Numenorean Aging - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Sophia the Thunder Mistress · 05-30-2003, 05:17 PM

How fast did those of Numenorean descent age at the time of the War of the Ring?

Some facts:

Denethor is just one year older than Aragorn, yet he's described as an old man while Aragorn seems in his prime.

Denethor didn't marry until age 46. Was he old when he married? Or was he aged prematurely by his stress and despair?

Finduilas, his bride, is 26.

Aragorn is 88 at the time he takes the throne in Gondor- as yet unmarried. I realize that Aragorn's longevity was rather exceptional for his time period, but it was also said that the blood of Numenor ran nearly true in Denethor, and he aged much faster than Aragorn.

Now the point. I need to know when "youth" ends and "middle-age" begins, for one of the line of the Stewards.

Would it have been exceptional for a "young lady" in her 40s to still have been considered a "young lady" or would she have reached Old Maid status by that time?

Sophia

Rumil · 05-30-2003, 05:51 PM

They say that Denethor was aged prematurely by his struggles with Sauron via the Palantir. I think the Stewards of that time generally lived to 100-120 ish years.

40 is definitely not 'old maid' territory, even now! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Aredhel Idril Telcontar · 05-31-2003, 06:54 AM

Denethor did age prematurely, because of his struggles with Sauron. But I have a question: If Denethor married at 46 (let's say that's still quite young), why is there such a difference between him and Finduilas? Did Numenorean women age much faster? Even so, Finduilas still had elvish blood.
Numenorean kings married late in life, they wanted their sons to take the throne in their prime. Could the same be for the Stewards? If so, why didn't Denethor marry when he was sixty or so (Stewards probably did life to over a century)? If someone knows, please answer. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Morwen Tindomerel · 05-31-2003, 09:26 AM

Okay. I can't for the life of me remember where it is in UT or HoME but I seem to recall reading that Numenoreans mature at a normal human rate but the aging process effectively stops at twenty or so and stays halted until near the end of the lifespan when it suddenly kicks in again and they age rapidly into senescence, a state in which they can linger for some years unless they voluntarily 'lay down their lives' first.

Somebody who leads a hard outdoor life, like a Ranger, will show signs of weathering. And unusual stress may cause premature aging - as with Denethor.

Finduilas did not die of old age but wasted away due to the Shadow, her Elven blood perhaps making her more susceptible to such malign influences.

By the time of the WR the normal lifespan of a Dunedan of Gondor is about one hundred years, plus or minus ten. Forty six was considered late for marriage but not necessarily 'old'. While it is never said I assume that they retain the Dunedain pattern of aging dispite the shorter lifespan which would make a Woman of forty no different physically from one of twenty or so.

The Dunedain of the North lived considerably longer - at least a hundred a fifty years - and some of the Chieftains decades longer than that. Given the unusual stresses on the Chieftains it is probably safe to assume that other, less stressed Dunedain lived even longer. Aragorn or course makes it to two hundred and ten, which is apparently a long life even by Northern standards

[ May 31, 2003: Message edited by: Morwen Tindomerel ]

05-30-2003, 05:17 PM	#1
Sophia the Thunder Mistress Scent of Simbelmynë Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Aboard Highwind, bound for Traverse Town Posts: 1,780	Numenorean Aging How fast did those of Numenorean descent age at the time of the War of the Ring? Some facts: Denethor is just one year older than Aragorn, yet he's described as an old man while Aragorn seems in his prime. Denethor didn't marry until age 46. Was he old when he married? Or was he aged prematurely by his stress and despair? Finduilas, his bride, is 26. Aragorn is 88 at the time he takes the throne in Gondor- as yet unmarried. I realize that Aragorn's longevity was rather exceptional for his time period, but it was also said that the blood of Numenor ran nearly true in Denethor, and he aged much faster than Aragorn. Now the point. I need to know when "youth" ends and "middle-age" begins, for one of the line of the Stewards. Would it have been exceptional for a "young lady" in her 40s to still have been considered a "young lady" or would she have reached Old Maid status by that time? Sophia __________________ The seasons fall like silver swords, the years rush ever onward; and soon I sail, to leave this world, these lands where I have wander'd. O Elbereth! O Queen who dwells beyond the Western Seas, spare me yet a little time 'ere white ships come for me!

05-30-2003, 05:51 PM	#2
Rumil Sage & Onions Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Britain Posts: 894	They say that Denethor was aged prematurely by his struggles with Sauron via the Palantir. I think the Stewards of that time generally lived to 100-120 ish years. 40 is definitely not 'old maid' territory, even now! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] __________________ Rumil of Coedhirion

05-31-2003, 06:54 AM	#3
Aredhel Idril Telcontar Wight Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hanging on a sheer cliff with Maedhros Posts: 113	Denethor did age prematurely, because of his struggles with Sauron. But I have a question: If Denethor married at 46 (let's say that's still quite young), why is there such a difference between him and Finduilas? Did Numenorean women age much faster? Even so, Finduilas still had elvish blood. Numenorean kings married late in life, they wanted their sons to take the throne in their prime. Could the same be for the Stewards? If so, why didn't Denethor marry when he was sixty or so (Stewards probably did life to over a century)? If someone knows, please answer. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ "I am your sister and not your servant, and beyond your bounds I will go as seems good to me." Tai uzdaryk mane Tevyne savyje/kaip giesme gerkleje mirtis uzdaro/ ir kaip uzdaro vakara naktis/ o Tu man atsakai: as Tavo laisve

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05-31-2003, 09:26 AM	#4
Morwen Tindomerel Wight Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Minas Anor or Annuminas the Golden Posts: 187	Okay. I can't for the life of me remember where it is in UT or HoME but I seem to recall reading that Numenoreans mature at a normal human rate but the aging process effectively stops at twenty or so and stays halted until near the end of the lifespan when it suddenly kicks in again and they age rapidly into senescence, a state in which they can linger for some years unless they voluntarily 'lay down their lives' first. Somebody who leads a hard outdoor life, like a Ranger, will show signs of weathering. And unusual stress may cause premature aging - as with Denethor. Finduilas did not die of old age but wasted away due to the Shadow, her Elven blood perhaps making her more susceptible to such malign influences. By the time of the WR the normal lifespan of a Dunedan of Gondor is about one hundred years, plus or minus ten. Forty six was considered late for marriage but not necessarily 'old'. While it is never said I assume that they retain the Dunedain pattern of aging dispite the shorter lifespan which would make a Woman of forty no different physically from one of twenty or so. The Dunedain of the North lived considerably longer - at least a hundred a fifty years - and some of the Chieftains decades longer than that. Given the unusual stresses on the Chieftains it is probably safe to assume that other, less stressed Dunedain lived even longer. Aragorn or course makes it to two hundred and ten, which is apparently a long life even by Northern standards [ May 31, 2003: Message edited by: Morwen Tindomerel ]