Discussing: Standard or banner of kings of Numenor
Re: Standard or banner of kings of Numenor
There is an entry for Banner of the Kings of Númenor in the Resource Library... here's all I could find about the subject:
In that time the fleets of the Númenóreans darkened the sea upon the west of the land, and they were like an archipelago of a thousand isles; their masts were as a forest upon the mountains, and their sails like a brooding cloud; and their banners were golden and black. And all things waited upon the word of Ar-Pharazôn....
The Silmarillion, Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age
Hope this helps!
- Barbara
Re: Standard or banner of kings of Numenor
Hmm, golden and black. (And, duh, I should have known you would have covered that topic in the research library. You have just about everything there.) That leaves the exact image/mark itself up for grabs, doesn't it? So, what would be proper symbology for them, particularly Pharazon?
Given that he had just torched Nimloth, I doubt it was the White Tree. What about a many-rayed star, given the descent from Earendil and having followed a star to reach Numenor? Anyone have an objection to that?
Ang
Re: Standard or banner of kings of Numenor
Not everything.......................... not yet..... *Musssst add more, Preciousssss, mussssst add more....*
Hmm, golden and black. ... That leaves the exact image/mark itself up for grabs, doesn't it?
Yup! Tolkien can be soooo maddeningly vague at times....
Given that he had just torched Nimloth, I doubt it was the White Tree. What about a many-rayed star, given the descent from Earendil and having followed a star to reach Numenor? Anyone have an objection to that?
No objection here.... I think it's a great idea! Added: Not only for the reason you said, but also because Númenor itself is shaped like a star....
- Barbara
Re: Standard or banner of kings of Numenor
Re: Standard or banner of kings of Numenor
If left to my own devices (no pun intended), I was thinking a full moon over a fountain, but that seems a bit complex for a princedom (compare to Rohan's horse or Dol Amroth's swan and ship). Any help here would be greatly appreciated!
Re: Standard or banner of kings of Numenor
Possibilities:
Modified tree and a crescent moon. You could use a stylised version of some tree common in Ithilien, rather than the White Tree. Or just the tree by itself.
White Horse and crescent moon - I assume here that you are talking about a device for Ithilien once it becomes Faramir's realm. I do not think that it would be out of character for him to honour his wife in this way.
Stylised athelas leaf
Tree and tower (to stand for Emyn Arnen)
I suggest a crescent moon simply because I find a crescent more easily identifiable as signifiying the moon.
Re: Standard or banner of kings of Numenor
I am thinking about a crescent moon (for the same reasons Anna mentions edited to add and because of the shape of the land) and the three stars from the seal of the Stewards mentioned in UT.
What I have not resolved yet is the layout and the colours.
White - for White Company and the White of the Banner of the Stewards.
And probably green - in honour of the "Garden of Gondor" and perhaps also of the home of its Lady?
If you like the image, feel free to use it!
Imhiriel
Re: Standard or banner of kings of Numenor
I haven't found anything in canon for Ithilien, either, but I heartily agree with using a moon as at least part of the device, since Ithilien means Moon-land. And I, too, believe that a crescent moon is more immediately recognizable at a glance in heraldry.
- Barbara
