Atanamir was the son of Tar-Ciryatan. When he took the sceptre he became the thirteenth of the Kings of Númenor.

Atanamir was much like his father being proud and greedy of wealth. The Númenóreans in his service exacted very heavy tributes upon the men of the coastlands of Middle-earth. He became known as Atanamir the Great.

During Atanamir's time the Shadow fell upon Númenor and those who followed the king, and the king himself, began to speak openly against the Ban of the Valar. Their hearts were turned against the Valar and the Eldar, but the still feared the Lords of the West and they would not defy them.

Atanamir is also called the 'Unwilling' because he was the first of the Kings of Númenor to refuse to lay down his life, or to pass on the sceptre to his child, until death took him by force.

Tar-Atanamir ruled for 192 years and was succeeded by his son Tar-Ancalimon in SA 2221.
Encyclopedia entry originally written by Nienna-of-the-Valar