Mariners

As an island kingdom, the skill of its sailing folk had always been important to the people of Númenor. These sailors came from all walks of life on the isle, but especially from the southern coasts, where a fishing community had grown up at Nindamos on the mouths of the river Siril.

The importance of the Mariners grew after the year II 600, when the explorer Vëantur successfully navigated across the Great Sea in his vessel Entulessë, becoming the first Númenórean to reach the shores of Middle-earth. The King's Heir Aldarion was himself a great Mariner, making many trips of his own across the ocean and becoming known as the Great Captain.

It was Aldarion who founded the Guild of Venturers, whose guildhouse was aboard the great ship Eämbar. During Aldarion's time, this guild grew in importance, and through his voyages to Middle-earth, he helped to forge a close alliance between his people and the Eldar of Lindon.

After Aldarion's time, the Númenóreans became greedy for the riches of Middle-earth, and the Mariners made regular journeys across the Sea, returning with holds filled with timber felled from the great forests of the Westlands. The Númenóreans also constructed vessels of war, notably the vast armada created by Ar-Pharazôn for his assault on Valinor. Despite this immense Armament, the endeavour ended in disaster, bringing about the Downfall of Númenor. From that Downfall, only a handful of Númenóreans escaped, the last of the Mariners of Númenor to make the voyage to Middle-earth.