THE RINGS OF POWER Turns Nûmenor’s Ill-Fated Eyes Towards The Undying Lands

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As a lifelong fan of Middle-earth, I can confidently say that the upcoming season of The Rings of Power has me more excited than a hobbit at a second breakfast. Ar-Pharazôn’s quest for immortality and his desire to conquer The Undying Lands is a tale as old as time itself – or at least, as old as the First Age of Middle-earth.

In the land of Númenor, Ar-Pharazôn now holds power, yet his desires extend beyond ruling. He yearns for something prohibited to mankind: everlasting life. Not even the gods can deter him from pursuing this goal. The fifth episode of season two in The Rings of Power reveals that Númenor’s ambitious new king gazes westward across the sea towards The Land of the Immortal, a place where beings such as the Valar, Maiar, and elves reside. This intriguing location is home to immortals, but why are mortals barred from entering it? And why will this land soon disappear completely from view? All these questions stem from Ar-Pharazôn’s unattainable ambition for a kingdom he covets.

Fans of “The Lord of the Rings” are familiar with The Undying Lands, a unique realm concealed from those dwelling in Middle-earth. Eventually, Círdan the Shipwright will transport Frodo, Bilbo, and Gandalf to this divine domain shared by gods and elves. Unlike the world Hobbits and men inhabit, it lies beyond the boundaries of their familiar world; however, that was not its original state.

The land of eternal life, known as Valinor, lies on the continent of Aman. During the earliest era of the world, mortals were granted passage to this realm. In the inaugural season of The Rings of Power, Galadriel chose to sail there for an eternity before deciding to remain and battle Sauron instead. It was foretold that Gil-galad would lead all elves to this place if they couldn’t restore the power of the Valar in Middle-earth, a destination all elves will eventually reach. Some elves have never left it at all.

After the overthrow of Morgoth during the War of Wrath, immortal beings were barred from roaming Valinor. However, at the close of the First Age, the divine beings known as the Valar honored those human warriors who had endured the most in battle by creating a magnificent island out of the sea. The inhabitants of this land enjoyed not only an extraordinary island home but also lifespans far exceeding the average human’s.

For many generations, the prosperous Nûmenoreans constructed magnificent cities teeming with talented artisans and warriors. However, the Valar imposed a single restriction on these fortunate individuals: They were forbidden from venturing west beyond the horizon of their island, as the Immortal Lands had been closed off to mortals.

For centuries those on the island obeyed the rules. Even when they began conquering the mainland they did not sail west. That changed when evil came back with them…

Fans of “The Lord of the Rings” are aware that survivors from Númenor will establish powerful human kingdoms in Middle-earth. The upcoming “The Rings of Power” series will delve into how they ultimately lost their island home. It will also shed light on why the all-powerful entity, Eru Ilúvatar, is about to shape the world into a round form, barring any mortal from sailing to Valinor again. The Prime Video storyline has now started unfolding the tale of Númenor’s demise.

Ar-Pharazôn’s supporters demolish sacred temples, as he spurns something superior to everlasting life. Instead of allowing men access to the Valar’s realm, Eru Ilúvatar bestowed upon them a unique gift – their mortality. He termed it “the Gift.” However, Nûmenor’s covetous king, gazing across the sea towards the White Tower of Eressëa in The Blessed Realms, perceives only a barrier. Hungry for more, he aims to scale greater heights. In doing so, he unwittingly hastens his own realm’s demise.

Mikey Walsh, a staff writer for TopMob, has no qualms expressing his feelings about Valinor. You can keep up with him on Twitter and Bluesky using the handle @burgermike. Additionally, he’s often featured in lists ranking the Targaryen kings.

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2024-09-12 11:32