Aragorn's Life

[Ravenna]

I was thinking about Aragorn and his life span, and came up with this question.
Why did he live so much longer than the other Numenorean descendants?

I don't necessarily mean those of Gondor, as I know that their life span has waned, but it seems implied in the book that Aragorn will live much longer than even the others of the Dunedain like Halbarad, who are a less diminished breed than the Numenoreans, and that Aragorn knows this even before he becomes king.
Any thoughts?

[Durialion]

Well I would guess since he is the heir of Isildor he would probally live longer than normal. He is also the rightful king of Gondor. smilies/tongue.gif

[Galorme]

I like to think as it as a gift from the powers, and perhaps the presence of an Elf-maiden and the healing stone of the west helped. I am sure that some of the glow of Valmar that originally gave the Numinoreans tbeir long life would travel with the Elisar. (Additional question, was it the closeness to Aman that bestowed the long life onto the men of Westenesse, or was it the elven blood in them). Hmm come to think of it the elven blood wasn't in all of them, only in the kings. Answers?

[O'Boile]

The kings generally lived longer then 'normal' numenoreans. Aragorn was also long lived for a king (or chieftain since his immediate anncestors were did not claim the title) at that time, the earlier kings lived longer, but the length of their lives waned through out history. Aragorn was somewhat of the exception to this. He may have been able to tell buy comparing how much he appeared to have aged relative to normal people his age (which was I think about 80 during the war of the ring, anyway he was a year younger then Denethor).

[Manwe Sulimo]

Remember, he has that little bit of Elvish/Maia blood in him. Aside from that, all the reasons above, and his bloodline hasn't been mixed with those of lesser Men.

[Lothiriel Silmarien]

I think everyone has a really good answer to this. I always thought of it as a gift to him from the Valar. He restored the line of kings. And he was a great king. And also, he let go of his life when he saw that his time was come. When the Numenoreans turned 'bad' they didn't do that, they would try to live as long as they wanted to, they wouldn't let go. So they didn't have as long as lives after that. I think that was reffered to in Unfinished Tales.

[Aylwen Dreamsong]

the people of Numenor had unusualy long life because the first one...(Elros) was half-elven, and though he chose mortality, the Valar gifted him still with a 500 year life span. I guess when he wed and had children, this trait passed on until there was nothing special about them. But i think maybe Aragorn lived so long because....well. actually, thats a good question.....now youve all confused me in my own thoughts smilies/mad.gif

[burrahobbit]

How long Elros lived didn't have anything to do with the Valar. Aragorn lived as long as he did because he was Good. A lot of the kings before him were Not Good, and Good gets to live longer than Not Good. How long Aragorn lived also didn't have anything to do with the Valar.

[O'Boile]

The Valar did extend the lives of the Numenoreans.

[lindil]

Valar did extend their life and the royal houses and rulers lived longer than the 'common folk'.