Gimilzagar is the father of Inzilbêth[]
In Unfinished Tales Christopher Tolkien writes that his father gave had written that Inzilbêth was the daughter of Gimilzagar, but since there are several generations between Gimilzagar and Ar-Gimilzôr, Christopher thought it impossible. That only proves that Christopher Tolkien does not know anything about genealogy. It has not been too uncommon in older times for people of different generations to marry each other, and in Numenor, the long ages gives even more possiblities. Also, a man (unlike a woman) is usually fertile until he dies. I will therefore here write down a scernario that is entirely possible and that accomodates for Tolkien's information.
Firstly Gimilzagar's brother became 281 years old, assuming that Gimilzagar reached a similar age he would, having been born 2630, died approximately 2911 (of course he might have become slightly older), which is 49 years before the birth of Gimilzôr and 133 years before the birth of Gimilkhâd (and 124 years before the birth of Palantir). Gimilzagar might very well have fathered his daughter the same year that he died. That leaves the question of whether a numenorean woman of that age could have given birth to children at the age 133.
The latest woman tha we know the age of when she gave birth is Tar-Vanimeldë who was 129 when she gave birth to her son Tar-Alcarin. Also, it should be noted that Tolkien stated that the numenoreans aged very slowly once they had reached adulthood, but when aging started (and they did not step down) they could go from strong to frail in 10 years.
It is also stated that numenoreans usually lived past their 200th birthday (Gimilkhâd being a curious exception) all this makes it possible for Inzilbêth to have become a mother at ages 124 and 133 (with approximately 90 years or so left to live).
It should be noted of course that Inzilbêth's mother Lindórië was the sister of Eärendur, Lord of Andúnië in the days of Ar-Sakalthôr. However, Ar-Sakalthôr was born in 2876 and ruled 3033-3102, while we know nothing of Eärendur's father, who might very well died early or Eärendur and Lindórië might have been born around the same time as Ar-Sakalthôr. Or the solution is something inbetween (they being born in the 2830s)
Under all circumstances, it is not impossible, as claimed by Christopher Tolkien. 213.115.244.182 13:24, August 28, 2015 (UTC)
- I realized after having read more some even more telling details: Elendil lived 3119-3441 (becoming 322 years old) and his son Isildur lived SA 3209-TA 2 (becoming over 222 years old) and both these men were killed in battle while (presumably) of full strength. Further, Isildur had his first son in 3299 and his last i 3430, 131 years later (and presumably by the same woman), that clearly should rule out any qualms that anyone might have about the plausibility of Gimilzagar being the father of Inzilbêth. 213.115.244.182 14:21, August 28, 2015 (UTC)