Caves of the Forgotten
The Caves of the Forgotten were formed after the hills of Calacirya fell on the Great Armanent led by the Númenórean King Ar-Pharazôn.
Seduced by Sauron, he was persuaded that he had the power to take the lands of Aman from the Valar themselves. He set out with a great fleet and led an immense army into the Calacirya, ready to do battle for the Blessed Realm itself.
At that time Manwë the Elder King gave up his power over Arda and called on Ilúvatar, who then broke the world. Their fleets and even their island home were swept away.
Meanwhile, the mortal warriors themselves were buried beneath the falling hills. Yet, they are said to lie imprisoned within the Caves of the Forgotten, awaiting the day of the Last Battle when they will be released from their caves.[1] However, the part that they have to play in the battle remains a mystery.
Other versions of the legendarium
According to the first version of the Downfall of Númenor, both Angor (later Ar-Pharazôn) and Istar (Tar-Míriel) were imprisoned within the caves, originally referred to as the Forgotten Caves,[2] before being changed in the second version to the "Caves of the Forgotten".[3]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part One: II. The Fall of Númenor, (ii) The first version of The Fall of Númenor", p. 16, §7
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part One: II. The Fall of Númenor, (iii) The second version of The Fall of Númenor", p. 27, §7
