October 22, 2002

Response to Andrew
Rosie

Men in Middle-Earth do age at the same rate as humans, but Aragorn isn't a normal man. He is of the race of Numenor. They are the decendants of Elrond's brother Elros. At the end of the First Age the Valar gave Elrond and Elros the choice of which kindred to belong to (men or elven). Elrond chose to be of the Elven kind. Elros on the other hand chose to be of Man-kind, but he was granted a life-span many times longer than the live span of lesser men. His decendants became the Numenorians and they also inherited this long life. Over the years the life span grows less and less as they mix with other men. Aragorn was one of the last men that had the blood of Numenor running true in his veins.
I hope this answers your question.