The Fate of Ar-Pharazon and His Army: Myths and Reevaluation

The ancient tales and myths of Middle-earth are replete with tales of great battles, fallen kings, and the fate of the realm of Numenor. Among these, the legend of Ar-Pharazon and his army on the shores of Aman (Eldaroptimized) has been a subject of much debate. Does it hold true that Ar-Pharazon and his men are still buried and trapped alive in the Caves of the Forgotten?

Myth Versus Reality

The tale is often recounted with the implication that Ar-Pharazon and his mortal warriors were doomed to remain alive but buried and imprisoned until the Last Battle and the Day of Doom. However, upon closer examination of the sources and the context, this myth can be reevaluated.

The Passage in The Akallabeth

The Akallabeth, a chapter in The Silmarillion, states:

Ar-Pharazn the King and the mortal warriors that had set foot upon the land of Aman were buried under falling hills: there it is said that they lie imprisoned in the Caves of the Forgotten until the Last Battle and the Day of Doom.

This implies a specific state of life and imprisonment, which deviates from the common understanding of death. However, the text does not definitively confirm this state, but rather leaves it open to interpretation.

The Literally Interpretation

Given the context and the overarching narrative of The Silmarillion, it's important to note that mortals are inherently mortal, and the only resurrective power is that of Eru Ilúvatar. The passage in The Akallabeth suggests that Ar-Pharazon and his men were buried, indicating a final state of death.

Other Supporting Evidence

The passage in The Akallabeth mentions that any mortal man who came in sight of Aman might see the white mountain before they died. This reiterates the fatal nature of approaching Aman for mortals. At the end of The Silmarillion, it is stated that the future fate of the world is unknown to anyone except Eru and perhaps Manwe Varda or Mandos. This further aligns with the mythic nature of the story and the uncertainty of the final state of Ar-Pharazon and his men. In The Lord of the Rings, we encounter the dead, spirits, not the undead or living ghosts on The Paths of the Dead. This supports the idea that trapped fea (souls) of mortal men are indeed dead.

Conclusion

Based on the multiple layers of evidence from The Silmarillion and other texts, the myth of Ar-Pharazon and his men being trapped alive can be reevaluated. They were almost certainly mortal and were buried when Numenor fell, indicating a final state of death. Ar-Pharazon’s fate aligns with that of other mortal kings and heroes who met their ends while pursuing their ambitions.

Thus, the myth of their continued life and imprisonment should be reconsidered in light of the broader narrative of mortal decay and the divine will of Eru Ilúvatar.