The Second Age

The Valar raised Númenor out of the sea after the War of Wrath as a gift to the Edain who had stood with the Eldar against Morgoth, a five-pointed star at the centre of the sea, the Meneltarma rising at its midpoint. For three thousand years the Dúnedain were the glory of mortals: long-lived sea-kings whose ships ranged from Lindon to the southern coasts. In Middle-earth, in Eregion, the Eldar smith Celebrimbor forged the Three Rings; Sauron under a fair name forged the Seven and the Nine; and in the fire of Orodruin he forged the One in secret, that he might rule them all.

Then Sauron came as a captive into Númenor itself and corrupted its last and proudest king, Ar-Pharazôn the Golden. The white tree was burned. Sauron's temple rose. The fleet sailed against the Valar in defiance of the Ban. And Eru himself bent down and broke the world: the fleet was buried under mountains; Númenor sank in a single day; the round world was made so that no road would ever lead back to Aman. Only Elendil and his sons escaped, sailing east to make Arnor and Gondor in exile. The flat world ended here.

Lands on this map

Númenor raised

Westernesse rises out of the sea — the five-pointed star, Meneltarma at its midpoint, Armenelos and Rómenna along the coasts.

Lindon remnant

The last fragment of Beleriand above the waves. Forlindon and Harlindon part the Gulf of Lune; Mithlond stands at its inner end.

Eriador peopled

Annúminas built by Elendil's sons; Eregion glitters in the south. The Rings are forged in its smithies.

Rhovanion wilderland

Wilderland east of the Misty Mountains. The Greenwood is not yet darkened; the Anduin runs its full length unwarded.

Gondor founded

Founded by the Faithful at the age's end. Anárion at Minas Anor, Isildur at Minas Ithil, the White Tree planted in Osgiliath.

Mordor walled

Sauron walls his plateau. The Black Gate is raised, Mount Doom kindled, Barad-dûr first built.