October 23, 2002

Re: Aragorn's Age
Ar-pharazon

Andrew,

I'm sure you will get several replies to your post...Anyway, for their labors in the Wars of Beleriand in the First Age against Morgoth, the Valar gave the Edain (those men who helped the Evles and Valar) the island of Numenore - within sight of Tol Eressea. "This was the beginning of that people that...are called Dunedain: the Numenoreans, Kings among Men. But they did not thus escape from the doom of death that Illuvatar had set upon all Mankind, and they were mortal still, though their years were long, and they knew no sickness, ere the shadow fell upon them. Therefore they grew wise and glorious, and in all things more like the Firstborn than any other of the kindreds of Men; and they were tall, taller than the tallest sons of Middle-earth; and the light of their eyes was like the bright stars."

The Numenoreans were granted long life, about three times that of normal men. Elros, brother of Elrond and the first king of Numenor, and his descendants lived even longer. Elros lived to be about 500 years old. Numenor was the greatest kingdom outside Aman in Arda.

If this intrigues you, I suggest you read the Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. They are a collection of tales that are the history of Middle Earth. The stories include the birth of the Elves, their journey to Aman, the making of the dwarves, the birth of men, the revolt of the Noldor and their return to Middle Earth, Feanor and the Silmarills, Morgoth, Beren and Luthien, Gondolin, Turin, Thingol, the Akallabeth (The Downfall of Numenor), Elendil's escape from the destruction of Numenor, Elendil's arrival to Middle earth, the third age and the Rings of Power, and many, many more tales. The books are a more difficult read than LOTR. However, many Tolkien fans consider the Silmarillion their favorite.

OK, I'm a little off track, but back to Aragorn. He is, of course, one of the Dunedain, a descendant of Elros, and granted a longer life than normal men. Minor spoiler if you haven't read the rest of LOTR, but Aragorn lives another 120 years to an age of around 210. So, at the time of LOTR, Aragorn hasn't even reached middle age. Thanks for hanging around this long.