more。 And there is not now upon Earth any place abiding where the memory of a time without evil is preserved。 For
Ilúvatar cast back the Great Seas west of Middle…earth； and the Empty Lands east of it； and new lands and new seas were
made； and the world was diminished； for Valinor and Eress？a were taken from it into the realm of hidden things。
In an hour unlocked for by Men this doom befell； on the nine and thirtieth day since the passing of the fleets。
Then suddenly fire burst from the Meneltarma； and there came a mighty wind and a tumult of the earth； and the sky
reeled； and the hills slid； and Númenor went down into the sea； with all its children and its wives and its maidens and its
ladies proud； and all its gardens and its balls and its towers； its tombs and its riches； and its jewels and its webs and its
things painted and carven； and its lore： they vanished for ever。 And last of all the mounting wave； green and cold and
plumed with foam； climbing over the land； took to its bosom Tar…Míriel the Queen； fairer than silver or ivory or pearls。
Too late she strove to ascend the steep ways of the Meneltarma to the holy place； for the waters overtook her； and her
cry was lost in the roaring of the wind。
But whether or no it were that Amandil came indeed to Valinor and Manw？ hearkened to his prayer； by grace of
the Valar Elendil and his sons and their people were spared from the ruin of that day。 For Elendil had remained in
Romenna； refusing the summons of the King when he set forth to war； and avoiding the soldiers of Sauron that came to
seize him and drag him to the fires of the Temple； he went aboard his ship and stood off from the shore； waiting on the
time。 There he was protected by the land from the great draught of the sea that drew all towards the abyss； and
afterwards he was sheltered from the first fury of the storm。 But when the devouring wave rolled over the land and
Númenor toppled to its fall； then he would have been overwhelmed and would have deemed it the lesser grief to perish；
for no wrench of death could be more bitter than the loss and agony of that day； but the great wind took him； wilder than
any wind that Men had known； roaring from the west； and it swept his ships far away； and it rent their sails and snapped
their masts； hunting the unhappy men like straws upon the water。
Nine ships there were： four for Elendil； and for Isildur three； and for Anárion two； and they fled before the black
gale out of the twilight of doom into the darkness of the world。 And the deeps rose beneath them in towering anger； and
waves like unto mountains moving with great caps of writhen snow bore them up amid the wreckage of the clouds； and
after many days cast them away upon the shores of Middle…earth。 And all the coasts and seaward regions of the western
world suffered great change and ruin in that time； for the seas invaded the lands； and shores foundered； and ancient isles
were drowned； and new isles were uplifted； and hills crumbled and rivers were turned into strange courses。
Elendil and his sons after founded kingdoms in Middle…earth； and though their lore and craft was but an echo of
that which had been ere Sauron came to Númenor； yet very great it seemed to the wild men of the world。 And much is
said in other lore of the deeds of the heirs of Elendil in the age that came after； and of their strife with Sauron that not yet
was ended。
For Sauron himself was filled with great fear at the wrath of the Valar； and the doom that Eru laid upon sea and
land。 It was greater far than aught he had looked for； hoping only for the death of the Númenóreans and the defeat of
their proud king。 And Sauron； sitting in his black seat in the midst of the Temple； had laughed when he heard the
trumpets of Ar…Pharaz？n sounding for battle； and again he had laughed when he heard the thunder of the storm； and a
third time； even as he laughed at his own thought； thinking what he would do now in the world； being rid of the Edain
for ever； he was taken in the midst of his mirth； and his seat and his temple fell into the abyss。 But Sauron was not of
mortal flesh； and though he was robbed now of that shape in which he had wrought so great an evil； so that he could
never again appear fair to the eyes of Men； yet his spirit arose out of the deep and passed as a shadow and a black wind
over the sea； and came back to Middle…earth and to Mordor that was his home。 There he took up again his great Ring in
Barad…d？r； and dwelt there； dark and silent； until he wrought himself a new guise； an image of malice and hatred made
visible； and the Eye of Sauron the Terrible few could endure。
But these things e not into the tale of the Drowning of Númenor； of which now all is told。 And even the name
of that land perished； and Men spoke thereafter not of Elenna； nor of Andor the Gift that was taken away； nor of
Númenór？ on the confines of the world； but the exiles on the shores of the sea； if they turned towards the West in the
desire of their hearts； spoke of Mar…nu…Falmar that was whelmed in the waves； Akallabêth the Downfallen； Atalant？ in
the Eldarin tongue。
* * *
Among the Exiles many believed that the summit of the Meneltarma； the Pillar of Heaven； was not drowned for
ever； but rose again above the waves； a lonely island lost in the great waters； for it had been a hallowed place； and even
in the days of Sauron none had defiled it And some there were of the seed of E？rendil that afterwards sought for it；
because it was said among loremasters that the far…sighted men of old could see from the Meneltarma a glimmer of the
Deathless Land。 For even after the ruin the hearts of the Dúnedain were still set westwards； and though they knew
indeed that the world was changed； they said： 'Avallón？ is vanished from the Earth and the Land of Aman is taken away；
and in the world of this present darkness they cannot be found。 Yet once they were； and therefore they still are； in true
being and in the whole shape of the world as at first it was devised。'
For the Dúnedain held that even mortal Men； if so blessed； might look upon other times than those of their
bodies' life； and they longed ever to escape from the shadows of their exile and to see in some fashion fee light that dies
not； for the sorrow of the thought of death had pursued them over the deeps of the sea。 Thus it was that great mariners
among them would still search the empty seas； hoping to e upon the Isle of Meneltarma； and there to see a vision of
things that were。 But they found it not。 And those that sailed far came only to the new lands； and found them like to the
old lands； and subject to death。 And those that sailed furthest set but a girdle about the Earth and returned weary at last
to the place of their beginning； and they said：
'All roads are now bent。'
Thus in after days； what by the voyages of ships； what by lore and star…craft； the kings of Men knew that the
world was indeed made round； and yet the Eldar were permitted still to depart and to e to the Ancient West and to
Avallón？； if they would。 Therefore