Кіріспе
Роберт Э. Говард жасаған ойдан шығарылған дәуір. Говардтың «Гибориан дәуірі» атты эссесінде сипатталған дәуір.
Fictional period created by Robert E. Howard
Howard's essay describing the Hyborian Age
Howard's essay describing the Hyborian Age
Гибориан дәуірі – Роберт Э. Говард құраған жасанды мифологиядағы Жер тарихының ойдан шығарылған кезеңі. Бұл дәуір Конан Варвардың қылыш пен сиқыр туралы әңгімелері үшін оқиға орны ретінде қызмет етеді. «Гибориан» сөзі ежелгі гректердің аңызға толы солтүстік елі – Гипербореядан алынған, және Говардтың «Гибориан дәуірі» эссесінің алғашқы нұсқасында осылай берілген. Говард Гибориан дәуірінің Атлантида батқаннан кейін және жазба тарихтың басталуына дейін болғанын айтқан. Кейінгі редакторлар мен бейімдеушілер, мысалы Л. Спраг де Камп және Рой Томас, Гибориан дәуірін шамамен б.з.д. 10 000 жылға жатқызды. Соңғы кезде Дейл Риппке Гибориан дәуірін одан да ертерек, шамамен б.з.д. 32 500 жылға, соңғы мұз дәуірінің ең жоғары нүктесі басталар алдында орналастыруды ұсынды. Алайда, Риппкенің бұл пікірі Джеффри Шенкспен дау тудырды, ол соңғы мұз дәуірінің соңындағы дәстүрлі орналасуды қолдайды. Говард тарих пен тарихи драмаларды өте жақсы көрді, бірақ сонымен бірге тарихи дәлдікті сақтау үшін қажетті қиындықтарды және көп уақытты талап ететін зерттеулерді де мойындады. Уақыттан тыс ортаны – жоғалған дәуірді ойлап табу арқылы және біздің тарихымызға ұқсайтын есімдерді мұқият таңдау арқылы Говард тарихи анахронизмдердің алдын алды және ұзақ түсіндірулер қажеттігінен құтылды.
The Hyborian Age is a fictional period of Earth's history within the artificial mythology created by Robert E. Howard, serving as the setting for the sword and sorcery tales of Conan the Barbarian. The word "Hyborian" is derived from the legendary northern land of the ancient Greeks, Hyperborea, and it is rendered as such in the earliest draft of Howard's essay "The Hyborian Age". Howard described the Hyborian Age taking place sometime after the sinking of Atlantis and before the beginning of recorded ancient history. Most later editors and adaptors such as L. Sprague de Camp and Roy Thomas placed the Hyborian Age around 10,000 BC. More recently, Dale Rippke proposed that the Hyborian Age should be placed further in the past, around 32,500 BC, prior to the beginning of the Last Glacial Maximum. Rippke's date, however, has since been disputed by Jeffrey Shanks, who argues for the more traditional placement at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. Howard had an intense love for history and historical dramas; however, at the same time, he recognized the difficulties and the time consuming research needed in maintaining historical accuracy. By conceiving a timeless setting – a vanished age – and by carefully choosing names that resembled our history, Howard avoided the problem of historical anachronisms and the need for lengthy exposition.
Қасіретке ұшыраған ата-бабалар
Говард өзінің "Гибориан дәуірі" атты эссесінде гибориан өркениетінің пайда болуы мен тарихын түсіндірді. Эссе Тюриан дәуірінің аяқталуымен (Говардтың Кулл патшасы туралы әңгімелерінің оқиға ортасы) және оның Лемурия мен Атлантис өркениеттерінің геологиялық апаттың салдарынан құрылуымен басталады. Осы апаттан кейін аман қалған адамдар алғашқы қалыпқа түсіп, технологиялық деңгейі неандертальдықтардан жоғары болмады. Осы тайпалардың бірнешеуі қырылудан қашу үшін Тюриан құрлығының қалған бөлігінің солтүстік аймақтарына көшіп кетті. Олар бұл аймақтың қауіпсіз екенін, бірақ қармен жабылғанын және онда қатыгез ақ түкті маймылдар мекендегенін анықтады. Адамдар маймылдарды Солтүстік мұздық шеңберінен әрі қарай қуғанша, аумақ үшін қатал соғыс болды. Адамдар маймылдардың жойылуға тағдырланғанын ойлап, олардың қатал жаңа мекенін игеруге кірісті.
Howard explained the origins and history of the Hyborian civilization in his essay "The Hyborian Age". The essay begins with the end of the Thurian Age (the setting for Howard's King Kull stories) and the destruction of its civilizations, Lemuria and Atlantis, by a geological cataclysm. After this cataclysm, the surviving humans were reduced to a primitive state and a technological level hardly above the Neanderthal. Several such tribes migrated to the northern areas of what was left of the Thurian continent to escape destruction. They discovered the region to be safe, but covered with snow and already inhabited by a race of vicious white furred apes. A vicious territorial war ensued until the humans drove the apes further North, past the Arctic Circle. Believing the apes were destined to perish, the humans turned to taming their harsh new home.
Гибориан ата-бабалары
Осыдан бір мың бес жүз жыл өткен соң, осы алғашқы топтың ұрпақтары "гибориандар" деп аталды. Олар ең жоғары дәрежелі құдайы Боридің атымен аталған. Эсседе Боридің бұрынғы өте көрнекті тайпа басшысы болғаны және кейін қасиетті саналғаны айтылады. Ауызша дәстүрлерде ол солтүстікке жасаған алғашқы қоныс аударуларында олардың жетекшісі ретінде еске алынады, бірақ оның өмір сүрген дәуірі асыра көрсетілген. Осы кезге дейін, бір-бірімен байланысты, бірақ тәуелсіз гибориан тайпалары өздерінің әлемнің солтүстік аймақтарына тараған. Олардың кейбіреулері жаңа жерлер іздеп, "бірқалыпты" қарқынмен оңтүстікке көшіп жатқан. Гибориандар әлі басқа мәдениеттермен кездеспеген, бірақ бір-бірімен соғысқан. Говард оларды ұзын бойлы, сары шашты, сұр көзді, күшті және соғысқа құмар халық ретінде сипаттайды. Олар мәдениет жағынан шебер суретшілер мен ақындар болған. Көптеген тайпалар әлі күнге дейін күн көрісі үшін аң аулауға тәуелді. Дегенмен, олардың оңтүстік тармақтары ғасырлар бойы мал өсірумен айналысқан. Басқа мәдениеттерден ұзақ уақыт оқшауланғандығына бірден-бір ерекшелік – эсседе аты аталмаған бір саяхатшының іс-әрекеттеріне байланысты болды. Ол Арктика шеңберінен өтіп, олардың ежелгі қарсыластары – маймылдардың толығымен жойылмағанын хабарлады. Олар адам-маймылға айналып, оның айтуынша, қазірдің өзінде көптеп табылды. Ол олардың адамға айналуы мүмкін екенін және болашақта гибориандарға қауіп тудыруы мүмкін екенін айтты. Ол оларға қарсы науқан жүргізу үшін үлкен әскери күш жинауға тырысты, бірақ көптеген гибориандар оның сөздеріне сенбеді; оның жорығына тек ақымақ жастардың шағын тобы ғана ілесіп кетті. Олардың ешқайсысы қайтып оралмады.
One thousand five hundred years later, the descendants of this initial group were called "Hyborians". They were named after their highest ranking god deity, Bori. The essay mentions that Bori had actually been a great tribal chief of their past who had undergone deification. Their oral tradition remembered him as their leader during their initial migration to the north, though the antiquity of this man had been exaggerated. By this point, the various related but independent Hyborian tribes had spread throughout the northern regions of their area of the world. Some of them were already migrating south at a "leisurely" pace in search of new areas in which to settle. The Hyborians had yet to encounter other cultural groups, but engaged in wars against each other. Howard describes them as a powerful and warlike race with the average individual being tall, tawny haired, and gray eyed. Culturally, they were accomplished artists and poets. Most of the tribes still relied on hunting for their nourishment. Their southern offshoots, however, had been practicing animal husbandry on cattle for centuries. The only exception to their long isolation from other cultural groups came due to the actions of a lone adventurer, unnamed in the essay. He had traveled past the Arctic Circle and returned with news that their old adversaries, the apes, were never annihilated. They had instead evolved into apemen and, according to his description, were by then numerous. He believed they were quickly evolving to human status and would pose a threat to the Hyborians in the future. He attempted to recruit a significant military force to campaign against them, but most Hyborians were not convinced by his tales; only a small group of foolhardy youths followed his campaign. None of them returned.
Гибориан дәуірінің басталуы
Хибориан тайпаларының саны артуымен қатар, жаңа жерлерге де қажеттілік артты. Гибориандықтар өздері таныс болған жерлерден тысқары таралып, көшпелілік пен жаулап алудың жаңа дәуірін бастады. 500 жыл бойы гибориандықтар өздерінің аты жоқ құрлығының оңтүстігі мен батысына қарай жылжыды. Олар мыңжылдықтар бойына басқа тайпалармен алғаш рет кездесті. Көптеген кішігірім, түрлі текті тайпаларды бағындырды. Жеңілген тайпалардың қалғандары жеңімпаздармен бірігіп, нәсілдік ерекшеліктерін гибориандықтардың келесі буындарына жеткізді. Араласқан қанды гибориандық тайпалар өз кезегінде, сол бағытта көшіп келген таза қанды гибориандық тайпалардан жаңа жерлерін қорғауға мәжбүр болды. Көбінесе жаңа шабуылшылар қорғаушыларды жоқ қылып, оларды сіңіріп алатын, нәтижесінде гибориандық тайпалар мен ұлттардың құрамында әртүрлі ата-тектік элементтер кездесетін күрделі жағдай туды. Ұйымдасқан алғашқы гибориан патшалығы – Гиперборея болды. Оны құрған тайпа, негізінен қорғану үшін тастан ғимараттар салуды үйреніп, неолит дәуіріне енді. Бұл көшпелілер жылқы терісінен тігілген шатырларда тұрған, бірақ оларды тастап, қарапайым, бірақ берік тас үйлерге көшті. Олар бекіністі мекендерде тұрақталып, қорғаныс қабырғаларын нығайту үшін алып тас қалау өнерін дамытты. Гиперборейлер сол кездегі гибориандық тайпалардың ең жетілгені болып есептелді және артта қалған көршілеріне шабуыл жасап, патшалығын кеңейтуді көздеді. Аумақтарын қорғаған тайпалар оларды жоғалтып, басқа жерге көшуге мәжбүр болды. Ал кейбіреулері Гипербореяның кеңеюінен бұрын қашып кетіп, соғысқа қатыспады. Осы арада Арктика шеңберіндегі маймыл тектес жандар ақ шашты, бойы биік адамдардың жаңа түрі ретінде пайда болды. Олар оңтүстікке қарай көшіп, гибориандық тайпалардың ең солтүстік тайпаларын ығыстыра бастады.
With the population of the Hyborian tribes continuing to increase, the need for new lands also increased. The Hyborians expanded outside their familiar territories, beginning a new age of wanderings and conquests. For 500 years, the Hyborians spread towards the south and the west of their nameless continent. They encountered other tribal groups for the first time in millennia. They conquered many smaller clans of various origins. The survivors of the defeated clans merged with their conquerors, passing on their racial traits to new generations of Hyborians. The mixed blooded Hyborian tribes were in turn forced to defend their new territories from pure blooded Hyborian tribes which followed the same paths of migration. Often, the new invaders would wipe away the defenders before absorbing them, resulting in a tangled web of Hyborian tribes and nations with varying ancestral elements within their bloodlines. The first organized Hyborian kingdom to emerge was Hyperborea. The tribe that established it entered their Neolithic age by learning to erect buildings in stone, largely for fortification. These nomads lived in tents made out of the hides of horses, but soon abandoned them in favor of their crude but durable stone houses. They permanently settled in fortified settlements and developed cyclopean masonry to further fortify their defensive walls. The Hyperboreans were by then the most advanced of the Hyborian tribes and set out to expand their kingdom by attacking their backwards neighbors. Tribes who defended their territories lost them and were forced to migrate elsewhere. Others fled the path of Hyperborean expansion before ever engaging them in war. Meanwhile, the apemen of the Arctic Circle emerged as a new race of light haired and tall humans. They started their own migration to the south, displacing the northernmost of the Hyborian tribes.
Батыс елдерінің билеушілері
Келесі мың жыл бойы соғысқа құмар гибориандық тайпалар атаусыз құрлықтың батыс аймақтарының билеушілеріне айналды. Олар пиктілерге кездесіп, оларды батыс шөл даласына, кейін "Пиктік даласы" деп аталған жерге ығыстырды. Гиперборейлік туыстарындарының үлгісімен, басқа гибориандар оңтүстікке көшіп, өздерінің патшалықтарын құрды. Ең оңтүстіктегі алғашқы патшалықтардың бірі – Шем жерінен солтүстікке орналасқан Кот патшалығы, ол көп ұзамай оңтүстік көшпенділеріне мәдени ықпалын таратуға кірісті. Пиктік даласының оңтүстігінде "Цинг" деп белгілі құнарлы аңғар жатқан. Оны бағындырған көшпелі гибориан тайпасы онда басқа да халықтардың қоныстанғанын анықтады. Олардың арасында Сем халқымен туысқан аталмаған егінші тайпа және оларды бұрын бағындырған соғысқа бейім пиктік тайпасы болды. Олар Зингара патшалығын құрып, жеңілген топтарды өздерінің тайпасына сіңірді. Гибориандар, пиктілер және шемиттердің аталмаған туыстары бірігіп, өздерін зингарандар деп атаған жаңа халыққа айналды. Ал континенттің солтүстігінде Арктика аймағынан келген сары шашты жаугерлер саны мен күші артты. Олар оңтүстікке қарай кеңейіп, өз кезегінде жеңілген гибориандарды оңтүстікке ығыстырды. Тіпті Гиперборея да осы жабайы тайпалардың бірінен бағындырылды. Бірақ жаулап алушылар патшалықты бұрынғы атымен сақтап қалуға шешім қабылдады, жеңілген гиперборейлермен бірігіп, гибориан мәдениетінің элементтерін қабылдады. Соғыстар мен көші-қондар континенттің басқа аймақтарының жағдайын тағы бес жүз жыл бойы өзгерте берді.
For the next thousand years, the warlike Hyborian nations advanced to become the rulers of the western areas of the nameless continent. They encountered the Picts and forced them back to the western wastelands, which would come to be known as the "Pictish Wilderness". Following the example of their Hyperborean cousins, other Hyborians migrated Southward and created their own kingdoms. The southernmost of the early kingdoms was Koth, which was established north of the lands of Shem and soon started extending its cultural influence over the southern shepherds. Just south of the Pictish Wilderness was the fertile valley known as "Zing". The wandering Hyborian tribe which conquered it found other people already settled there. They included a nameless farming nation related to the people of the Shem and a warlike Pictish tribe who had previously conquered them. They established the kingdom of Zingara and absorbed the defeated elements into their tribe. Hyborians, Picts, and the unnamed kin of the Shemites would merge into a nation calling themselves Zingarans. On the other hand, at the north of the continent, the fair haired invaders from the Arctic Circle had grown in numbers and power. They continued their expansion south while in turn displacing defeated Hyborians to the south. Even Hyperborea was conquered by one of these barbarian tribes. But the conquerors here decided to maintain the kingdom with its old name, merged with the defeated Hyperboreans and adopted elements of Hyborian culture. The continuing wars and migrations would keep the state of the other areas of the continent for another five hundred years.
Әлем
Гибориан дәуірін автор Роберт Э. Говард өзінің Конан Киммериялық әңгімелері үшін Атлантидадан кейінгі орта ретінде ойлап тапты. Бұл Говардтың бұрынғы, бірақ аз танымал Куль туралы әңгімелерімен үйлеседі, олар Атлантида дәуірінде Тюриан дәуірінде болған. "Гибориан" атауы гректердегі "Гиперборея" деген жердің қысқартылған түрі, сөзбе-сөз "Солтүстік желдің ар жағында" деген мағынаны білдіреді. Бұл – суық емес және нәрселердің ескірмейтін мифтік жер, ол солтүстікке қарай орналасқан. Говардтың "Гибориан дәуірі" атты мақаласында сипатталған Гибориан дәуірі антропологтарға белгілі кез келген өркениетке дейінгі мифтік заман. Оның географиялық орны тарихқа дейінгі Еуропа және Солтүстік Африка (кейде Азия мен басқа құрлықтарға сілтемелер кездеседі). Говардтың Гибориан дәуірін бейнелеген картасында, оның Жерорта теңізі құрғақ деп көрсетілген. Нил өзені, ол оны Стикст деп атады, Нил дельтасынан кейін тік бұрылыс жасап, Гибралтар бұғазына жету үшін тауларды кесіп өтеді. Оның Қара теңізі де құрғақ болғанымен, Каспий теңізі, ол оны Вилает теңізі деп атады, солтүстікке қарай Арктикалық мұхитқа дейін созылып, оның әңгімелерінің ортасын қоршау үшін тосқауыл құрайды. Оның Балтық теңізі мен Ла-Манш каналы ғана емес, сонымен қатар Солтүстік теңіздің көп бөлігі және батыстағы кең аймақ, Ирландияны да қамтиды, құрғақ. Ал оның картасында Африканың батыс жағалауы теңіздің астында жатыр.
The Hyborian Age was devised by author Robert E. Howard as the post Atlantean setting of his Conan the Cimmerian stories, designed to fit in with Howard's previous and lesser known tales of Kull, which were set in the Thurian Age at the time of Atlantis. The name "Hyborian" is a contraction of the Greek concept of the land of "Hyperborea", literally "Beyond the North Wind". This was a mythical place far to the north that was not cold and where things did not age. Howard's Hyborian epoch, described in his essay The Hyborian Age, is a mythical time before any civilization known to anthropologists. Its setting is prehistoric Europe and North Africa (with occasional references to Asia and other continents). On a map Howard drew conceptualizing the Hyborian Age, his vision of the Mediterranean Sea is dry. The Nile, which he renamed the River Styx, takes a westward turn at right angles just beyond the Nile Delta, plowing through the mountains so as to be able to reach the Straits of Gibraltar. Although his Black Sea is also dry, his Caspian Sea, which he renames the Vilayet Sea, extends northward to reach the Arctic Ocean, so as to provide a barrier to encapsulate the settings of his stories. Not only are his Baltic Sea and English Channel dry, but most of the North Sea and a vast region to the west, easily including Ireland, are, too. Meanwhile, the west coast of Africa on his map lies beneath the sea.
Ұлттар мен көрнекті жерлер
Говард өзінің хибориан дәуіріндегі қиял-ғажайыптарда ойдан шығарылған патшалықтарды құрды, оларға мифологиялық және тарихи дереккөздерден алынған немесе олардан бейімделген атаулар берді. Хитай – оның Қытай нұсқасы, алыс шығыста орналасқан; Коринфия – оның эллиндік өркениеті, Коринф қаласынан алынған атау және орта ғасырлардағы Каринтия императорлық иелігін еске түсіреді. Говард гибориандық пиктерді солтүстік-батыстағы кең аумақта қоныстандырған. Мүмкін аналогтар төменде тізілген; аналогтардың кейде өте жалпыланған және тарихи емес стереотиптермен бейнеленгеніне назар аударыңыз. Бұл сәйкестіктердің көпшілігі Л. Спраг де Камп пен Лин Картердің «Қонан қылышкер» кітабына қосылған «Гибориандық есімдер» атты қосымшадан алынған.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Патшалық, аймақ немесе этникалық топ – Мүмкін аналог(тар)
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Ахерон – Рим империясына сәйкес келетін құлаған патшалық. Оның аумағы Аквилония, Немедия және Аргос аймақтарын қамтыды. Грек мифологиясында Ахерон – Адес өзендерінің бірі (қ. «Стигия»). Ахерон – діни қызметкерлердің патшалығы, олар өз қолдарымен адам құрбандығын жасаған дін қызметкерлерімен басқарылған.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Афғулистан – Ауғанстан. Афғулистан (кейде «Гулистан») – Гимель тауларындағы әртүрлі тайпалардың мекендеу ортасы. Атаудың өзі Гулистан мен Ауғанстанның тарихи атауларының қосындысы.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Алкмион – Дельфи. Атауы Дельфидегі Аполлон ғибадатханасының құрылысын қаржылаған Алкмеонидтерден алынған, онда оракул жұмыс істеген. Сондай-ақ, Алкмен Геркулестің анасы. Өлгеннен кейін ол Адеске барып, жер асты әлемінің бас судьясы Радамантиске үйленді.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Амазонка – Роберт Э. Говардтың «Гибориан дәуірі» эссесінде айтылғандай, Амазонка патшалығы грек Амазонкаларының әртүрлі аңыздарына немесе Дагомея Амазонкаларына қатысты. Классикалық аңызда Амазония – Кіші Азия мен Солтүстік Африкадағы жауынгер әйелдер елі. Бұл аңыз сарматтарға негізделген болуы мүмкін, олар көшпелі ирандық Кубан тайпасы, олардың әйелдері үйленер алдында жауды өлтіруге міндетті болған.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Аквилония – Орта ғасырлардағы Батыс Еуропаның және Солтүстік Американың отарлау элементтерінің ықпалында. Атауы қазіргі Венеза мен Беневентоның арасында орналасқан Оңтүстік Италиядағы Аквилония қаласынан алынған. Бұл Кимпердің көне атауы, сондай-ақ Англияның көп бөлігінде билік еткен Франциядағы Аквитания аймағына ұқсайды. Атауы латын тілінен алынған aquilo(n–), «солтүстік жел». Аквила латын тілінде «бүркіт» дегенді білдіреді.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Аргос – Жерорта теңізінің әртүрлі теңіз саудагерлері, мысалы Крит, Сардиния және Сицилия сияқты аралдар. Атауы аргонавттардың кемесі Аргодан немесе, мүмкін, қазіргі Нафплионға жақын Аргос шығанағының басында орналасқан Грекияның ең көне қаласы деп саналатын Пелопоннестегі Аргос қаласынан алынған. Сондай-ақ, жергілікті халықтың сыртқы келбеті, есімдері және мәдениеті туралы Италияға сілтемелер бар. Гибориан дәуірінің картографиясында Аргос Италиямен салыстырғанда шекараларында «аяқ киім» пішінін алады. Мессантия/Массантияның жағалау қаласы атын Сицилияның солтүстік-шығысындағы Мессина қаласынан алған.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Асгард (комикстегі Эсгаард) – Қараңғы дәуір Скандинавиясы. Асгард – скандинав мифологиясындағы Эсирлердің мекені. Говард Балтық теңізі апаттан кейін оның ойдан шығарылған Асгардын қазіргі Норвегия, Швеция және Данияға бөліп беретінін мәлімдейді.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Барачан аралдары – Кариб аралдары. Мүмкін Islas Borrachas («Мас аралдар») аралдарынан алынған. Тортедж деген қарақшы қаласы атын Тортугадан алған.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Шекаралық патшалықтар – Географиялық тұрғыдан қазіргі Германияның Балтық теңізінің жағалауында орналасқан. Бұл заңсыз аймақ қарақшылар мен жартылай варвар халықтарға толы. Конан бірде Немедияға бара жатқанда Шекаралық патшалықтарды аралап өтті. Төменгі елдер, Балтық және Шотландия мен Англияның шекаралық жерлері ұқсас мысалдар болуы мүмкін.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Боссон Марш – Уэльс, Солтүстік Американың отаршылдықтарымен. Мүмкін, Боссиниден, бұрынғы парламенттік округ, Корнуолл, Оңтүстік-Батыс Англия, оған Тинтегел қамалы кірген, Британия жырларымен байланысты.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Бритуния – Ұлыбританияға шабуыл жасаған англо-саксондардың континенттік отаны, бұл атаудың шығу тегі, бірақ Гибориан дәуіріндегі бритуниялықтар ертедегі славяндарға қатысты болуы мүмкін басқа топ. Семантикалық тұрғыдан алғанда, Brythunia атауы Уэльстің Brython, «Бритон» сөзінен шыққан, бұл латын тіліндегі Brito, Britannia сияқты түбірден шыққан, дегенмен Говард бұл атауды сол жерде қоныстанған Æsir және Nemedians сақтағанын, бұл Brythunians германдық немесе кельттік емес екенін білдіреді. Бұл жер қазіргі Польша, Литва және Латвияда орналасқан.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Киммерия – Говард «Гибориан дәуірінде» «ирландтар мен Шотландияның таулық аймақтарының ата-бабалары таза қанды киммериялық тайпалардан шыққан» деді. Ол Киммерияны кимрлік халықтармен, кимбрилермен, гимиррайлармен, скифтермен, киммериялықтармен және Қырыммен байланыстырды. Географиялық тұрғыдан қазіргі Ирландия, Шотландия, Уэльс және Англияда орналасқан. Атауы грек аңыздарынан алынған, солтүстік халықтары, олар өлілер еліне жақын тұман мен қараңғылықта өмір сүрген. Говард киммериялықтарды прото-индоевропалықтардың ата-бабалары деп атады.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Конажохара (Аквилония) – Атауы Кэнажохариден алынған болуы мүмкін.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Коринфия – Ежелгі Грекия, әсіресе географиялық тұрғыдан Македония. Коринфтен (Коринтос), классикалық Грекияның бай қаласынан алынған. Мүмкін, Говардқа Коринфтіктерге жазылған хаттар немесе Каринтия аймағынан ұсынылған болуы мүмкін. Бұл Коттан шығысқа орналасқан таулы ел.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Дарфар – Говард бұл атауды Солтүстік-Орталық Африкадағы Суданның Дарфур аймағынан алған. Дарфур – араб тілінде «Фурдың мекені» (dar) деген мағынаны білдіреді, бұл аймақтың басты халқы. Нағыз Дарфур қазір Судан Республикасының батыс бөлігі.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Гунланд – Мүмкін, Гесбайдың Гунланд графы, Меровингтер сарайындағы граф, немесе Нидерландтағы Гелдерланд провинциясы, немесе Бургундия королі Гунтер (Гундикар) немесе вандалдар королі Гундерик.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Гиперборея – Финляндия, Ресей және Балтық елдері (Гиперборея). Грек тарихшысы Геродотқа сәйкес, «соңғы солтүстіктегі» жер. Говард өзінің Гипербореясын Гибориан дәуіріндегі алғашқы патшалық деп сипаттайды, «бұл тайпалық шабуылдардан қорғану үшін үйілген тастардан жасалған қарапайым бекіністе басталды». Мүмкін скифтік ықпалдар.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Гиркания – Еуразиялық дала, әсіресе Говард өзінің Гибориан дәуіріндегі тұрғындарының ұрпақтары деп атаған түркі-моңғол халықтары. Гиркания, классикалық географияда, Каспий теңізінің оңтүстік-шығысындағы аймақ, қазіргі Иран провинциялары Голестан, Мазандаран және Гиланға сәйкес келеді. Атауы грек тіліндегі ежелгі парсы тіліндегі Варкана сөзінен алынған, бұл Ахеменид империясының сатрапияларының бірі, және Горган өзенінің атында сақталған. Түпкі мағынасы «жылқы жері» болуы мүмкін. Иран аңыздарында Гиркания өзінің сиқыршыларымен, демонмен, қасқырларымен, рухтарымен, әйелдерімен және вампирлерімен танымал.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Иранистан – қазіргі Иранға сәйкес келетін шығыс жері. Тарихи тұрғыдан, елдің аты Иран + парсы тіліндегі «стан» қосымшасынан шыққан, «ел» дегенді білдіреді.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Камбуджа/Камбулия – Камбоджаның бастапқы аты, сондай-ақ Кампучия деп белгілі.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Кешан – Атауы Мысырлықтардың Нубияға берген «Кеш» атауынан алынған.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Хауран – Атауы Сириядағы Хауран аймағынан алынған болуы мүмкін, бірақ оның орналасуы оны Македонияға жақын, Криттің ықпалында орналастырады. Көрінеді, Жаңа өсиеттегі Саломе осы патшалық үйдің ұрпағы.
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Хитай – Қытай. Атауы Хитан империясынан (қытай тілінде 遼朝 Liáo cháo немесе Ляо династиясы) және сол елді билеген халықтан алынған. Атауы Хитан тілінен алынған, Хитан империясы, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; қазіргі мандарин қытай тілінде 契丹國 немесе Qìdān guó. Гибориан дәуірінде Хитай – оңтүстіктегі Камбуджамен әрдайым соғыста болатын ежелгі империя. Көне заманда Хитай жаулап алушы империямен бағынышты болды...
In his fantasy setting of the Hyborian Age, Howard created imaginary kingdoms to which he gave names inspired by or adapted from a variety of mythological and historical sources. Khitai is his version of China, lying far to the east; Corinthia is his name for a Hellenistic civilization, a name derived from the city of Corinth and reminiscent of the imperial fief of Carinthia in the Middle Ages. Howard imagines the Hyborian Picts occupying a large area in the northwest. The probable intended analogues are listed below; notice that the analogues are sometimes very generalized, and are portrayed by non historical stereotypes. Most of these correspondences are drawn from "Hyborian Names", an appendix featured in Conan the Swordsman by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. Kingdom, region, or ethnic group Possible analogue(s) Acheron A fallen kingdom corresponding to the Roman Empire. Its territory covered Aquilonia, Nemedia, and Argos. In Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the four rivers of Hades (cf. "Stygia"). Acheron was a priest monarchy ruled by priest kings who performed human sacrifice with their own hands. Afghulistan Afghanistan. Afghulistan (sometimes "Ghulistan") is the common name for the habitat of different tribes in the Himelian Mountains. The name itself is a mixture of the historical names of Gulistan and Afghanistan. Alkmeenon Delphi. Its name derives from the Alcmaeonidae, who funded construction the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, from which the oracle operated. Also, Alcmene is the mother of Hercules. After death, she traveled into Hades and married Rhadamanthys, a chief judge of the underworld. Amazon Mentioned in Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age essay, the kingdom of the Amazons refers to various legends of Greek Amazons, or more specifically to the Dahomey Amazons. In classical legend, Amazonia is a nation of warrior women in Asia Minor and North Africa. The legend may be based upon the Sarmatians, a nomadic Iranian tribe of the Kuban, whose women were required to slay an enemy before they could marry. Aquilonia Influenced by medieval Western Europe and elements of Colonial North America. The name is borrowed from Aquilonia, a city of Southern Italy, between modern Venosa and Benevento. It is also an ancient name for Quimper and resembles that of Aquitaine, a French region ruled by England for a long portion of the Middle Ages. The name is derived from Latin aquilo(n–), "north wind". Aquila also means "eagle" in Latin. Argos Various seafaring traders of the Mediterranean, with islands such as Crete, Sardinia, and Sicily being examples. The name comes from the Argo, ship of the Argonauts; or perhaps from the city of Argos, Peloponnesos, reputedly the oldest city in Greece, situated at the head of the Gulf of Argolis near modern Nafplion. Also, hints of Italy in regards to the indigenous population's appearance, names and culture. In Hyborian Age cartography, Argos takes on the shape of a "shoe" in its border boundaries as compared to Italy appearing as a "boot". The coastal city of Messantia/Massantia derives its name from Messina, a city in northeastern Sicily. Asgard (Aesgaard in comics) Dark Age Scandinavia. Ásgard is the home of the Æsir in Norse mythology. Howard states that the Baltic Sea would, post cataclysm, divide his fictional Asgard into the modern Norway, Sweden, and Denmark according to The Hyborian Age essay. Barachan Islands The Caribbean Islands. Possibly after the Islas Borrachas ("Drunken Isles"). The pirate town of Tortage takes its name from Tortuga. Border Kingdoms Geographically located over the modern German Baltic Sea coast. A lawless region full of brigands and semi barbaric peoples. Conan once traveled through the Border Kingdoms on his way to Nemedia. The low countries, baltic, and the borderlands of Scotland and England could be similar examples. Bossonian Marches Wales, with an overlay of colonial North America. Possibly from Bossiney, a former parliamentary borough in Cornwall, South West England, which included Tintagel Castle, connected with the Matter of Britain. Brythunia The continental homelands of the Angles and Saxons who invaded Great Britain, which is the origin of the name, though it is implied the Brythunians of the Hyborian age are a different group that could be related to early slavs. Semantically, the name Brythunia is from the Welsh Brython, "Briton", derived from the same root as the Latin Brito, Britannia, although Howard stated that the name was kept by the Æsir and Nemedians who settled there, further implying that the Brythunians are not Germanic or Celtic. The land is depicted geographically over modern Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Cimmeria Howard states in The Hyborian Age that "the Gaels, ancestors of the Irish and Highland Scots, descended from pure blooded Cimmerian clans." He correlates Cimmeria with the Cymric people, Cimbri, Gimirrai, Scythians, Cimmerians, and the Crimea. Geographically located over modern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The name is derived from the Greek legends of a northern people, who lived in perpetual mist and darkness near the Land of the Dead. The Cimmerians are named by Howard as the ancestors of the Proto Indo Europeans. Conajohara (Aquilonia) The name may have been based on Canajoharie. Corinthia Ancient Greece, specifically Macedon based on its geography. From Corinth (Korinthos), a rich city in Classical Greece. Possibly suggested to Howard by the Epistles to the Corinthians, or by the region of Carinthia. It's a mountainous country located east of Koth. Darfar Howard derived this name from the region of Darfur, Sudan, in North Central Africa. Darfur is an Arabic language name meaning "abode (dar) of the Fur", the dominant people of the area. The original Darfur is now the westernmost part of the Republic of the Sudan. Gunderland Possibly from Gunderland of Hesbaye, a count in the Merovingian court, or from Gelderland a province in the Netherlands or from Gunther (Gundicar), King of Burgundy or Gunderic, King of the Vandals. Hyperborea Finland, Russia, and the Baltic countries (Hyperborea). Is a land in the "outermost north" according to Greek historian Herodotus. Howard describes his Hyperborea as the first Hyborian kingdom, "which had its beginning in a crude fortress of boulders heaped to repel tribal attack". Possible Scythian influences Hyrkania The Eurasian Steppe, specifically the Turco Mongol peoples, whom Howard names as their descendants in his Hyborian age essay. Hyrkania, in classical geography, was a region southeast of the Caspian Sea or Hyrkanian Sea corresponding to the Iranian provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, and Gilan. The name is Greek for the Old Persian Varkana, one of the Achaemenid Empire satrapies, and survives in the name of the river Gorgan. The original meaning may have been "wolf land". In Iranian legend, Hyrkania is remarkable for its wizards, demons, wolves, spirits, witches, and vampires. Iranistan An eastern land corresponding with modern Iran. Historically, the name of the country is derived from Iran + the Persian suffix istan, estan 'country'. Kambuja/Kambulja The original name of Cambodia, also known as Kampuchea. Keshan The name comes from the "Kesh", the Egyptian name for Nubia. Khauran The name perhaps derives from the Hauran region of Syria, though its position would place it near Macedonia, with Cretan influences. Apparently, Salome in the New Testament is a descendant of this royal house. Khitai China. The name is derived from the Khitan Empire (Chinese 遼朝 Liáo cháo or the Liao Dynasty) and the people who ruled northern and northeastern China. The name is derived from the Khitan language for The Khitan Empire, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; in modern Mandarin Chinese, 契丹國 or Qìdān guó. In the Hyborian age, Khitai is an ancient empire which is always at war with Kambuja to the south. In ancient times, Khitai was subjugated by an empire of conquerors from a mysterious continent in the eastern ocean, perhaps ancient Mu in the days of king Kull. After the cataclysm, this empire made slaves of the Lemurians who fled the destruction. With time, the Lemurian slaves, and perhaps the gentile Khitanians, were able to rise up and overthrow this empire. The remnants of this white skinned master race fled westwards, conquering the kingdom of the serpent men and founding Stygia. The people of Khitai are yellow skinned and of medium height. Khitai is ruled by a God Emperor whose decisions are greatly influenced by the Scarlet Circle, a clan of some of the most powerful mage lords in all of Hyboria. Khitan laws flow from the overlord of a city state. The culture of Khitai is similar to that of ancient China. The most prominent feature of Khitai is its Great Wall (similar to the Great Wall of China), which protects it from foreign invasions from the north. The cities of Khitai are Ruo Chen, Shu Chen, Shaulum, and the capital, Paikang, which contains the Jade Citadel, from which the God Emperor rules over all of Khitai. See also Catai. Khoraja Constantinople and Sicily. Its position places it as the crossroads between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemites. The name itself was inspired by the references of Sax Rohmer to the fictional city of Khorassa in the novel The Mask of Fu Manchu. Kosala From the ancient Indo Aryan kingdom of Kosala, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Kozaki Semi barbaric steppe dwelling raiders analogous to the Cossacks. Koth From the ancient Italic peoples. The Kothian capital of Khorshemish corresponds with Carchemish, capital of a Neo Hittite kingdom. Perhaps from The Sign of Koth in The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft. Howard also used the same name in his interplanetary novel Almuric. Kusan Probably from the Kushan Empire. Kush From the kingdom of Kush, Nubia. Meru Tibet. In Hindu mythology, Meru is the sacred mountain upon which the gods dwell. NOTE: Meru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, and was created by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter for "The City of Skulls". Nemedia A cross between the Holy Roman Empire and Byzantium. Nemedia is the rival of Aquilonia, and depended on Aesir mercenaries for their defence (as the Byzantine Empire hired Vikings as the Varangian Guard). The name comes from Nemed, leader of colonists from Scythia to Ireland in Irish mythology. Ophir The Etruscans, an ancient people also stereotyped for their wealth and decadence. Howard saw it as situated somewhere in Italy, namely in the North, as opposed to the more southern Koth. Pelishtia Philistines (P'lishtim in Hebrew). The Pelishti city of Asgalun derives its name from Ascalon. The Pelisti god Pteor or Baal Pteor derives his name from the Moabite Baal Peor. Pictish Wilderness Pre Columbian America, with an overlay of North America during the European colonization of the Americas, possibly even colonial era New York. Howard bestows names from the Iroquoi language on many of his Hyborian Age Picts (but not the quasi historical Picts featuring Bran Mak Morn). Poitain A combination of Poitou and Aquitaine, two regions in southwestern France. From the 10th to the mid 12th century, the counts of Poitou were also the dukes of Aquitaine. Punt The Land of Punt on the Horn of Africa. A place in which the ancient Egyptians traded with, probably Somalia. Shem Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and Arabia. In the Bible, Shem is Noah's eldest son, the ancestor of the Hebrews, Arabs and Assyrians; hence, the modern "Semite" and Semitic languages (via Greek Sem), used properly to designate the family of languages spoken by these peoples. Stygia Egypt and Ancient Libya. The name derives from the Styx, a river of the underworld in Greek mythology. In earlier times the territory of Stygia included Shem, Ophir, Corinthia, and part of Koth. Stygia is ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer kings. The high nobility with the royal house are pure blooded white skinned descendants of the conquerors. The people are brown skinned and worship the serpent deity Set. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, deserts, and marshes. The River Styx flows through Stygia into the sea; the map provided makes clear that the Styx is the Nile, but since the Mediterranean did not yet exist, it had a very long additional westward bend, following what is now the coast of North Africa, until finally emptying into the Atlantic. The down throdden multi ethnical commoners of Stygia may still, in spirit, be the original human slaves or slave races of the serpent men who ruled this kingdom centuries before. Turan Persian name for Turkestan. A Turkish land, possibly referring to the Turko Persian dynasties of the Timurid Empire, or the Great Seljuq Sultanate. The name derives from Turan, the areas of Eurasia occupied by speakers of Ural–Altaic languages. The names of the various Turanian cities (e. g. Aghrapur, Sultanapur, Shahpur) are often in Persian language. King Yezdigerd is named after Yazdegerd III, ruler of the Sassanid Empire. The city of Khawarizm takes its name from Khwarezm, and Khorusun from Khorasan. Uttara Kuru From the medieval Uttara Kuru Kingdom in the north and central reaches of Pakistan. NOTE: Uttara Kuru is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, it appears in Conan the Avenger by Björn Nyberg. Vanaheim Dark Age Scandinavia. Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir in Norse mythology. The red haired vanir will finally oust the evil aristocracy of Stygia and found pharaonic Egypt. They are red haired as a reference to pharaohs like Ramses and his father Seti, who had red hair. Vendhya India (the Vindhya Range is a range of hills in central India). The name means "rent" or "ragged", i. e. having many passes. This very ancient kingdom, perhaps Kaa u in the days of king Kull, worships the god Asura. This cult has spread westwards and is present, albeit often persecuted, in the Hyborian lands. In Aquilonia, the cult finds a protector in King Conan. Yamatai Japan. Probably inspired by the historical name of Yamatai. The land of Yamatai is described as "a cluster of islands east of Khitai", ruled by the "Witch Queen of Yamatai" in The Savage Sword of Conan story, herself possibly inspired by the historical shaman queen Himiko. NOTE: Yamatai is not one of Howard's original Hyborian Age countries, but appeared in a Savage Sword of Conan comic adaptation. Wadai (tribe) The Wadai Empire in present day Chad. Wazuli (tribe) The Waziri tribe in northwest Pakistan. Zamora The Romani people. The name comes from the city of Zamora, Zamora province, Castile and León, Spain, alluding to the Gitanos of Spain (see Zingara for discussion); or possibly it is based on the word "Roma". There may also be some reference to southern Italy, as Zamorans dance the tarantella in honor of their Spider Gods (variously known as Omm and Zath). Also hints of Ancient Israel and Palestine. Zembabwei The Munhumutapa Empire. The name comes from Great Zimbabwe, a ruined fortified town in south eastern Zimbabwe, after which the modern Republic of Zimbabwe takes its name. It was first built around the 11th century and used as the capital of the Munhumutapa Empire. Zingara The Iberian Peninsula as a whole, with overt influences from Spain. Zingara is also Italian for "Gypsy woman"; this may mean that Howard mixed up the source names of Zingara and Zamora, with Zingara originally meant to apply to the Roma kingdom, and Zamora to the Spanish kingdom. Zuagir (tribe) The name is perhaps derived from a combination of Tuareg and Uyghur. Main influence is the Bedouins. Other geographic features Amir Jehun Pass Takes its name from a combination of the Amu Darya river and the Gihon river (Jayhoun in Arabic), which has been identified by some with the Amu Darya. Perhaps corresponds to the Broghol Pass, which is near the headwaters of the Amu Darya in Wakhan. Himelian Mountains Take their name from the Himalayas, but correspond more closely with the Hindu Kush or Karakoram ranges. Karpash Mountains The Carpathian Mountains. Poitanian Mountains The Pyrenees, which are just south of the Aquitaine region of France. River Styx The River Styx runs northward through Stygia, following the course of the historical Nile river. Then it turns and runs westward through Shem, following the historical Mediterranean Sea, finally emptying into the western ocean. Styx, in classical mythology, is the River of the Dead and this symbolism is used in The Hour of the Dragon. River Alimane Alamana river, (present Spercheios) in Greece. It may also be a reference to the Alemanni. Vilayet Sea Geographically, the Caspian Sea. The name comes from vilayet, the term for administrative regions in the Ottoman Empire. Zhaibar Pass The Khyber Pass which has been the traditional borderline between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zaporoska River Don and/or the Volga.
Тәңірлер
Стигиандықтар Сет құдайына адамдық құрбандық шалып, жыланға табынады, ал Иштардың ізбасарлары дене қуаныштарын ұстанып өмір сүреді. Вендхьяда Асураның жақтастары физикалық әлемнің алдануынан арғы шындықты іздейді, ал Митраның гибориандық құлшынып табынушылары аскетизмді қайырымдылық пен әділдікке деген адалдықпен үйлестіруде христиан дініне ұқсас.
The Stygian followers of Set worship their deity with human sacrifice and actively venerate serpents, and Ishtar's worshippers follow the pleasures of the flesh. In Vendhya, the followers of Asura seek truth beyond the illusions of the physical world, and the Hyborian devotees of Mitra are almost Christian in their merging of asceticism with a commitment to compassion and justice.
Кром
Кром – Роберт Э. Говардтың гибориан дәуіріндегі фантастикалық әңгімелеріндегі құдай. Ол басты кейіпкер Конан мен оның прото-келт киммериялық халқының басты құдайы ретінде танылады. Кром есімі, мүмкін, ежелгі ирланд құдайлары Кром Круах немесе Кром Дубхтан шыққан. Кром – киммериялық пантеонның басты құдайы, ол үлкен таудың үстінде тұрады және сол жерден апат пен өлім жібереді. Кромға дұға етудің қажеті жоқ, себебі ол әлсіздерді жек көретін қараңғы және қатыгез құдай. Дегенмен, Кром адамға батылдық, ерік бостандығы және жауларымен күресуге күш сыйлайды, киммериялықтар осыны одан қажет деп санайды. Кром адамның тірілігі мен өліміне мән бермейді, оның есімі көбінесе ант немесе қарғыс ретінде қолданылады. Ол – киммериялық пантеонда аты айтылатын жалғыз құдай. Роберт Э. Говардтың түпнұсқа Конан әңгімелерінде Кром ешқашан тікелей араласып немесе кез келген оқиғаның себебі болған емес. Оның шығармаларында Кромның шын мәнінде бар екенін көрсететін аз ғана дәлел бар, бұл "Аққош құдайы" және "Сары бұлақтағы мұнара" әңгімелеріндегі жын-перілер мен жоғары дамыған шетелдіктерден өзгеше. "Қылыстағы феникс" әңгімесінде Сеттің Х.П. Лавкрафттің Ұлы Ежелгілердің бірі екені айтылады. Говардтың "Қара Колосс" әңгімесінде Митра Конанды өзінің чемпионы ретінде таңдау үшін ханшайымға тікелей нұсқау береді, бірақ Кром мұндай көріністерде болмайды. Кром – тек киммериялық құдай, басқа өркениеттер оған көп көңіл бөлмейді, ал Конан Кромның есімімен ант еткенде, ол бірден киммериялық екенін көрсетеді.
Crom '/k//r//ɒ//m/ is a deity in Robert E. Howard's fantasy tales of the Hyborian Age. He is acknowledged as the chief god by the lead character Conan, and his proto Celtic Cimmerian people. The name Crom is probably derived from the Old Irish deity Crom Cruach or Crom Dubh. Crom is the chief god of the Cimmerian pantheon, and he lives on a great mountain, from where he sends forth doom or death. It is considered useless to call upon Crom, because he is a gloomy and savage god who hates weaklings. However, Crom gives a man courage, free will, and the strength to fight his enemies, which the Cimmerians believe is all that is needed from him. Crom doesn't care if individuals live or die, and his name is typically only invoked as an oath or curse. He is the only member of the Cimmerian pantheon named with any regularity. Crom is never depicted as directly intervening or otherwise explicitly causing any event in the original Conan stories by Robert E. Howard. There is little consistent evidence in his works that Crom actually exists, in contrast to the demons and highly advanced aliens appearing in "The God in the Bowl" and "The Tower of the Elephant", while the story "The Phoenix on the Sword" implies that Set is one of H. P. Lovecraft's Great Old Ones. Howard's story "Black Colossus" features a princess vocally directed by Mitra to recruit Conan as her champion, but Crom makes no such appearances. Crom is exclusively a Cimmerian god, with other civilizations paying him little attention, and Conan swearing with Crom's name immediately identifies him as a Cimmerian.
Митра
Митра – сол дәуірдегі адамдар арасында жақсылықтың символы ретінде танымал. Ол, мүмкін, Веда және Зороастризмдегі сол аттас тұлғаның негізінде жаратылған, ал Гибориан әлемінде оның құлшынысы көбінесе христиандықты білдіреді. "Гибориан дәуірі" атты мақаласында Говард Митраның ізбасарларының жауларын кешіруге ұмтылатынын, бірақ көптегендерінің оны істемейтінін жазады. Митраның діні миссионерлік сипатта; оның жақтастары өз нанымын жауласқан халықтарға таратуға тырысып, кейде шейіт болады. Митраға табыну қазіргі Батыс Еуропаға сәйкес келетін Гибориан елдерінде үстемдік құрып, іс жүзінде мемлекеттік дінге айналған. Азия мен Африкаға сәйкес келетін аймақтарда Митра көптеген құдайлардың бірі ғана, ал Стигияда (Мысыр мен Солтүстік Африка) оған табынуға тыйым салынған. Митра – Аквилония, Офир, Немедия, Бритюния, Коринфия және Зингара сияқты өркениетті Гибориан патшалықтарының бас құдайы. Оның жақтастары біржақты құдайға табынушылар, себебі кем дегенде бір деректе Митраның дін қызметкерлері Сеттің бар екенін мойындайды. Ол "мейірімді" құдай ретінде сипатталады. Хоражда, Гибориан және Шемит патшалықтарының шекарасында орналасқан, Митраға табыну Шемит құдайларының пайдасына ұмытылып, бірақ қиын жағдайларда Хораждалықтар әлі де Митраға шақырып, жауап алады ("Қара Колосс"). Митра мен оның ізбасарлары Конан әңгімелерінде көбінесе жағымды бейнеленсе де, Говардтың "Аждаһаның сағаты" романында олар Асураның жақтастарын жазасыз қудалайды. Конан "варвар" болғандықтан, бұл "өркениетті" көзқараспен келіспейді және Асураның жақтастарын қорғайды, олар кейіннен көмектеседі. Митра культі құрбандық шалмайды және эстетикалық қарапайымдылықты бағалайды. Сондықтан оның киелі орындары әдетте әшекейленбеген, тек бір мүсіннен басқа ешқандай бейнелеу өнері болмайды. Бұл мүсін – шашы ұзын, сақалды ер адамның бейнесі және негізгі құлшынып табыну нысаны. Алайда, барлық жерде болуына және денесіздігіне байланысты Митра мүсінде тұрмайды және оның сыртқы түрімен ортақ емес. Говардтың жазбаларында ол феникс символымен, "Конан дәуірі" MMORPG ойынында Анкхпен, ал "Конан Ексилз" аман қалу ойынында қола колосспен бейнеленеді. Митра Говардтың "Қара Колосс" романында тікелей пайда болады, онда ол Хоражданың ханшайымы Ясмеламен сөйлесіп, оны қауіпті сәтте жетелейді. Митраның араласуы Конанның мансабына елеулі әсер етеді. Ол бұрын "қырғыншылар" тобынан артық командалық құрамын басқармаса да, он мыңдаған сарбаз қатысқан тарихи маңызды шайқаста жеңіске жеткен генерал ретінде танылады. Конанның мансабында көптеген жетістіктер мен сәтсіздіктер болғанымен, бұл патша болуға қадам болды. Митраның пікірінше, Конан Гибориан патшалықтарының жауынан жеңілуге ең лайықты кандидат болған.
Mitra is a personification of good, popular amongst people of the era. He is probably loosely based on the Vedic and Zoroastrian figure by the same name, and in the Hyborian universe, his worship generally represents Christianity. In the essay "The Hyborian Age", Howard writes that followers of Mitra are urged to forgive their enemies (though many of them fail to do so). Mitra's religion is missionary; its adherents are sometimes martyred trying to spread their faith to hostile peoples. Mitra's worship is dominant, effectively the state religion, in the Hyborian countries corresponding to modern Western Europe. In lands corresponding to Asia and Africa, Mitra is, at best, one god among many, and his worship is forbidden in Stygia (Egypt and North Africa). Mitra is the chief god of most of the civilized Hyborian kingdoms, including Aquilonia, Ophir, Nemedia, Brythunia, Corinthia, and Zingara. His worshippers are monolatristic, since at least one tale depicts priests of Mitra recognizing the existence of Set. He is depicted as a "gentle" god. In Khoraja, which is on the border between the Hyborian kingdoms and the Shemite ones, the worship of Mitra was largely forgotten in favor of the Shemite gods – but in hours of great need, Khorajans still call on Mitra and are answered ("Black Colossus"). While Mitra and his followers are in general presented favorably in the Conan stories, in Howard's The Hour of the Dragon they intolerantly persecute followers of Asura. Conan, being a "barbarian", does not share this "civilized" prejudice and protects Asura's followers, who prove helpful later. The Mitra cult never practices sacrifice and values aesthetic simplicity. Thus, his shrines are usually unadorned and feature little or no iconography except for a single idol. The idol itself has the appearance of an idealized, bearded male figure and is the primary object of worship. However, being omnipresent and incorporeal, Mitra is not considered to reside in the icon, nor share its appearance. He is also symbolically represented by a phoenix in Howard's writing, by an Ankh in the Age of Conan MMORPG, and by a bronze colossus in the survival video game Conan Exiles. Mitra appears directly in Howard's "Black Colossus", where he speaks to Princess Yasmela of Khoraja and guides her in an hour of desperate danger. Mitra's involvement has a significant effect on Conan's career. Though he had never commanded more than a "company of cut throats", Conan emerges as a victorious general in a historically important battle involving tens of thousands of soldiers. Though Conan's career would know many more ups and downs, this was an important step towards eventually becoming a king. From Mitra's point of view, Conan was evidently the best choice to defeat a sworn enemy of the Hyborian kingdoms.
Скелос
Скелос "Қара шеңбердің адамдары", "Аждаһаның сағаты" және "Қараның тоғаны" өлеңдік кіріспесінде еске алынады. Ол өлімнің зұлым құдайы, және көптеген осындай құдайлар сияқты, мысалы Один, ол даналық пен біліммен байланысты. Конан дәуірінде мальтеистер мен некроманттардың қасиетті кітабы "Скелос кітабы" деп аталады, оның авторы – соқыр Вател. Грек мифологиясындағы соқыр болжаушы Тиресиас, өлгендер әлемі – Хадеспен тығыз байланысты болған. Гомердің "Одиссеясында" Одиссей Тиресиас көлеңкесімен ақылдасу үшін Хадестің алды – Кимерияға сапар шегеді. Ватлен – бұл шындығындағыда вулкандық тау, ол Конан әлеміндегі Стигияның астанасы Люксор орналасқан жерде жатыр. "Аждаһаның сағаты" романында Ораст Скелос дұғасымен Ксальтотунды қайта тірілтеді, "Атлантида жас болғанда ежелгі", яғни Стигиядан да әлдеқайда көне, тіпті Сетке табынудан бұрынғы заманнан келген. "Алтын бас сүйектің қарғысы" атты Куль хикаясында қара жұлдыз Ротатқа табынған бейне, күлімсіреген бас сүйектей көрінеді. Осы хикаяда "Скелос кітабының" ертерек нұсқасы айтылады. Ротаттың құдайы "Алмаз бен Ақсақал" романында Тюрон табынған есімсіз құдаймен бірдей. Скелос – осы ұлы есімсіздің бір жағы.
Skelos is mentioned in "The People of the Black Circle", "The Hour of the Dragon" and in the verse prologue to "The Pool of the Black One". He is an evil god of death, and as many such ones, Odin for one, he is connected to wisdom and learning. The Bible of maltheists and necromancers in Conan’s days is called "The Book of Skelos", whose author is Vathelos the Blind. The blind seer Tiresias in Greek mythology was strongly connected to Hades, the realm of the dead. In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus travels to Cimmeria, the forecourt of Hades, to confer with the shade of Tiresias. Vatellen is the name of a volcanic mountain in reality lying where Luxor, capital of Stygia lies in the world of Conan. In "The Hour of the Dragon" Orastes resurrects Xaltotun with an incantation of Skelos, "Ancient when Atlantis was young", i. e. much older than Stygia, let alone Set worship. The idol worshipped by the dark priest mage Rotath in the Kull story "The Curse of the Golden Skull" seems to be a grinning skull. In this story an earlier version of "The Book of Skelos" is mentioned. The god of Rotath is identical with the dark nameless god worshipped by Thuron in "The Altar and the Scorpion". Skelos is one aspect of this great nameless one.