Armenelos: Difference between revisions

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([1/2] fixed references, revised and added some info. Also not sure where that sentence about the Maiar is from couldn't find a source so I am leaving a fact tag just in case)
([2/2] →‎Other versions of the legendarium: updated references, added info)
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==Other versions of the legendarium==
==Other versions of the legendarium==
At early stages of writing, this city was called by other names: '''Númenos''',<ref name=Fall>{{LR|Fall}}, pp. 11, 14, 19, 30</ref> '''Númar'''<ref name=Fall/> or '''Nûmar'''<ref>{{VT|45a}}, p. 26</ref> (at first used of what became Númenor)
At early stages of writing, the city was called by other names: '''Númenos''', '''Númar'''<ref>{{LR|P1II2}}, Commentary on the first version of The Fall of Númenor: §2, p. 14 </ref> or '''Nûmar'''<ref>{{VT|45a}}, p. 26</ref> (at first used of what became Númenor). In later developments it was known as '''Antirion''' (the Golden).<ref>{{SD|3ii}} §2, p. 347 </ref> The city's Adûnaic name was '''Ar-Minalêth''' or '''Arminalêth'''<ref>{{SD|2dn}} 75, p. 292</ref><ref>{{SD|3iii}} §20, p. 363</ref> which survived in later drafts of the ''Akallabêth''. Additionally in ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'', Christopher corrected a mistake he made in ''[[Sauron Defeated]]'' where he said the name Arminalêth was replaced by Armenelos, instead it replaced '''Tar Kalimos'''.<ref name="PMV7"/>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 19:31, 27 December 2020

Armenelos
City
Jef Murray - Armenelos the golden.jpg
"Armenelos the golden" by Jef Murray
General Information
Pronunciationar-men-eh-los
Other namesThe Golden, City of the Kings, Arminalêth (A)
LocationArandor, nigh Meneltarma
TypeCity
DescriptionCapital of Númenor
People and History
InhabitantsNúmenóreans
CreatedEarly Second Age
DestroyedS.A. 3319, Downfall of Númenor
GalleryImages of Armenelos

Armenelos, also known as the City of the Kings and Armenelos the Golden, was the capital city of Númenor. It was the fairest of all cities on the island and in later years possibly the largest after Andúnië declined.[1]

It was situated on a hill in eastern central Númenor, in the district called Arandor, the Kingsland, close to Meneltarma. The chief road of Númenor ran through the royal city, eastward it led to the haven of Rómenna while westward it led to Andúnië.

Armenelos contained the great house of the Kings, reportedly built with the help of the Maiar[source?] and the courts of the King where the White Tree Nimloth grew.

History

Armenelos was founded as far back as the end of the First Age, when the Edain first migrated to the island. Conceivably Arandor was the first district they settled after landing in a firth that later led to the haven of Rómenna.

In S.A. 32, the coronation of Elros in Armenelos marked the beginning of the Númenórean realm.[2]

The Elves of Eressëa brought many gifts to Númenor, one of which was a seedling of the White Tree Celeborn and it grew in the courts of the King in Armenelos and it was named Nimloth.[3]

In S.A. 870, the city celebrated the wedding of the King's Heir Aldarion and Erendis.[4]

Near the end of the Second Age, the Temple was built in the city by order of the King's adviser Sauron and the White Tree Nimloth was burned on its altar and later human sacrifice.[3]

The city was destroyed in the Downfall of Númenor.

Etymology

Armenelos is Quenya, Robert Foster suggest it means "royal-heaven-fortress"[1], analyzed as ar- + menel + ost.

The Adûnaic name is Arminalêth.[5] which appears to be a direct translation of the Quenya name, analyzed as ar- + minul (Adûnaic name of menel).[6]

Other versions of the legendarium

At early stages of writing, the city was called by other names: Númenos, Númar[7] or Nûmar[8] (at first used of what became Númenor). In later developments it was known as Antirion (the Golden).[9] The city's Adûnaic name was Ar-Minalêth or Arminalêth[10][11] which survived in later drafts of the Akallabêth. Additionally in The Peoples of Middle-earth, Christopher corrected a mistake he made in Sauron Defeated where he said the name Arminalêth was replaced by Armenelos, instead it replaced Tar Kalimos.[5]

See also

References