What Galadriel Means By The "Real" Numenor (& What Happened To It?)

Warning: spoilers ahead for The Rings of Power episode 6Galadriel differentiates between Númenor and the real Númenor in Isildur (Maxim Baldry) has been desperate to leave home ever since The Rings of Power began, and explains precisely why during a conversation with Morfydd Clark's Galadriel in episode 6. Isildur says, "It's not Númenor. Not the real Númenor anyway. If it ever existed." Rather than questioning when Númenor was torn down and replaced with a very convincing fake, Galadriel reassures him, "It existed. It exists still." What exactly do they mean by "real" Númenor?

This question of Númenor's fidelity relates to the values the island and its population hold. When Númenor was founded in the early Second Age, inhabitants were grateful to the Valar for gifting them an island as reward for helping fight Morgoth. Númenor's first king, Tar-Minyatur, was also Elrond's brother, so good relations were maintained between the Númenóreans and Elves. This spirit of cooperation between races and reverence for the Valar is what Isildur and Galadriel deem "the real Númenor." Isildur is too young to those days, but Galadriel evidently recalls them just fine. "Real" refers to how these were the original, founding values Númenor later strayed away from, with many on the island now actively distrustful of anyone whose ears look even slightly pointy.

What Happened To The REAL Númenor In The Rings Of Power?

In J.R.R. Tolkien's original version of events, the Númenóreans became frustrated by the Valar prohibiting them sailing west toward Valinor. They also developed jealousy over the Elves' immortality, so ceased all and, upon realizing so many of their ways and customs were Elven in origin, quickly began erasing those parts of Númenórean culture. The island became isolated, greedy and domineering - perfect for Sauron to corrupt completely. The story seems broadly the same in Amazon's The Rings of Power, but with more emphasis on the Elves over the Valar. Somewhere along the way - before Isildur was born - Númenor caved in to envy and prejudice, banning Elves from their island. Tar-Palantir attempted to reverse this course and bring back real Númenor, but his people rebelled and, according to Queen Regent Míriel, great losses were incurred, forcing her to take the throne just to calm the riots.

Is Galadriel Right? Does "Real" Numenor Still Exist?

Maxim Baldry as Isildur and Numenor in Rings of Power

Galadriel assures Isildur that the real Númenor still exists in the hearts of those who believe in it, like he does. While this may sound like a meaningless platitude Galadriel says to appease the creepy stable boy who keeps staring at her hair, there's more truth behind her words than The Rings of Power has revealed. In Tolkien lore, the Númenóreans divide into two sides - the Faithful, who remain true to their roots, and the King's Men, who have turned away from the Elves and Valar. Though the King's Men aren't formed yet in The Rings of Power, Queen Regent Míriel has referenced the Faithful.

Traditionally, the Faithful hail from western Númenor, and The Rings of Power already hinted that the "real" Númenor lays west in live-action when Isildur's friends confront him in episode 4. Apparently, Isildur's brother also believed Númenor's true spirit was west and left to find out - a journey Isildur himself wishes to follow. Though The Rings of Power hasn't yet confirmed what he'd find there, it's already clear that whatever sits on the shore opposite Valinor is a remnant of what Galadriel would consider "real" Númenor.

Next: Adar Did WHAT? Is Rings Of Power's Shock Sauron Twist True?