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It was taken from the fact that the first [[Men]] to inhabit that island came to it by following the light of the [[Star of Eärendil]].
It was taken from the fact that the first [[Men]] to inhabit that island came to it by following the light of the [[Star of Eärendil]].
==Geography==
The island of Númenor was about 167,961 square miles,<ref>Calculation by [[Karen Wynn Fonstad]] in the ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]''</ref> It was located in the [[Belegaer]] closer to [[Valinor]] (about 39 days) than [[Middle-earth]].
Its shape was of a 5-point star, each point having its own unique geological and physical features, therefore considered a separate region of Númenor and had separate names:
*[[Forostar]] (''Northlands'')
*[[Andustar]] (''Westlands'')
*[[Hyarnustar]] (''Southwestlands'')
*[[Hyarrostar]] (''Southeastlands'')
*[[Orrostar]] (''Eastlands'')
*[[Mittalmar]] (''Inlands'')
The island had a mountain in its center, the [[Meneltarma]], in the region [[Mittalmar]]. It was the highest location on the entire island and considered sacred by the [[Númenóreans]] as a holy place devoted to [[Ilúvatar|Eru Ilúvatar]]. Only the [[Rulers of Númenor|Kings]] of Númenor were allowed to speak on the Meneltarma's summit. It was said that on a clear day the 'far-sighted' might see [[Tol Eressëa]], the island east of Valinor proper which along with it comprised the Undying Lands.
The lower slopes of the mountain, the [[Tarmasundar]], were gentle grass-covered, however, near the summit the slopes became more vertical and could not be ascended easily. The kings later built a spiral road to the peak, beginning at the southern tip of the mountain and winding up to the lip of the summit in the north. The summit, however, was unique in that it was flattened and somewhat depressed, and was said to be able to "contain a great multitude". It was considered the most sacred spot of Númenor, and nothing was ever built there throughout the entire history of the island.
Númenor had only two rivers: [[Siril]] which began at Meneltarma and ended in a small delta near the city of [[Nindamos]], and the [[Nunduinë]], which reached the sea in the [[Bay of Eldanna]] near the haven [[Eldalondë]].
The island itself was tilted southward and a little westward; the northern coasts were all steep sea cliffs.


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
The word is actually the allative form of the [[Quenya]] word ''[[elen]]'' meaning "to (a) star". The "longer" name ''Elenna-nórë'' is glossed as "Land of the Star",<ref>{{UT|Cirion}}</ref> literally "Starwards-lands".
The word is actually the allative form of the [[Quenya]] word ''[[elen]]'' meaning "to (a) star". The "longer" name ''Elenna-nórë'' is glossed as "Land of the Star",<ref>{{UT|Cirion}}</ref> literally "Starwards-lands".
[[Robert Foster]] mistakenly identifies the word as being the "[[Wikipedia:essive case|essive]]" form of ''elen''. Essive is a grammatical case that exists in [[Finnish]] (but not in Quenya), and is marked by the ending ''-na''.<ref>{{HM|Guide}}, entry "Elenna"</ref>


The [[Adûnaic]] name was ''[[Gimlad]]''
The [[Adûnaic]] name was ''[[Gimlad]]''

Revision as of 21:51, 26 August 2014

Elenna ([eˈlenːa]) or Elenna-nórë (Q, pron. [eˌlenːa-ˈnoːre]) was a name said to mean 'Starwards',[1] referring to the island on which the realm of Númenor was founded.[2]

It was taken from the fact that the first Men to inhabit that island came to it by following the light of the Star of Eärendil.

Geography

The island of Númenor was about 167,961 square miles,[3] It was located in the Belegaer closer to Valinor (about 39 days) than Middle-earth.

Its shape was of a 5-point star, each point having its own unique geological and physical features, therefore considered a separate region of Númenor and had separate names:

The island had a mountain in its center, the Meneltarma, in the region Mittalmar. It was the highest location on the entire island and considered sacred by the Númenóreans as a holy place devoted to Eru Ilúvatar. Only the Kings of Númenor were allowed to speak on the Meneltarma's summit. It was said that on a clear day the 'far-sighted' might see Tol Eressëa, the island east of Valinor proper which along with it comprised the Undying Lands.

The lower slopes of the mountain, the Tarmasundar, were gentle grass-covered, however, near the summit the slopes became more vertical and could not be ascended easily. The kings later built a spiral road to the peak, beginning at the southern tip of the mountain and winding up to the lip of the summit in the north. The summit, however, was unique in that it was flattened and somewhat depressed, and was said to be able to "contain a great multitude". It was considered the most sacred spot of Númenor, and nothing was ever built there throughout the entire history of the island.

Númenor had only two rivers: Siril which began at Meneltarma and ended in a small delta near the city of Nindamos, and the Nunduinë, which reached the sea in the Bay of Eldanna near the haven Eldalondë.

The island itself was tilted southward and a little westward; the northern coasts were all steep sea cliffs.

Etymology

The word is actually the allative form of the Quenya word elen meaning "to (a) star". The "longer" name Elenna-nórë is glossed as "Land of the Star",[4] literally "Starwards-lands".

Robert Foster mistakenly identifies the word as being the "essive" form of elen. Essive is a grammatical case that exists in Finnish (but not in Quenya), and is marked by the ending -na.[5]

The Adûnaic name was Gimlad

References