. The two races fought together against Morgoth.

During that Age, unions of Elves and Men were made; Lúthien and Beren whose son, Dior Eluchíl, married Nimloth of Doriath and Elwing was born. Idril and Tuor, the second couple, were parents of Eärendil. Elwing and Eärendil met at the Havens of Sirion and from their union twins were born: Elros and Elrond. To the two half-elves, the Valar gave a choice: Elros chose to join the race of men, whereas Elrond chose to join the elves.

The Edain fought with the Host of Valinor in the War of Wrath and were victorious, the Edain were honoured and blessed by Eönwë in body and mind for their part in the war and the Valar rewarded the Edain by giving them a place to dwell outside the troubled world of Middle-earth. Ulmo raised an island halfway between Endor and Aman which the Edain named Elenna, later known as the island of Númenor.

The first ships of the Edain arrived to their new home in S.A. 32 by following the Star of Eärendil. The fleet of Elros initially brought probably between 5,000 to 10,000 Edain to the island, he established the Realm of Númenor and became the first King of Númenor. After a migration period that lasted at least 50 years, between 200,000 and 350,000 Men (the majority of the Edain in Middle-earth) had gradually emigrated to Númenor.

Characteristics

The average Númenórean was taller than two Rangar or 6'4". Elendil was the tallest of Men who escaped the Downfall, mentioned to be almost 2.5 rangar tall, 7'11" or 2.41 m.

Númenóreans were granted especially long lives when compared to that of other Men, with the average lifespan in the beginning ranging from 350 years to as much as 420. Those of the line of Elros in particular often lived 400 years or even more, while those who were outside of the royal line only rarely managed to reach 400.

Númenóreans were also those who best understood the Gift of Ilúvatar and were blessed in that they did not share the same fear of death that other men had. Often in the beginning of Númenor, Men who at last began to feel the first signs of weariness of mortal life would voluntarily give up their spirits and die of their own free will. This usually would only occur in the latter years of their lifespan, such as around year 400 for the particularly long lived.

However, as part of the decay brought on by the Shadow, many Númenóreans began to fear death rather than accept it. During the twilight of the realm, many Númenóreans would cling to life for as long as possible, becoming senile and decrepit like other Men. Additionally, lifespans began to decline as the Shadow further grew. The lifespans of those of the house of Elros began to fall to the point where many would live for less than three centuries.