Amandil

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This article is about the father of Elendil. For the the third King of Númenor, see Tar-Amandil.
Amandil
Númenórean
Turner Mohan - The Last Hunt.jpg
"The Last Hunt" (Amandil is in the centre) by Turner Mohan
Biographical Information
Other namesAphanuzîr (A)[1]
TitlesLord of Andúnië[2]
PositionMariner
LocationNúmenor
AffiliationThe Faithful[2]
LanguageQuenya, Sindarin and Adûnaic
BirthBefore S.A. 3119[3]
Sailed westS.A. 3316 (aged 197+)
Rómenna
Family
HouseHouse of the Lords of Andúnië[2]
ParentageNúmendil[4]
ChildrenElendil[2]
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Amandil

Amandil was the eighteenth and last Lord of Andúnië in Númenor.[5] In common with his ancestors, Amandil was a member of the Faithful, those Númenóreans who still revered the Valar in opposition to the King's Men. After the Downfall of Númenor, Amandil's son Elendil would found the Númenórean Realms in Exile.[2]

History[edit | edit source]

When he was young Amandil was a great friend of Ar-Pharazôn, who as King kept Amandil in his Council even though he was an Elf-friend. Amandil also gained early fame as a mighty sea-captain, and was held in honour by many due to the high nobility of his house.[2]

However, after Ar-Pharazôn sailed to Middle-earth and took Sauron prisoner, the supposed captive gradually turned the King to his will. Seeing the favour bestowed upon Sauron, all of the King's counselors save Amandil began to fawn upon the former captive, who induced the King and his followers to begin worshiping Melkor. Amandil was dismissed from the Council and he withdrew to Rómenna, where he secretly gathered all of the Faithful.[2]

When Amandil became aware of the purpose of the King to assault Aman he was filled with dread. He called his son Elendil to him and revealed his plan to sail into the West to seek aid from Manwë. Amandil made his preparations in secret lest dire punishment fall upon his house. He counseled his son to prepare ships to lie in the haven of Rómenna to escape when they saw their time. Upon his departure Amandil pretended to sail east before circling about to head west. He took with him three trusted servants but he and they were never heard from again.[2]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Amandil is Quenya. The name is glossed to mean "Lover of Aman".[6] According to Paul Strack, the name is a compound of Aman ("Blessed Realm") and -(n)dil ("friend, lover, devoted to").[7]

Aphanuzîr is an Adûnaic name.[1] Its meaning is not glossed, but Paul Strack suggests it means "Bliss-friend" and is a combination of the objective form of aphana ("bliss") and an agental-formation for the verb zîr- ("to love").[8]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
14th Lord
of Andúnië
 
 
 
Ar-Zimrathôn
2798 - 3033
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eärendur
unknown
 
Lindórië
unknown
 
Ar-Sakalthôr
2876 - 3102
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16th Lord
of Andúnië
 
Inzilbêth
unknown
 
Ar-Gimilzôr
2960 - 3177
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Númendil
unknown
 
Tar-Palantir
3035 - 3255
 
Gimilkhâd
3044 - 3243
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AMANDIL
Sailed west 3316
 
Tar-Míriel
3117 - 3319
 
Ar-Pharazôn
3118 - 3319
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elendil
3119 - 3441
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isildur
3209 - T.A. 2
 
Anárion
3219 - 3440
 
 
 
 


Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

Elentir, intended to be a brother of Amandil, was a character developed but never fully adapted into the formal history of Númenor. In one version of the story of Ar-Pharazôn, his future wife Míriel, the daughter of the current king, was betrothed to Elentir. However, she fell desperately in love with Pharazôn and chose to become his queen when he took up the Sceptre of Númenor. This story is very different than the tale in the published The Silmarillion, where Ar-Pharazôn takes Míriel very much against her will in order to claim the Sceptre. In either case, Elentir disappeared before Nùmendil died, leaving Amandil as the Lord of Andúnië.[4]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Sauron Defeated, "Part Three: The Drowning of Anadûnê: (iii) The second text: Commentary", p. 389
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", manuscript C with corrections and expansions, Second Age year 3119. Elendil born in Numenor
  4. 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "V. The History of the Akallabêth", Note on the marriage of Miriel and Pharazon, (b) and (c)
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", Tar-Elendil
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names"
  7. Paul Strack, "Q. Amandil m.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon (accessed 12 December 2021)
  8. Paul Strack, "Ad. Aphanuzîr m.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon (accessed 13 January 2022)
Amandil
House of Valandil
Born: before S.A. 3119 Died: presumably 3316
Preceded by:
Númendil
18th Lord of AndúniëNone
stripped of Lordship


Númenor
Andor · Atalantë · Elenna · Mar-nu-Falmar · Númenórë · Westernesse
Regions Andustar · Arandor · Emerië · Forostar · Hyarastorni · Hyarnustar · Hyarrostar · Mittalmar · Nísimaldar · Orrostar
Towns and cities Almaida · Andúnië · Armenelos · Eldalondë · Moriondë · Nindamos · Ondosto · Rómenna
Buildings Calmindon · Eämbar · King's Court · Temple · White House of Erendis
Natural features Bay of Eldanna · Bay of Rómenna · Firth of Rómenna · Hallow of Eru · Meneltarma (mountain) · Nísinen (lake) · North Cape · Nunduinë (river) · Oromet (mountain) · Siril (river) · Sorontil (mountain) · Tarmasundar (ridges) · Tompollë
Plants and trees Fragrant Trees · Lairelossë · Laurinquë · Lavaralda · Nessamelda · Nimloth · Oiolairë · Taniquelassë · Vardarianna · Yavannamírë
Heirlooms Aranrúth · Bow of Bregor · Dramborleg · Elendilmir · Narsil · Palantíri · Ring of Barahir · Sceptre of Annúminas · Sceptre of Númenor · Tile and Textiles · Helmet
Concepts Adûnaic · Ban of the Valar · Council of the Sceptre · Downfall of Númenor · Great Bear-dance · Heirship · Númenórean Sindarin · Three Prayers (Eruhantalë · Erukyermë · Erulaitalë)
Key people Aldarion · Amandil · Anárion · Captain of the King's Ships · Elendil · Elros (House of Elros) · Erendis · Faithful · Great Armament · Guild of Venturers · Guild of Weaponsmiths · Isildur · Kings and Queens of Númenor · King's Archers · King's Men · Lords of Andúnië · Meneldur · Miriel · Palantir · Pharazôn · Sauron · Silmariën
Main texts The Silmarillion ("Akallabêth") · Unfinished Tales ("A Description of the Island of Númenor" · "Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife" · "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor") · The Lord of the Rings ("Appendix A" · "Appendix B") · The Nature of Middle-earth ("Lives of the Númenóreans" · "Of the land and beasts of Númenor")