Land of the Star

A name for Númenor, dating back to the time of its founding. After the cataclysm that brought the First Age to its end, the Valar prepared a new home for those Edain who had fought against Morgoth in the War of the Jewels. In the year II 32, many of the Edain sailed away from Middle-earth, heading westward across the Great Sea guided by the shining light of the Star of Eärendil in the far western sky. Thus one of the names they gave their new home was Elenna·nórë, the Land of the Star (a name commonly abbreviated to simply Elenna, or 'Starwards').

Though the name 'Land of the Star' was derived from the historical migration of the Edain, it was peculiarly apt for their new land. The island of Númenor had five tapering promontories extending out in a near-symmetrical pattern, and together these five headlands gave the entire island a shape very close to that of a five-pointed star.