If I could choose, I would pick the extended life of the Dunedain; the ability to choose when you die, provided you aren´t killed, sounds like something I could get behind a lot easier than never-ending life.
The dunedain didn't get to choose it wss only the family of elros and that's because they had a really special heritage they was part valar part maia and part elf and human the dunedain lived about 350 years and the royal family was four hundred
Same. Living long lives is something not many people get to enjoy these days. Eternal life seems to be a fairly lonely existence. Like what Arwen said to Aragorn "I'd rather share one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone"
Nah, I'd like to live forever. Sure, it would hurt outliving your wife and children and everything you knew, but after several more centuries you will have forgotten they ever existed anyway. As long as you had eternal youth it would just like a single lifetime, with people coming and going, as that would be all that your brain would contain anyway.
@@nonnayerbusiness7704 Even if we never aged I don’t really think humans are meant to live forever. Our minds would likely grow weary eventually. Mythical elves are simply made from different stuff than we are never having to deal with disease or the complications of the mind that come with being human especially after all the experiences and even hardships of a long life being mortal. Their brains are built different. If men were immortal but had the same qualities of mortal men living forever would probably eventually drive us towards a level of unnatural mental loopiness as time stretches on. We would grow mentally tired.
I would choose the elvish lifespan because I would like to have all the time to study and learn as much as I could before I would have to sail into the undying lands. Also being able to have elvish abilities on top of the learning would be awesome as well!
Immortality is a curse though. Think about it, you will reach a time where you will literally forget your name and your loved ones. Numenorians had the best deal.
I would choose a life of the Atani/Edain/Numenorian/Dunedain, living a full long life of enjoyment and learning then ultimately giving back the gift as a choice when I want to. It is better than an immortal life bound to Arda that always ever seems sad and longing for release or the short life of the common man filled with uncertainty of what end might come. The Numenorean span and choice for when to leave is what I've always told people as the ideal way for me to live and go, then I wouldn't be bound to the short life of 50-110 that we have where we often rush to learn within 20 years, work for another 30-40 years, then die not having enough of the joys and stability that so often plague humanity. How long would I like to live? Perhaps 250 to 500 years like most of the Royal Numenoreans before the downfall.
I would pick the Numenorean Lifespan because I'm not that interested in being immortal. I'd like to die one day. Not now, but some time later in the future when it comes to me
5:34 - Forgetting about his son, Eldarion. We don't have exact dates, but he became King in the year 120 of the Fourth Age "The New Shadow" was set about 100 years into his reign (Obviously, an abandoned concept). Unless we think Aragorn and Arwen started having children many many years into their marriage, it's clear Eldarion would have lived a long life as well.
Even if he lived long to thrice the life of the common folk, his off-springs would have wed more and more into the common folk. Unless there was widespread polyamoury and polygamy among the purer bloodlines, the Dunedain would never really be able to replenish to the numbers necessary for retaining long life among the peoples.
Fair point, but let's also not forget that the influence of Arwen being full Elven would probably have an impact as well, so it's fair to assume that any offspring born of Aragorn and Arwen would be the best possible genetic specimens in Middle Earth in the Fourth Age in terms of longevity of life, specimens probably not found anywhere else in Middle Earth at that time or afterwards.
@@whtbobwntsbobget Numenorians weren't really horndogs, especially the royal house. This is quire evident with Tar-Aldarion (I think) who separated from the mother of his child cause he loved the sea more.
@@chrisvb4387 yeah but Aragorn and Arwen loved each other for such a long time before they were allowed to marry so I think they started immediately to have kids
The lifespan of the Dunedain wasn't one tied to the purity of their blood - Tolkien later clarified (Or retconned, depending on your perspective) that the decline of their lifespans and grace wasn't due to them mixing with 'lesser men', but in the slow withdrawal of their divine gifts by Middle Earth itself - the folly of Numenor against the Valar was what started this decline, and it was proven that purity of blood would still not preserve it. For further proof, Aragorn and his son lived to be 210 years old and 219 years old respectively before dying of old age, but Elendil lived 322 years (And was cut down in his fighting prime in battle) and Elros himself lived 500 years. Their bloodline was pure, but their lifespan was still diminished. Traitors to Numenor at one point rebelled against a rightful king who was of mixed blood, being both of the Dunedain and the Northmen - they hastened the fall of Numenor. But the king in question proved both wise and long-lived, and the slow decline of the lifespans of Numenoreans was ultimately completely unaffected by this, as it had been carrying on both before and after him at the same pace.
You have such comfortable voices. Absolutely amazing videos. I get swallowed up by excitement. Keep up the amazing job. I've subscribed to the channel Good Blessings from Norway
I am sure we all got notified at the same time. I guess it's like anything in life. When you are really in a pinch, you find out who your real friends and fans are.
We appreciate the support 🙏 I doubt we will ever achieve the same following we had before. But that doesn't matter, it's all about having more like minded Tolkien fans to share our passion with 😊
@@TheBrokenSword Just keep grinding away, young men. Remember, at one time, you had this few number of subs on HotA and you probably didn't think a couple hundred thousand was possible. I think it is possible again for the same reason. Make a product that everyone wants and they will eventually find it.😁
You're spot on when you say that an immortal life sounds like the obvious choice but we need look no further than the words of the elves themselves to see how awful immortality would be. Galadriel calls her people's fight with Sauron 'the long defeat'. Elrond says of his long life "I have seen three ages in the West of the world, and many defeats, and many fruitless victories". Here we see two of the wisest and most powerful elves in Middle-earth speaking about the longevity of their race and their words are extremely fatalistic. The best days of the elves are long gone and now they just linger or, as Lady Galadriel says, they "forget, and be forgotten". Men, with their relatively fleeting lives, understand that tomorrow isn't a certainty so they live their lives in such a way that they can lie on their deathbed knowing that they truly experienced their years. The elves don't have that luxury.
Plus the Elves' lives are tied to the world. The world is destined to die and the Elves with it. The Elves have no afterlife at all. Men however after death, their souls can go beyond and venture into the Cosmos. That's why Death is called the Gift of Men, it's not the end but a continuation of the soul.
@@Vic-pg4rg I thought that when elves die their souls go to Valinor after being judged by Mandos. I'm a bit hazy on this detail but I do remember something about the judgement of Mandos deciding their fate. Which is why some, like Glorfindel, are "reincarnated" for want of a better word, because the death of the body was so selfless and honourable.
@@GerryBolger You're not wrong but still everything that I have said is true. Here: lotr.fandom.com/wiki/Gift_of_Men lotr.fandom.com/wiki/Dagor_Dagorath
Well, at my age I have more days behind me than ahead of me so I'm going to go with a life span of Elros. 500 plus years should give me time to experience a lot more than 80 (give or take).
It's tough to know how immortality would actually feel without any elves to ask. Clearly the best of both worlds would be nice though. Immortality but with the option to go peacefully.
Elf for sure .. I used to read Anne Rice and vampires also had long lives that they chose to end many times by walking in the light as they would become crazy from too much living and their surroundings changing. While that would be indeed a very melancholic life that could lead to madnesses I would still prefer it.
I think Vampires suffered as all around had mortal lives and they did not, making them drift and be out of phase. If all are Elven around one, I suspect the feelings would be different.
Imagine being young forever and how could that not be desirable? Asking this as someone who does not believe in an afterlife. Life if difficult and tumultuous, but is also full of wonder and mirth. If I could be in perfect health for an eternity, I'd take it without question.
Propably elvish or Numenorian lifespan, so you would have time to investigate every corner of Middle-Earth. Plus, if you are elf, you will go to Valinor after you die
The question, whether immortality is desirable for humans is one I believe Tolkien asked himself a lot, while writing on the stories that would become the Silmarilion. After his experiences during the war, I guess he must have been extremely troubled by pain and loss. When writing about the Edain it is said something like death was "Erú's gift" to them. So I think, Tolkien himself believed, that death is something like the driving force behind everything we accomplish in our short lives. The thing that gives life its meaning is its finiteness. Through the knowledge that our days once have to come to an end we can be motivated to leave a lasting legacy, using the time that is given us to achieve something not for ourselves but for those who come after us. Related to that I would go for the natural life span of a human, since I too believe that this is what makes existence worth it. If we were immortal, we would grow weary of our days and fade away like the Elves, who despite all their superiority become relatively meaningless after their "destiny" in middle earth is fulfilled. Mortality gives new generations their chance to shine, as soon as the elder step aside and pass on the torch.
Extended life would be my choice. Immortality has been called a curse by many academics and writers. I would have to agree. 2x a normal man's lifespan, seems just right IMO
I'm happy with the lifespan we have now. I feel like having a longer life would just overstay my welcome in a way. Plus it drives us more to accomplish great things in a short time.
I choose the lifetime of the Race of Men. People usually want to live longer for hedonistic or selfish reasons, yet the pursuit of that longer lifespan and what it enables to those of a self centered nature tends to be the cause of tragedy and pain. I'm more than happy to live a limited lifespan, full and fulfilling, like Sam did.
Awesome video! Thank you very much for posting it. Could you do a video on specific battle that were exclusively fought by the Dunedain, and look at their leaders. Thank you.
Extended life hands down. For those familiar with the philosophies surrounding Immortality, such a never ending life would become a torment and not a blessing. And such a person would enter bouts of insanity as life itself would become meaningless since everything withers and dies except for you. Immortality would only be an option IF at any moment, one is allowed to end themselves. This way, knowing that their is an end gives one's life meaning and whenever immortality grows weary, we have the ability to end it all. As a human however, I think I would rather choose an extended lifespans, especially if my body can stay at most middle-age until my last day. In such a time, I can love, live, laugh, learn and accomplish most of what I want to do out of life and I don't live long enough to become weary of it either. That's a win-win.
Give me the extended life of the royal Numenorean line. On another note can you do a video on the twin sons of Elrond, covering before the time they saved their mother from orcs up to the 4th age, as they remained in middle earth after their father left.
I think, in regards to the lifespan, I would choose the elf. However, I'd probably choose a warriors life (an active one unlike their isolationist tedencies) that way its living on the edge of immortality. I certainly could live forever, but the hazards of my lifestyle make it a gamble.
I enjoy these videos what if the witch-king of angmar was free from Sauron and commanded the Nazgul what would happen would the ringwraiths rule Middle Earth
@@Enerdhil I think that term better describes the Dwarves, especially the line of Durin with Durin being reborn seven times with the memories and knowledge of all Durins before him
@@johnnyedelhoff5866 The terms I gave you are the common ones used on these Tolkien comment boards. As for the Durin's, I have always thought they were different dwarves with the same character, disposition, leadership qualities, etc. Always a "Durin" would come when the Dwarves most needed him. You are the first person I have noticed that says it is actual reincarnation
Your profile image looks the same as the one for the RUclips channel men of the West so I thought that I had already subscribed to you but that's just me LOL
Why is Aragon the last men blessed with the true extended dunedain lifespan? His son has half-numenorean half-elves blood. Shouldn't he live longer? Or at least the same as his father? Isn't the numenorean line restored with Aragon and Arwen marriage?
I agree. I also think the line of the Steward's lived to be at least 120 years. So If Eldarion married Faramir and Eowen's daughter, that child should live to around 200 years. Life expectancy should not drop to 70 years in one generation, any how.
@@johnnyedelhoff5866 The line of the Stewards is close to the line of Elendil. They all trace back to Elros. So I would expect Faramir to live to be maybe 120 or more. And his daughter would live to be a little less than that.
The Dundedain/Numenor sounds good. I get to live a longer life and thus get to enjoy the world more(hopefully) while staying in a good physical state the entire time. Then I would be able to feel when the end is coming and go peacefully before something like alzheimer's takes root.
I agree with you about being immortal. Look how many older people now are lost and bitter because the world is leaving them behind -- and then multiply that by a thousand. I guess if everyone around you was immortal too that wouldn't happen, but nothing would ever change. Our society moves on because our children create new things and have different values. A society of immortals would basically be a society of really old people, and who wants that?
I'd take an immortal life only because I know I would never get bored with it. There's always something new to do and learn and I never seem to find the time to get around to everything.
Why would Aragorn have been the last with an extended life span? You mention that he restored the splendour of his house by marrying Arwen, and I struggle to see why their son would not have enjoyed an even longer life span than Aragorn.
I would choose the Gift of Men. A normal life span as lesser men in middle earth. It is better to enjoy limited lifespan but using it wisely rather than longer lifespan/immortality which only make me weary. After all, listening to Gandalf explanation about after life in ROTK movie, I also don’t think it’s bad.
Holy shit. I carve stone necklaces. I carved a sword, then stopped thinking about the design and put a DNA spiral over it... It looks exactly like your logo. You got a PO box? 2 minutes and I'll change it into exactly your logo. Its got a flower on the back of it, so I can't do anything with it anyway.
I have always had a thought on the ending of the long life of pure Numenorians. The son of Arwen and Aragorn would share a Numenorian and Elvish genealogy so surely would also have just as long a life span as Aragorn?
I would choose the gift of man, maybe with a numenorean life span to experience the world as much as possible. Eru was never cruel so the gift must be important and if nothing else it is interesting while we know the fate of the elves.
Agreed. I think I would become apathetic to life as an elf with immortality. That said, I think an ordinary lifespan is too short. I would like to think an extended life as a human would strike a nice balance. A long life to experience as much as possible before the gift of man takes you, however, not so long that the last time you had a genuinely new experience was 10,000 years in your past!
It always impressed me how Tolkien could hand-wave away the details of the construction of engineering marvels like Orthanc and Erebor. No details of how the dwarves hollowed out Mount Erebor or where the excavated rock went or how it was transported. No details of why a tower like Orthanc requires no maintenance whatsoever. Did the dwarves and Numenoreans use explosives? If they did why weren't those explosives repurposed for military weapons?
It's so true! I have trouble picturing Elves building Gondolin. Hewing the stones from the mountains. Hauling them to and up Amon Gwareth. Good thing they had like a couple hundred years to finish it.
Yeah, well the Egyptians built the pyramids of Giza and the Valley of the Kings, so I'm confidant that the (likely more intelligent) elves and dwarves would have been able to accomplish such feats of construction. IMO of course. I love the line from Sam in Moria when he says something like "it must've taken thousands of dwarves working for hundreds of years to complete this," as he is marveling and in awe of the disheveled and abandoned Dwarowdelf; much to the dismay of Gimli who quickly corrects Sam's "darksome holes" comment haha.
@@ramsayburch6738 The Egyptians themselves didn't build the Pyramids, they had slaves do that. The Elves themselves had to have built Tirion, Gondolin, etc themselves. It is as if Tolkien himself would do that kind of physical labor. I have trouble visualizing it. Maybe Amazon Prime can show some of the building of Ost-in-Ethil.
@@maxmercer1931 no they didn't their army wasn't big enough to control the number of slaves required to complete such a complex task. I thought it was obvious in the 21st century how the pyramids were built. Apparently some just can't wrap their heads around how all the ancient structures were built. 👽
They are a high race of men descendant from Elros the half Man half Elvf , so they have some of the Elves features of standing tall and living a long life and looking majestic, to the extend that at some point of Time their power and civilisation exceeded that of the Elves , in the days of Numenor
Whe I had to choose, I wouldn't pick immortality. It is tempting, but I think it gets boring and frustrating, especially seeing others die around you while you just have to wander the world forever...that's more a curse than a blessing. And I think that's the reason why the elves could go to the undying lands. Immortality is pretty tough in a normal world with its flaws. And a paradise like the undying lands is literally the only chance to endure eternity without becoming insane... For me, I'd pick the lifespan of an early numenorian man like Elros. He lived for hundreds of years (500 if I'm not mistaken). This extended lifespan would be perfect. You could live basically long enought to do everything you want with never having to wory about time. But when you are tired of live itself, you can die and rest in peace.
Life is so short but I guess I would pick an extended life time. at some point the sadness of dealing with watching so many loved ones die would be hard to bare
Ironically the Princes of Dol Amroth were distant kin to Elendil and descendants of Elros. So of all the dunedain to bring up as not descended from Beor, they are not a good example. Even the stewards of Gondor were of royal origin. That is why they could remain ruling stewards for so long. Some of Gondor`s other nobility or Theoden`s mother, or many in the Grey company, or the many subjects of the princes of Dol Amroth inhabiting Belfalas were not of royal descent and still dunedain. There were many dunedain not descended from Beor, most are simply not mentioned by name, as they lack relevance to the story that way. It makes sense though for the higher born to share in royal blood, as the House of Anarion had very likely political marriages among their own, and before that distant members of the Numenorian royal family were granted positions such as the Princedom of Belfalas. In fact, the Interregnum following Earnur came about not due to a lack of claimants, but because none were in close enough approximation to the ruling line of Earnur, that their claim could pass unopposed by another distant relation. To avoid a war of succession, they continued operating "business-as-usual", hence the stewards acting as regent, which they could always double down on as being a temporary role prolonged by the constant state of emergency brought on by there being no king and Mordor breathing down their throat.
I often wonder how the Rangers of the north maintained any kind of cultural identity and cohesion over the centuries - where did they live, who did they marry, how’d they raise their kids? Other than Aragorn’s ancestral line in Rivendale? Did Rangers just live normal lives in Bree and Archet and Staddle, but sneak off for a weekend of training like the National Guard? If they only wondered the woods how did they find wives and reproduce?
My guess is the Rangers might of had dwellings where the women and children resided while the men went abroad though unknown to the “lesser men”, even Barliman Butterbur wouldn’t know where the Rangers reside. Certainly not enough to repopulate Arnor but definitely keep their families alive. Think of Turin and the outlaws in Mim’s hill, the Rangers might have dwelt in hidden areas in Eriador. Not necessarily hills mind you but certainly secret dwellings.
In all of this lore about the Dunedain and men in general, where do FEMALE Numenorians fit in? How can Dunedain numbers possibly increase without someone to mate with and bear their children? This has always troubled me about life in Middle Earth.
Well I'm kind of stuck between the elf in the dunidine if I can get a cross between the two of them as far as the lifespan that'd be nice but living as long as an elf does or have the long life span of a dunidine either one would work. later
I am satisfied with the length of life of a common man. Considering the aspect of Quantum Physics: that nearly an infinite number of parallel universes co-exist, and in many we are represented as ourselves, if the soul of man is a single entity, then our fate is to be returned to our conception upon the death of one life and enter into another, parallel existence, in which we are given a body, male or female, depending upon the joining of the elements provided by our parents. Thus, as a man, I have nearly infinite life.
That's not how LOTR works go Read the wiki and don't assumptions like that becuase what you said dose not exit in lor dof the rings and its just theory
The immortal life of an elf so I could continue to learn more of the universe. There is so much out there that I don't know that I would ever get bored of living.
What if Bilbo lost the ring on the way to the Lonely Mountain? Gandalf may take it not knowing what it is, the dwarves may betray eachother for it, maybe beorn finds it!
I had ignorantly thought they lived Thousands of years as Elves live Hundreds of Thousands of years, not 210, but I've always Loved Elves. I would be an Elven Scientist and Craftsman.
The Dunedain are the descendants of the faithful Numenoreans who survived the downfall of Numenor and go to Middle Earth in exile where they establish the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
If I could choose, I would pick the extended life of the Dunedain; the ability to choose when you die, provided you aren´t killed, sounds like something I could get behind a lot easier than never-ending life.
The dunedain didn't get to choose it wss only the family of elros and that's because they had a really special heritage they was part valar part maia and part elf and human the dunedain lived about 350 years and the royal family was four hundred
Last time I was this early, Melkor was still singing on key. 😧
Ha noice 👍
😂😂
Imma use that one day
That’s hilarious
Melkor always sings off tune and causes discord. He is always booed off stage.
I'd like to live long enough to get things done, but not too long that I get bored. Probably the life of the Dunedain.
Same.
Living long lives is something not many people get to enjoy these days. Eternal life seems to be a fairly lonely existence. Like what Arwen said to Aragorn "I'd rather share one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone"
Nah, I'd like to live forever. Sure, it would hurt outliving your wife and children and everything you knew, but after several more centuries you will have forgotten they ever existed anyway. As long as you had eternal youth it would just like a single lifetime, with people coming and going, as that would be all that your brain would contain anyway.
@@nonnayerbusiness7704 Even if we never aged I don’t really think humans are meant to live forever. Our minds would likely grow weary eventually. Mythical elves are simply made from different stuff than we are never having to deal with disease or the complications of the mind that come with being human especially after all the experiences and even hardships of a long life being mortal. Their brains are built different. If men were immortal but had the same qualities of mortal men living forever would probably eventually drive us towards a level of unnatural mental loopiness as time stretches on. We would grow mentally tired.
I would choose a lifespan along the lines of Elros, 1st King of Numenor.
I would choose a lifespan along the lines of Milliardär, 1st King of all that is real in this World.
same here
I would choose the elvish lifespan because I would like to have all the time to study and learn as much as I could before I would have to sail into the undying lands. Also being able to have elvish abilities on top of the learning would be awesome as well!
Immortality is a curse though. Think about it, you will reach a time where you will literally forget your name and your loved ones. Numenorians had the best deal.
@@guneytopal1713 imagine knowing some annoying people for thousands of years, now that would piss me off 😂
I would prefer to have a lifespan similar to the Numernorians
I would choose a life of the Atani/Edain/Numenorian/Dunedain, living a full long life of enjoyment and learning then ultimately giving back the gift as a choice when I want to. It is better than an immortal life bound to Arda that always ever seems sad and longing for release or the short life of the common man filled with uncertainty of what end might come.
The Numenorean span and choice for when to leave is what I've always told people as the ideal way for me to live and go, then I wouldn't be bound to the short life of 50-110 that we have where we often rush to learn within 20 years, work for another 30-40 years, then die not having enough of the joys and stability that so often plague humanity.
How long would I like to live? Perhaps 250 to 500 years like most of the Royal Numenoreans before the downfall.
Precisely explained and 100% agreed.
Perfectly put
You guys have by far the best knowledge of Tolkien/Middle Earth of any channel I've found on youtube.
I would pick the Numenorean Lifespan because I'm not that interested in being immortal. I'd like to die one day. Not now, but some time later in the future when it comes to me
The perfect lifespan is the one of the Dwarf :-D
How long do they live
@@MJ-lz7cq Around 250-350 years
@@JudgeMagikarp wow that’s long it sure is perfectb
5:34 - Forgetting about his son, Eldarion. We don't have exact dates, but he became King in the year 120 of the Fourth Age "The New Shadow" was set about 100 years into his reign (Obviously, an abandoned concept). Unless we think Aragorn and Arwen started having children many many years into their marriage, it's clear Eldarion would have lived a long life as well.
Even if he lived long to thrice the life of the common folk, his off-springs would have wed more and more into the common folk. Unless there was widespread polyamoury and polygamy among the purer bloodlines, the Dunedain would never really be able to replenish to the numbers necessary for retaining long life among the peoples.
Fair point, but let's also not forget that the influence of Arwen being full Elven would probably have an impact as well, so it's fair to assume that any offspring born of Aragorn and Arwen would be the best possible genetic specimens in Middle Earth in the Fourth Age in terms of longevity of life, specimens probably not found anywhere else in Middle Earth at that time or afterwards.
Lol there's NO CHANCE Aragorn waited to have kids with Arwen. If I were him I'd be making babies with her the instant she said "I do"!!!!
@@whtbobwntsbobget Numenorians weren't really horndogs, especially the royal house. This is quire evident with Tar-Aldarion (I think) who separated from the mother of his child cause he loved the sea more.
@@chrisvb4387 yeah but Aragorn and Arwen loved each other for such a long time before they were allowed to marry so I think they started immediately to have kids
Extended life, but not unending would be perfect.
Forever is a long to contemplate all the things one has done wrong.
You know what, you're right. I SHOULD subscribe. You guys have good content and I usually listen to it when it comes across my recommendations.
Thanks! 😊
Found something new to listen to while going to sleep. Thanks homie
The lifespan of the Dunedain wasn't one tied to the purity of their blood - Tolkien later clarified (Or retconned, depending on your perspective) that the decline of their lifespans and grace wasn't due to them mixing with 'lesser men', but in the slow withdrawal of their divine gifts by Middle Earth itself - the folly of Numenor against the Valar was what started this decline, and it was proven that purity of blood would still not preserve it. For further proof, Aragorn and his son lived to be 210 years old and 219 years old respectively before dying of old age, but Elendil lived 322 years (And was cut down in his fighting prime in battle) and Elros himself lived 500 years. Their bloodline was pure, but their lifespan was still diminished.
Traitors to Numenor at one point rebelled against a rightful king who was of mixed blood, being both of the Dunedain and the Northmen - they hastened the fall of Numenor. But the king in question proved both wise and long-lived, and the slow decline of the lifespans of Numenoreans was ultimately completely unaffected by this, as it had been carrying on both before and after him at the same pace.
I think their long lives is due to their mixture with Elvish blood as Elros was half Elven half Man
If was a Dunedain, I’d be able to pay off a house. And maybe save enough money for another one.
idiot … you would be a KING
no offense
Great video! I have always found the Dunedain really interesting, thanks for putting this together
Glad you enjoyed it! :)
Good telling, illustrations and editing, also like the background music. Thank you.
You have such comfortable voices. Absolutely amazing videos. I get swallowed up by excitement. Keep up the amazing job. I've subscribed to the channel
Good Blessings from Norway
I resubbed as soon as this new channel was up. Don't know what is taking everyone else so long.
I am sure we all got notified at the same time. I guess it's like anything in life. When you are really in a pinch, you find out who your real friends and fans are.
We appreciate the support 🙏 I doubt we will ever achieve the same following we had before. But that doesn't matter, it's all about having more like minded Tolkien fans to share our passion with 😊
@@TheBrokenSword
Just keep grinding away, young men. Remember, at one time, you had this few number of subs on HotA and you probably didn't think a couple hundred thousand was possible. I think it is possible again for the same reason. Make a product that everyone wants and they will eventually find it.😁
You're spot on when you say that an immortal life sounds like the obvious choice but we need look no further than the words of the elves themselves to see how awful immortality would be.
Galadriel calls her people's fight with Sauron 'the long defeat'. Elrond says of his long life "I have seen three ages in the West of the world, and many defeats, and many fruitless victories".
Here we see two of the wisest and most powerful elves in Middle-earth speaking about the longevity of their race and their words are extremely fatalistic. The best days of the elves are long gone and now they just linger or, as Lady Galadriel says, they "forget, and be forgotten".
Men, with their relatively fleeting lives, understand that tomorrow isn't a certainty so they live their lives in such a way that they can lie on their deathbed knowing that they truly experienced their years. The elves don't have that luxury.
Great comment and my thinking is along these lines as well.
Plus the Elves' lives are tied to the world. The world is destined to die and the Elves with it. The Elves have no afterlife at all. Men however after death, their souls can go beyond and venture into the Cosmos. That's why Death is called the Gift of Men, it's not the end but a continuation of the soul.
@@Vic-pg4rg I thought that when elves die their souls go to Valinor after being judged by Mandos. I'm a bit hazy on this detail but I do remember something about the judgement of Mandos deciding their fate. Which is why some, like Glorfindel, are "reincarnated" for want of a better word, because the death of the body was so selfless and honourable.
@@GerryBolger You're not wrong but still everything that I have said is true. Here: lotr.fandom.com/wiki/Gift_of_Men
lotr.fandom.com/wiki/Dagor_Dagorath
Great insight my friend I never looked at it that way 💯💯
Well, at my age I have more days behind me than ahead of me so I'm going to go with a life span of Elros. 500 plus years should give me time to experience a lot more than 80 (give or take).
Started watching and I thought "this sounds a lot like the 6th ranger". Whataya know, it is him.
It's tough to know how immortality would actually feel without any elves to ask.
Clearly the best of both worlds would be nice though. Immortality but with the option to go peacefully.
I think ~300 years would be long enough. Immortality might break a human mind. Glad you made this vid!
Any chance of a video covering the different realms in middle earth e.g Beleriand, Rhun or Mordor etc.
Elf for sure .. I used to read Anne Rice and vampires also had long lives that they chose to end many times by walking in the light as they would become crazy from too much living and their surroundings changing. While that would be indeed a very melancholic life that could lead to madnesses I would still prefer it.
Aye at least you are keepin it 100 lol
I think Vampires suffered as all around had mortal lives and they did not, making them drift and be out of phase. If all are Elven around one, I suspect the feelings would be different.
I would choose an extended life, living as long as Aragorn.
Y not immortality like the elves ?
@@gunther9918 I have no interest in living forever.
Imagine being young forever and how could that not be desirable? Asking this as someone who does not believe in an afterlife. Life if difficult and tumultuous, but is also full of wonder and mirth. If I could be in perfect health for an eternity, I'd take it without question.
Considering I’m a fan of Warhammer 40k, I would say that having an extra century or two to do stuff sounds really nice!
got called out for being unsubscribed, watched 5 or 6 videos on here so I'll sub.
Nice chanel man, great job!
Appreciate it!
4:40 Gondor looks kind of like Noah's ark was redesigned to be a cruise ship just before it landed on mt. Arrat.
Propably elvish or Numenorian lifespan, so you would have time to investigate every corner of Middle-Earth. Plus, if you are elf, you will go to Valinor after you die
The question, whether immortality is desirable for humans is one I believe Tolkien asked himself a lot, while writing on the stories that would become the Silmarilion. After his experiences during the war, I guess he must have been extremely troubled by pain and loss. When writing about the Edain it is said something like death was "Erú's gift" to them. So I think, Tolkien himself believed, that death is something like the driving force behind everything we accomplish in our short lives. The thing that gives life its meaning is its finiteness. Through the knowledge that our days once have to come to an end we can be motivated to leave a lasting legacy, using the time that is given us to achieve something not for ourselves but for those who come after us. Related to that I would go for the natural life span of a human, since I too believe that this is what makes existence worth it. If we were immortal, we would grow weary of our days and fade away like the Elves, who despite all their superiority become relatively meaningless after their "destiny" in middle earth is fulfilled. Mortality gives new generations their chance to shine, as soon as the elder step aside and pass on the torch.
Т
Thanks for the quality content guys!
Extended life would be my choice. Immortality has been called a curse by many academics and writers. I would have to agree. 2x a normal man's lifespan, seems just right IMO
Could you do a lore video of Minas anor and why it was important to Gondor
Just subscribed love the new channel
I'm happy with the lifespan we have now. I feel like having a longer life would just overstay my welcome in a way. Plus it drives us more to accomplish great things in a short time.
cool vid Jake could you do one on the beasts of middle earth good and bad a DUNEDAIN
Thanks! Yeah we can hopefully get to something like that soon! :)
@@TheBrokenSword thats awesome
I choose the lifetime of the Race of Men. People usually want to live longer for hedonistic or selfish reasons, yet the pursuit of that longer lifespan and what it enables to those of a self centered nature tends to be the cause of tragedy and pain. I'm more than happy to live a limited lifespan, full and fulfilling, like Sam did.
Wish the Druadan had a bit more story to them, I love any kind of primitive lifestyle
Awesome video! Thank you very much for posting it. Could you do a video on specific battle that were exclusively fought by the Dunedain, and look at their leaders. Thank you.
Extended life hands down. For those familiar with the philosophies surrounding Immortality, such a never ending life would become a torment and not a blessing. And such a person would enter bouts of insanity as life itself would become meaningless since everything withers and dies except for you. Immortality would only be an option IF at any moment, one is allowed to end themselves. This way, knowing that their is an end gives one's life meaning and whenever immortality grows weary, we have the ability to end it all. As a human however, I think I would rather choose an extended lifespans, especially if my body can stay at most middle-age until my last day. In such a time, I can love, live, laugh, learn and accomplish most of what I want to do out of life and I don't live long enough to become weary of it either. That's a win-win.
Give me the extended life of the royal Numenorean line. On another note can you do a video on the twin sons of Elrond, covering before the time they saved their mother from orcs up to the 4th age, as they remained in middle earth after their father left.
I think, in regards to the lifespan, I would choose the elf.
However, I'd probably choose a warriors life (an active one unlike their isolationist tedencies) that way its living on the edge of immortality. I certainly could live forever, but the hazards of my lifestyle make it a gamble.
I enjoy these videos what if the witch-king of angmar was free from Sauron and commanded the Nazgul what would happen would the ringwraiths rule Middle Earth
I like this question! 🤔
Some of the Greatest Elves lived short mortal lives. Feanor, Glorfindel (1st age) Finrod, etc.. I chose a mortal life.
Great point! It is what you can do with the time you have, not long you have.
Well Elves never really die. They can "respawn" like Glorfindel
@@johnnyedelhoff5866
I think the term is reembody or reembodiment, usually into their own family line.
@@Enerdhil I think that term better describes the Dwarves, especially the line of Durin with Durin being reborn seven times with the memories and knowledge of all Durins before him
@@johnnyedelhoff5866
The terms I gave you are the common ones used on these Tolkien comment boards. As for the Durin's, I have always thought they were different dwarves with the same character, disposition, leadership qualities, etc. Always a "Durin" would come when the Dwarves most needed him. You are the first person I have noticed that says it is actual reincarnation
Your profile image looks the same as the one for the RUclips channel men of the West so I thought that I had already subscribed to you but that's just me LOL
So it is done , the channel has made it to the second music of Ainur !
🙏
Why is Aragon the last men blessed with the true extended dunedain lifespan? His son has half-numenorean half-elves blood. Shouldn't he live longer? Or at least the same as his father? Isn't the numenorean line restored with Aragon and Arwen marriage?
I agree. I also think the line of the Steward's lived to be at least 120 years. So If Eldarion married Faramir and Eowen's daughter, that child should live to around 200 years. Life expectancy should not drop to 70 years in one generation, any how.
@@Enerdhil a child of Faramir and Eowyn would be Half-Rohirrim and they had "normal" lifespans
@@johnnyedelhoff5866
The line of the Stewards is close to the line of Elendil. They all trace back to Elros. So I would expect Faramir to live to be maybe 120 or more. And his daughter would live to be a little less than that.
I would choose the extended life of the Dunedain for as Freddie Mercury sang "Who wants to live forever when love must die."
I'd take the extended life of the Dúnedain without hesitation. Immortality of the Eldar has too many unknown consequences.
The Dundedain/Numenor sounds good. I get to live a longer life and thus get to enjoy the world more(hopefully) while staying in a good physical state the entire time. Then I would be able to feel when the end is coming and go peacefully before something like alzheimer's takes root.
I agree with you about being immortal. Look how many older people now are lost and bitter because the world is leaving them behind -- and then multiply that by a thousand. I guess if everyone around you was immortal too that wouldn't happen, but nothing would ever change. Our society moves on because our children create new things and have different values. A society of immortals would basically be a society of really old people, and who wants that?
I'd take an immortal life only because I know I would never get bored with it. There's always something new to do and learn and I never seem to find the time to get around to everything.
great videó🙏
thank you very much 😇🤝
Dunedain Rangers; The definition of "Spec Ops".
Being immortal but only if I wasn't the only one and I had access to learn tons of knowledge
Why would Aragorn have been the last with an extended life span? You mention that he restored the splendour of his house by marrying Arwen, and I struggle to see why their son would not have enjoyed an even longer life span than Aragorn.
Please can you add the titles of the arts in the left corner for the next videos
Do you have a video for newbies to learn about middle earth I'm a little overwhelmed
If I could choose I would go with the extended life. So you have all the time to see everything there is to see in the world.
I would choose the Gift of Men. A normal life span as lesser men in middle earth. It is better to enjoy limited lifespan but using it wisely rather than longer lifespan/immortality which only make me weary. After all, listening to Gandalf explanation about after life in ROTK movie, I also don’t think it’s bad.
What's the song used in the video?
Holy shit. I carve stone necklaces. I carved a sword, then stopped thinking about the design and put a DNA spiral over it... It looks exactly like your logo. You got a PO box? 2 minutes and I'll change it into exactly your logo. Its got a flower on the back of it, so I can't do anything with it anyway.
I have always had a thought on the ending of the long life of pure Numenorians. The son of Arwen and Aragorn would share a Numenorian and Elvish genealogy so surely would also have just as long a life span as Aragorn?
I remember reading about their son in some of tolkiens works, not sure if its the silmarillion or not. Eiether way definitely something to look into
Arwen is Aragorns grandmother
Probably not due the waning of the Dunedain’s long lifespan. Even Aragorn said he was the last of the Numenoreans.
6:49 who says I'm not already immortal?
Death has yet to prove me wrong!
Good Point
Extended Numenor life as a Ranger I would choose.
"They were tall, pale skinned."
Let Me guess who'll play Dunedains in upcoming Amazon series, did you guess it? Yes, diversity.
It's a fucking fantasy of western Europe you Jack off
@@simongillaspie3265 You're so polite, atacking completely unknown person with your keyboard, a true hero of old. May your parents be proud.
I would be an elf to enjoy the long life and journey across to the undieing lands.
Extended life. Two many places and experience’s.😊
I would choose the gift of man, maybe with a numenorean life span to experience the world as much as possible. Eru was never cruel so the gift must be important and if nothing else it is interesting while we know the fate of the elves.
Agreed. I think I would become apathetic to life as an elf with immortality. That said, I think an ordinary lifespan is too short.
I would like to think an extended life as a human would strike a nice balance. A long life to experience as much as possible before the gift of man takes you, however, not so long that the last time you had a genuinely new experience was 10,000 years in your past!
I would take being given the choice if I were born of a union between the two kindreds like Earendil of old.
It always impressed me how Tolkien could hand-wave away the details of the construction of engineering marvels like Orthanc and Erebor. No details of how the dwarves hollowed out Mount Erebor or where the excavated rock went or how it was transported. No details of why a tower like Orthanc requires no maintenance whatsoever. Did the dwarves and Numenoreans use explosives? If they did why weren't those explosives repurposed for military weapons?
It's so true! I have trouble picturing Elves building Gondolin. Hewing the stones from the mountains. Hauling them to and up Amon Gwareth. Good thing they had like a couple hundred years to finish it.
Yeah, well the Egyptians built the pyramids of Giza and the Valley of the Kings, so I'm confidant that the (likely more intelligent) elves and dwarves would have been able to accomplish such feats of construction. IMO of course. I love the line from Sam in Moria when he says something like "it must've taken thousands of dwarves working for hundreds of years to complete this," as he is marveling and in awe of the disheveled and abandoned Dwarowdelf; much to the dismay of Gimli who quickly corrects Sam's "darksome holes" comment haha.
@@ramsayburch6738 the Egyptians used countless slaves. Whom did the dwarves subjugate to build their grand projects? Whom did the Numenoreans?
@@ramsayburch6738
The Egyptians themselves didn't build the Pyramids, they had slaves do that. The Elves themselves had to have built Tirion, Gondolin, etc themselves. It is as if Tolkien himself would do that kind of physical labor. I have trouble visualizing it. Maybe Amazon Prime can show some of the building of Ost-in-Ethil.
@@maxmercer1931 no they didn't their army wasn't big enough to control the number of slaves required to complete such a complex task. I thought it was obvious in the 21st century how the pyramids were built. Apparently some just can't wrap their heads around how all the ancient structures were built. 👽
Nice video
You should cover the druedain
Ghan-buri-Ghan would be a great character study, but there is not much about him except in his conversations with the Theoden and Eomer.
They are a high race of men descendant from Elros the half Man half Elvf , so they have some of the Elves features of standing tall and living a long life and looking majestic, to the extend that at some point of Time their power and civilisation exceeded that of the Elves , in the days of Numenor
Whe I had to choose, I wouldn't pick immortality. It is tempting, but I think it gets boring and frustrating, especially seeing others die around you while you just have to wander the world forever...that's more a curse than a blessing. And I think that's the reason why the elves could go to the undying lands. Immortality is pretty tough in a normal world with its flaws. And a paradise like the undying lands is literally the only chance to endure eternity without becoming insane...
For me, I'd pick the lifespan of an early numenorian man like Elros. He lived for hundreds of years
(500 if I'm not mistaken). This extended lifespan would be perfect. You could live basically long enought to do everything you want with never having to wory about time. But when you are tired of live itself, you can die and rest in peace.
Life is so short but I guess I would pick an extended life time. at some point the sadness of dealing with watching so many loved ones die would be hard to bare
Ironically the Princes of Dol Amroth were distant kin to Elendil and descendants of Elros. So of all the dunedain to bring up as not descended from Beor, they are not a good example. Even the stewards of Gondor were of royal origin. That is why they could remain ruling stewards for so long.
Some of Gondor`s other nobility or Theoden`s mother, or many in the Grey company, or the many subjects of the princes of Dol Amroth inhabiting Belfalas were not of royal descent and still dunedain. There were many dunedain not descended from Beor, most are simply not mentioned by name, as they lack relevance to the story that way.
It makes sense though for the higher born to share in royal blood, as the House of Anarion had very likely political marriages among their own, and before that distant members of the Numenorian royal family were granted positions such as the Princedom of Belfalas. In fact, the Interregnum following Earnur came about not due to a lack of claimants, but because none were in close enough approximation to the ruling line of Earnur, that their claim could pass unopposed by another distant relation. To avoid a war of succession, they continued operating "business-as-usual", hence the stewards acting as regent, which they could always double down on as being a temporary role prolonged by the constant state of emergency brought on by there being no king and Mordor breathing down their throat.
I would live the life of a Black Numenorean and have dark sorcery extend my lifespan.
Subbed! Long live the heirs of Numenor!
Great vid👍🏻subbed
I would pick the elf life!
I often wonder how the Rangers of the north maintained any kind of cultural identity and cohesion over the centuries - where did they live, who did they marry, how’d they raise their kids? Other than Aragorn’s ancestral line in Rivendale? Did Rangers just live normal lives in Bree and Archet and Staddle, but sneak off for a weekend of training like the National Guard? If they only wondered the woods how did they find wives and reproduce?
My guess is the Rangers might of had dwellings where the women and children resided while the men went abroad though unknown to the “lesser men”, even Barliman Butterbur wouldn’t know where the Rangers reside. Certainly not enough to repopulate Arnor but definitely keep their families alive.
Think of Turin and the outlaws in Mim’s hill, the Rangers might have dwelt in hidden areas in Eriador. Not necessarily hills mind you but certainly secret dwellings.
I would the the Dunedain Lifespan they are awesome
In all of this lore about the Dunedain and men in general, where do FEMALE Numenorians fit in? How can Dunedain numbers possibly increase without someone to mate with and bear their children? This has always troubled me about life in Middle Earth.
Did the Dunedain help stop Sarumans invasion of the Shire?.
Boromir and Faramir were Gondorian Dunedain weren't they?
Well I'm kind of stuck between the elf in the dunidine if I can get a cross between the two of them as far as the lifespan that'd be nice but living as long as an elf does or have the long life span of a dunidine either one would work. later
I am satisfied with the length of life of a common man. Considering the aspect of Quantum Physics: that nearly an infinite number of parallel universes co-exist, and in many we are represented as ourselves, if the soul of man is a single entity, then our fate is to be returned to our conception upon the death of one life and enter into another, parallel existence, in which we are given a body, male or female, depending upon the joining of the elements provided by our parents. Thus, as a man, I have nearly infinite life.
That's not how LOTR works go Read the wiki and don't assumptions like that becuase what you said dose not exit in lor dof the rings and its just theory
The immortal life of an elf so I could continue to learn more of the universe. There is so much out there that I don't know that I would ever get bored of living.
What if Bilbo lost the ring on the way to the Lonely Mountain?
Gandalf may take it not knowing what it is, the dwarves may betray eachother for it, maybe beorn finds it!
It took me 2 seconds to hit that big red button
🙌😁
Good video
Thanks 😊
I love it!!
:D
Númenórean lifespan. Like you I'd get bored living for a very long time.
I had ignorantly thought they lived Thousands of years as Elves live Hundreds of Thousands of years, not 210, but I've always Loved Elves.
I would be an Elven Scientist and Craftsman.
The Dunedain are the descendants of the faithful Numenoreans who survived the downfall of Numenor and go to Middle Earth in exile where they establish the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor.