Armenelos
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In Tolkien's Middle-earth, Armenelos the Golden, translated as The City of Kings, was the capital and (in later years) the largest city of Númenor. It was named Arminalêth in Adûnaic. It was the greatest city of Men ever built, matching and surpassing the might of Barad-dûr. It was situated in eastern central Númenor, in the district called Arandor, the Kingsland, close to Meneltarma and the haven of Rómenna. It 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. Armenelos contained the royal palace, the King's House, reportedly built with the help of the Maiar. Its finishing, together with the coronation of Elros in 32 S.A. marked the beginning of the Númenórean realm. Elros constructed a tall tower which stood for the duration of Númenor's existence in the capital's citadel sometime during his reign, and the white tree Nimloth was later planted there too. During the reign of Ar-Pharazôn Nimloth was cut down — though not before Isildur managed to steal its last fruit, from whose seed a new sapling grew — and a giant temple to Morgoth was constructed in its place. The circular temple, which dwarfed the ancient tower of Elros, was described in The Silmarillion as being over five hundred feet in diameter and five hundred feet in height to its cornice line, above which a silver dome rose. The dome had an oculus in it from which the smoke of numerous burned sacrifices rose, tarnishing the silver of the dome soon after its completion. Like the rest of Númenor, Armenelos was destroyed in the Downfall. Sauron, who abode in his temple at the very moment of its ruin, managed to escape the destruction and flee back to Mordor. |
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