Amazon Studios have finally revealed the release dates of the
Rings of Power series. Many people were startled to learn that the eight-part
series cost over $715 million to make, but LOTR aficionados are thrilled about
the story.

The tele-series will make its American and Canadian debut on September 1
before becoming generally available to all Prime Video subscribers on September
2, 2022. The story is set in the Second Age of
Middle-earth, millennia before The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, Tolkien’s
Unfinished Tales, The History of Middle-Earth and The Lord Of The Rings
happened.

Also Read: Where does The Rings of Power fit in The Lord of Rings timeline?

The Second Age which lasted for 3,441 years is defined by the rise
and downfall of the Numenor. Let’s delve deeper into the tragic downfall of the
kingdom. 

How did Numenor fall?

The island of Numenor was completely destroyed during the
Downfall of Numenor, also known as the Fall or Drowning of Numenor. Numenoreans
had to face the wrath of Eru Ilvatar’s divine retribution for disobeying the
Ban of the Valar. In SA 3319, Ar-Pharazon, the King of Numenor, was forced by
Sauron to attack the Undying Lands, which ultimately resulted in the
devastation of the island and the deaths of the majority of its inhabitants.

Sauron assumed the titles, Lord of the Earth and King of Men,
after reaching the pinnacle of his power and started targeting Nmenórean
coastal settlements. King Ar-Pharazon sent his military force to combat Sauron’s
army. They were so powerful that Sauron’s armies immediately retreated from the
battleground. Sauron was imprisoned by the Numenoreans. 

Also Read: Rings of Power budget: How much does Lord of the Rings series cost

However, Sauron’s guise as a well-wisher of the king soon won
the hearts of the island dwellers and Sauron quickly rose to the rank of chief
advisor to the king. 

Ar-Pharazôn was soon under the shadow of death, and out of fear
of dying and growing old, the king was persuaded by Sauron to wage war on the
Valar, conquer the Undying Lands, and capture immortality by force. As a
result, preparations for the invasion of a large armada started in SA 3310.

The Valar were barred from killing or using other forms of force
against Men because they were worried that this group could cause mayhem in
Valinor.

Also Read: Rings of Power: When and where to watch

The Great Armament of Ar-Pharazon was swallowed by the Great Chasm
after Valar’s Chief requested Ilvatar to take charge of the situation. The king
himself was buried under crumbling hills along with his army and was sentenced
to the Caves of the Forgotten until the Dagor Dagorath.

The residents of
Numenor perished as the city was drowned by a magnanimous wave under the spell
of Ilvatar. Blinded by fear of mortality, Ar-Pharazon fell into the traps of
the Dark Lord, causing the downfall of his empire.