Time of the Valar

[Keneldil the Polka-dot]

Then Manwë upon the Mountain called upon Ilúvatar, and for that time the Valar laid down their government of Arda.

That quote is from the story of the Downfall of Numenor. Ar-Pharazon attacked Aman, and Illuvatar caused the sea to swallow his fleet and the island of Numenor.

A few questions:

Did the Valar need Illuvatar to deal with Ar-Pharazon? They had mastery over the materials of the earth, they could have caused the chasm that drowned the fleet and the isle of Numenor. I have seen it somewhere here in the Downs that the Letters say if the Valar had fought directly with Ar-Pharazon they would have won but at great cost. I would have thought they could have done the same thing Illuvatar did and avoided a direct fight.

What does "and for that time the Valar laid down their government of Arda" mean? Were the Valar fed up? When did the "time" end and the Valar resume government of Arda, or did they ever? Those governed by the preordination of the Music were, for the most part, withdrawn from Middle Earth. Men were dominant and their lives were not preordained (I think that's right anyway). Does that passage mean the Valar "still" no longer rule Middle Earth? Maybe the time will end and the Valar will resume their rule after the Dagor Dagorath. I am not well read in some of the HoME or the Letters, so maybe JRRT dealt with this somewhere. If someone could point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it. Thanks [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[ November 21, 2002: Message edited by: Keneldil the Polka-dot ]