Ar-Pharazôn the Golden, Last King of Númenor | Tolkien Explained

Ar-Pharazôn leads and already darkening Númenor to its destruction. We cover his life, travels, and his fall to Sauron. His youth features an unlikely friendship and a rise to power, leading the King's Men faction of Númenóreans. After Tar-Palantir dies, he would marry his cousin Tar-Míriel, lead his grand army to confront Sauron, and fall to Sauron's influence and lies.

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Ar-Pharzon Armor - Nemanja Bubalo
The Last Hunt - Turner Mohan
Ar-Pharazon - Turner Mohan
Ar-Pharazon - Steamey
Ar-Pharazon - Celmence Morisseau
Eldalonde - Ralph Damiani
Armenelos - Ralph Damiani
Adunakhori - Tom Romain
Andunie - Ralph Damiani
White Ships - Ted Nasmith
Aldarion Returns From His First Voyage - Ted Nasmith
Breath of Arda, Manwe - Christina Kraus
The Destroying Wave Over Numenor - Kip Rasmussen
Numenorean Armor Color - Turner Mohan
Aragorn fighting Orcs - Donato Giancola
Ar-Pharazon and Tar-Miriel - Nemanja Bubalo
Ar-Pharazon closeup - Nemanja Bubalo
Queen Beruthiel - Turner Mohan
Meneltarma - Ralph Damiani
Tar-Miriel - Turner Mohan
Denethor - Anna Kulisz
Sauron the Deceiver - Skullb*st*rd
Imperial Numenorean Armour - Turner Mohan
Boromir Defending Osgiliath - Catherine Karina Chmiel
Moria Orc - John Howe
Sauron bows, submits to Ar-Pharazon - Kip Rasmussen
Stalker - Skullb*st*rd
Numenor - Sarka Skorpikova
Witch-king - Skullb*st*rd
Sauron high priest - Nemanja Bubalo
Valar, Mandos - Anna Kulisz
Valar, Melkor - Anna Kulisz
Morgoth and the High King of the Noldor - Ted Nasmith
Eru Iluvatar - Janka Lateckova
The White Tree - Aegeri
The White Tree - Ted Nasmith
Man in the alley - Felix Englund
Isildur - Soni Alcorn-Hender
Odin visits Volsung's Hall - Alan Lee
Armenelos - Nemanja Bubalo
Writing - Anke Eissmann
Sauron's Priests - Nemanja Bubalo
The Pale King - Skullb*st*rd
Ar-Pharazon old - Nemanja Bubalo
The King's Councelor - Turner Mohan
Ar-Pharazon and Sauron - Janka Lateckova
The Shores of Valinor - Ted Nasmith
The Silmarillion - Skullb*st*rd
Ar-Pharazon's Ships - John Howe
Eagles of Manwe - Ted Nasmith
Red Skyline - Felix Englund
Denethor - Anna Kulisz
Ar-Pharazon on Throne - Clemence Morisseau
Taniquetil - Ted Nasmith
Light of Valinor - Ted Nasmith
Varda of the Stars at Her Work of Creation - Kip Rasmussen
Eru and Gods Singing the First Song of Creation - Kip Rasmussen
Fall of Numenor - Darrell Sweet
Drowning of Andunie - John Howe
Breaking ground - Bellabergolts
Queen Tar-Miriel - Ted Nasmith
The Ships of the Faithful - Ted Nasmith
Crashing Waves - Felix Englund
Sauron - Shadow of War

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[NerdoftheRings]

Are you looking forward to seeing Ar-Pharazôn in the Rings of Power show? Which version of Tar-Míriel do you think they will adapt?

[nathaniellong]

I am fairly convinced, given his life, that Tuor was granted the blessing of the Eldar from Eru himself upon sailing to Vallinor in the First Age, allowing Tuor to remain there forever. I imagine Tuor probably heard of the Numenoreans arriving in Vallinor in force, and he said something like, "Guys, you're doing it wrong."

[Busrayne]

The main problem is that when Ar-Pharazôn took Sauron as his prisoner, he clearly had no idea what he was or who he was actually dealing with.

[lorcankelly]

Yes great man been wanting this one for ages. Hoping for Elendil now :) This channel is amazing

[brunokagawa]

I prefer the original version that Tar-Miriel was forced into marriage and yielding the sceptre. It makes her character more tragic and less deserving of the gruesome end.

[Dejan]

I actually get so sad when I listen to the story of the fall of Numenor..like it is a real historical event 😞 Great video..thank you!

[MatthewCaunsfield]

Loved your reading of Sauron's lines, the perfect balance of "fair" and evil temptation!

[behystudio]

It's a tradition that when "Nerd of the Rings" publishes a video we drop everything and sit and watch.

[franklin]

I can only imagine what the interactions between Sauron and Pharazon’s Faithful brother were like during those council meetings.

[JainaSoloB]

When you talked of The Golden the imagery struck me as very Pharoah-like, but it wasn't until you mentioned the people of Númenor "hardened their hearts" that I realized the tale of Ar-Pharazôn is very inspired by Pharoah Rameses in the story of the biblical Exodus. Even his name: Pharoah-Ra/Ar-Pharazôn.

The stubborn and proud king of a great land, a great monument built by slaves at his decree, warnings from the divine which only strengthen his resolve against Eru/God. Suffering comes to the innocent and guilty alike because of the king's choice to oppose Eru/God, and only the people faithful to Eru/God are passed over.

But in this version of the story the Red Sea swallows the entirety of Egypt, rather than just the king's men, and only a handful of the faithful are spared this horrible fate.

I can't wait to see this story brought to life in Rings of Power, especially if they lean into the Prince Of Egypt/Ten Commandments parallels!

[Bezanie]

The detail of the history of this world is incredible! I could only wish and hope that Amazon pays attention to this and doesn't try to take cheap shortcuts.

[severalcakes]

“Ar-Pharazôn hardened his heart, and he went aboard his mighty ship, Alcarondas, Castle of the Sea. Many-oared it was and many-masted, golden and sable; and upon it his throne was set. Then he did on his panoply and his crown, and let raise his standard. He gave the signal for the raising of the anchors. And in that hour, the trumpets of Númenor outrang the thunder.”
- “Akallabêth, ” _The Silmarillion, _ p. 333

[thebrandybuck]

MATT. THE WAY YOU READ THAT QUOTE FROM SAURON. WELL DONE. Also, I wrote a poem last night mentioning Ar -Pharazôn, weirdly enough

[CounciloftheRings]

Great video Matt! Especially the voice-over for Sauron is really sinister :D

[bennetthibner]

The whole speech from Saruan is the thing I look forward to the most in the adaptation.

[wannabecartoonist]

Sauron having the monument to Pharazon destroyed really shows how little he cared for all he manipulated, how they all ultimately meant nothing to him
After all those years of flattery and seduction of Pharazon he moves on from his old puppet immediately

[Spielkalb-von-Sparta]

Thanks for this summary on the end of Numenor! It's nice to have it before the Amazon show airs. I'm looking forward to more content about the second age to be prepared.

[nerdragon]

Ar-Pharazôn is, at least in my vision, one of the most sinister characters Tolkien ever wrote. A king that allowed evil to thrive in his heart, to the point of ordering human sacrifices and openly blaspheming against what essentially were the gods of Middle-Earth, even declaring open war on them.
Perhaps its because of my catholic upbringing, but blasphemy, moreso the more blatant ways that Ar-Pharazôn and the númenoreans practiced, even worshipping Melkor, who's pretty much Satan, is a really sinister and terrible thought for me.

[rangerofthenorth]

Man I think that I've never in my life been more excited than now, waiting for tomorow's trailer!! I hope to see Ar-Pharazon in his full glory and proud, but also in his most darkest ambitions!!
Nerd, another great video, hope to see you on the live stream!!!

[itayshorek]

This was
Every video you make is perfect!
You`re the best tolkien channel, my friend.
From start to end and all within it: the pictures, the voices, the music, how long the quates are, even the number of ads during the video..
You`re the best! thanks!