The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Founded in II 750; existed until at least II 10751
Location
Explored Middle-earth from Númenor
Origins
Established by Aldarion, son of the then recently crowned King Tar-Meneldur
Race
Division
Culture
Settlements
The Guildhouse of the Venturers, the ship Eämbar, was usually moored on Tol Uinen in the bay of Rómenna
Other names

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About this entry:

  • Updated 7 October 2022
  • This entry is complete

A guild of mariners and seamen formed by the great Númenórean adventurer Aldarion in the year II 750. The Guild had no fixed guildhouse on land, but was based instead on the ship Eämbar, that had been built for the purpose. Eämbar was sailed at times to different harbours of Númenor, but was normally anchored off the island of Tol Uinen in the bay of Rómenna. The sailors of the Guild went much farther than this, though, steering their vessels east across the Great Sea to the distant shores of Middle-earth. There, they visited Gil-galad in Lindon, and explored the coastlands into the far south.


Notes

1

Our last specific reference to the Guild of Venturers is a passing mention in the year II 880, but they seem to have persisted at least through the reign of their founder Tar-Aldarion, a reign that lasted until II 1075. Tar-Aldarion's heir Tar-Ancalimë had no interest in ships or sailing, so her accession meant that the Venturers would have lost influence at court, but we're not told that they ceased to exist.

We know that the Guildhouse of the Venturers (that is, the great ship Eämbar) was taken from them by a later King. This implies that the Guild survived at least through Queen Tar-Ancalimë's reign, though the specific King involved is not identified. The confiscation of their Guildhouse seems to suggest that the Guild itself came to an end at the same time, but this is not stated outright. Indeed, it is not said that the Guild came to an end at all, and so conceivably it might even have survived to the time of the Downfall.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 7 October 2022
  • This entry is complete

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