The island nation of Númenor is a really big deal during the Second Age, the era of Middle-earth history that the show will primarily be covering. It’s a powerhouse nation of Men that functions as one of the premier political powers during the era when Sauron forges the Rings of Power. Its kings are descended from Elrond’s twin brother Elros (who, unlike his brother, opts for a mortal life), and its royal lineage ultimately gives Aragorn his claim to the throne of Gondor.
That said, we’ve gotten very little definitive Númenorean footage from the smattering of promotional material we’ve had — until now. In the opening scene of the “Rings of Power” trailer, we see a ship sailing into a port filled with splendid buildings that remind one of nothing so much as the architecture of Gondor. There is a massive statue to the left side of the frame, recalling the Argonath from “The Lord of the Rings,” which were built by the Númenoreans much later. Additionally, there’s a single mighty mountain in the background.
This scene is almost certainly the Númenorean harbor of Rómenna. It isn’t the capital of the nation, but it’s a critical geographic location, nonetheless. It’s the primary stronghold of The Faithful, a group of Men who are critical in the history of Númenor and the foundation of Gondor. Isildur, the man who eventually cuts The One Ring from Sauron’s hand, also lives there, as does the famous Númenorean king Aldarion, who is born much earlier. If this really is Rómenna, then the mountain in the background would be the Meneltarma, the holy mountain that stood at the center of the star-shaped island of Númenor. While we’ve known for a while that Númeor will play a central role in the show, seeing the first glimpse of the majestic sea nation sends a thrill up one’s spine, to say the least.