A great island kingdom raised from the sea by the Valar as a gift to the Men who fought against Morgoth in the First Age. For over three thousand years of the Second Age, the Numenoreans grew in wisdom and power, becoming the greatest mariners the world had ever known. But they were corrupted by Sauron, who persuaded King Ar-Pharazon to assault Valinor itself. Iluvatar destroyed Numenor beneath the waves in punishment - a catastrophe echoing the legend of Atlantis. The faithful remnant, led by Elendil, escaped to found the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor in Middle-earth.