Введение
Вымышленный период, созданный Робертом Э. Говардом.
Эссе Говарда, описывающее гиборианскую эпоху.
Fictional period created by Robert E. Howard
Howard's essay describing the Hyborian Age
Howard's essay describing the Hyborian Age
Гиборианская эпоха – вымышленный период в истории Земли, созданный Робертом Э. Говардом в рамках его искусственной мифологии и служащий местом действия для историй о Конане-варваре в жанре «меч и магия». Слово «гибориан» происходит от названия легендарной северной земли древних греков – Гипербореи, и именно так оно представлено в ранней редакции эссе Говарда «Гиборианская эпоха». Говард описывал Гиборианскую эпоху как последовавшую за гибелью Атлантиды и предшествующую началу письменной истории древнего мира. Большинство последующих редакторов и адаптаторов, таких как Л. Спраг де Камп и Рой Томас, помещали Гиборианскую эпоху примерно в 10 000 году до нашей эры. В последнее время Дейл Риппке предложил отодвинуть Гиборианскую эпоху глубже в прошлое – к 32 500 году до нашей эры, до начала последнего ледникового максимума. Однако датировка Риппке была оспорена Джеффри Шенксом, который выступает за более традиционное размещение в конце последнего ледникового максимума. Говард питал глубокую любовь к истории и историческим драмам, но при этом осознавал сложности и трудоемкость исследований, необходимых для обеспечения исторической достоверности. Создав вневременной сеттинг – исчезнувшую эпоху – и тщательно подбирая имена, напоминающие известные нам исторические, Говард избежал проблемы исторических анахронизмов и необходимости пространных объяснений.
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.
Катаклистические предки
Говард объяснил происхождение и историю гиборианской цивилизации в своем эссе "Гиборианская эпоха". Эссе начинается с конца Тюрийской эпохи (времени действия историй Говарда о короле Куле) и разрушения ее цивилизаций, Лемурии и Атлантиды, геологическим катаклизмом. После этого катаклизма выжившие люди были низведены до примитивного состояния и технологического уровня, едва превосходящего неандертальский. Несколько таких племен мигрировали в северные области того, что осталось от Тюрийского континента, чтобы избежать гибели. Они обнаружили, что регион безопасен, но покрыт снегом и уже населен расой злобных белых обезьян с густой шерстью. Последовала ожесточенная территориальная война, пока люди не оттеснили обезьян дальше на север, за Полярный круг. Считая, что обезьянам уготована гибель, люди приступили к освоению их сурового нового дома.
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.
Предки гиборианцев
Через тысячу пятьсот лет потомки этой первоначальной группы стали называться "гиборийцами". Они получили свое название в честь высшего божества Бори. В эссе упоминается, что Бори на самом деле был великим племенным вождем их прошлого, впоследствии обожествленным. Их предания сохранили память о нем как о предводителе во время их первого переселения на север, хотя его древность была преувеличена. К этому времени различные, родственные, но независимые гиборийские племена расселились по северным регионам их мира. Некоторые из них уже неспешно мигрировали на юг в поисках новых земель для поселения. Гиборийцы еще не встречали других культур, но воевали друг с другом. Говард описывает их как могущественную и воинственную расу, представители которой в среднем были высокими, светловолосыми и сероглазыми. В культурном отношении они были талантливыми художниками и поэтами. Большинство племен по-прежнему добывали себе пропитание охотой. Однако их южные отколовшиеся племена веками занимались разведением скота. Единственным исключением из их долгой изоляции от других культур стало путешествие одинокого авантюриста, имя которого не упоминается в эссе. Он прошел за Полярный круг и вернулся с известием, что их давние враги, обезьяны, не были истреблены. Вместо этого они эволюционировали в человекообразных обезьян и, по его словам, к тому времени их стало много. Он полагал, что они быстро эволюционируют до человеческого уровня и в будущем станут угрозой для гиборийцев. Он попытался набрать значительный военный отряд для похода против них, но большинство гиборийцев не поверили его рассказам; лишь небольшая группа безрассудных юношей последовала за ним в его походе. Никто из них не вернулся.
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.
Начало гиборианской эпохи
По мере того как население хиборианских племен продолжало расти, росла и потребность в новых землях. Гиборианцы расширили свои владения за пределы привычных территорий, начав новую эпоху странствий и завоеваний. На протяжении 500 лет гиборианцы распространялись на юг и запад своего безымянного континента. Они впервые за тысячелетия столкнулись с другими племенными группами. Они покорили множество мелких кланов различного происхождения. Выжившие из покоренных кланов смешались со своими завоевателями, передав свои расовые признаки новым поколениям гиборийцев. Смешанные по крови гиборианские племена, в свою очередь, были вынуждены защищать свои новые земли от чистокровных гиборианских племен, следовавших тем же путям миграции. Зачастую новые захватчики уничтожали защитников, прежде чем ассимилировать их, что привело к запутанной сети гиборианских племен и народов с разнообразными предковыми элементами в их родословных. Первым организованным гиборианским королевством, возникшим в результате, стала Гиперборея. Племя, основавшее его, вступило в эпоху неолита, научившись возводить сооружения из камня, главным образом для укрепления. Эти кочевники жили в шатрах из лошадиных шкур, но вскоре отказались от них в пользу грубых, но прочных каменных жилищ. Они окончательно осели в укрепленных поселениях и разработали циклопическую кладку для дальнейшего усиления оборонительных стен. К тому времени гиперборейцы стали самым развитым из гиборианских племен и начали расширять свое королевство, нападая на отсталые соседние племена. Племена, защищавшие свои территории, теряли их и были вынуждены мигрировать в другие места. Другие бежали с пути гиперборейской экспансии, даже не вступая с ними в бой. Тем временем, человекообразные обезьяны Арктического круга стали новой расой светловолосых и высоких людей. Они начали собственную миграцию на юг, вытесняя самые северные гиборианские племена.
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.
Правители Запада
В течение следующих тысячи лет воинственные гиборианские народы продвигались вперед, чтобы стать правителями западных областей безымянного континента. Они столкнулись с пиктами и оттеснили их в западные пустоши, которые впоследствии стали известны как "Пиктовская дикая местность". Следуя примеру своих гиперборейских сородичей, другие гиборийцы мигрировали на юг и основали собственные королевства. Самым южным из ранних королевств был Кот, основанный к северу от земель Шема, который вскоре начал распространять свое культурное влияние на южных кочевников. Непосредственно к югу от Пиктовской дикой местности располагалась плодородная долина, известная как "Цинг". Гиборианское племя, завоевавшее ее, обнаружило там уже поселившихся людей, включая безымянный земледельческий народ, родственный народу Шема, и воинственное пиктийское племя, которое ранее покорило их. Они основали королевство Зингара и ассимилировали побежденных в своем племени. Гиборийцы, пикты и неназванные родственники шемитов объединились в народ, называющий себя зингарами. Тем временем, на севере континента, светловолосые захватчики из Арктики увеличились в численности и силе. Они продолжили экспансию на юг, вытесняя в свою очередь побежденных гиборийцев на юг. Даже Гиперборея была завоевана одним из этих варварских племен, но завоеватели решили сохранить королевство под прежним названием, объединившись с побежденными гиперборейцами и переняв элементы гиборианской культуры. Продолжающиеся войны и миграции определяли состояние остальных областей континента еще на протяжении пятисот лет.
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.
Мир
Гиборианская эпоха была создана автором Робертом Э. Говардом как место действия его историй о Конане-киммерийце в пост-атлантический период, чтобы соответствовать более ранним и менее известным рассказам Говарда о Кулле, которые происходили в Тюрианскую эпоху во времена Атлантиды. Название "Гибориан" является сокращением от греческого понятия земли "Гиперборея", буквально "За Северным Ветром". Это было мифическое место, расположенное далеко на севере, где не было холода и вещи не старели. Гиборианская эпоха Говарда, описанная в его эссе "Гиборианская эпоха", – это мифическое время, предшествующее любым цивилизациям, известным антропологам. Её место действия – доисторическая Европа и Северная Африка (с редкими упоминаниями Азии и других континентов). На карте, которую Говард нарисовал, чтобы визуализировать Гиборианскую эпоху, Средиземное море изображено пересохшим. Нил, который он переименовал в реку Стикс, делает крутой поворот на запад сразу за дельтой Нила, прорезая горы, чтобы достичь Гибралтарского пролива. Хотя его Чёрное море также пересохло, его Каспийское море, которое он назвал Вилайетским морем, простирается на север, чтобы достичь Северного Ледовитого океана, создавая барьер, охватывающий пространство, где разворачиваются его истории. Не только Балтийское море и Ла-Манш пересохли, но и большая часть Северного моря и обширная территория к западу, включая Ирландию, также находятся под водой. Тем временем, западное побережье Африки на его карте лежит под водой.
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.
Страны и достопримечательности
В своей фантастической обстановке гиборианской эпохи Говард создал воображаемые королевства, которым он дал имена, вдохновленные или адаптированные из различных мифологических и исторических источников. Хитай – это его версия Китая, лежащего далеко на востоке; Коринфия – его название эллинистической цивилизации, название, полученное из города Коринф и напоминающее имперское феодальное владение Каринтии в Средние века. Говард представляет себе гиборианских пиктов, занимающих большую территорию на северо-западе. Вероятные предполагаемые аналоги перечислены ниже; обратите внимание, что аналоги иногда очень обобщены и изображены неисторическими стереотипами. Большинство из этих соответствий взято из "Гиборианских имен", приложения, представленного в "Конане-мечнике" Л. Спраг де Кампа и Лина Картера.
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.
Королевство, регион или этническая группа – Возможный аналог(и)
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 – Павшее королевство, соответствующее Римской империи. Его территория охватывала Аквилонию, Немидию и Аргос. В греческой мифологии Ахерон была одной из четырех рек Аида (см. "Стигию"). Ахерон – это монархия священников, управляемая царями-священниками, совершавшими человеческие жертвоприношения своими руками.
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.
Афгулистан – Афганистан. Афгулистан (иногда "Гулистан") – общее название среды обитания различных племен в Гимельских горах. Само название – смесь исторических названий Гулистана и Афганистана.
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 – Дельфы. Его название происходит от Алкмеонидов, финансировавших строительство храма Аполлона в Дельфах, из которого действовало оракул. Кроме того, Алкмена – мать Геркулеса. После смерти она отправилась в ад и вышла замуж за Радамантиса, главного судью подземного мира.
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 – Упоминается в эссе Роберта Э. Говарда "Гиборианская эпоха", царство амазонок относится к различным легендам греческих амазонок или, более конкретно, к дагомейским амазонкам. В классической легенде Амазония – это нация воительниц в Малой Азии и Северной Африке. Легенда, возможно, основана на сарматах, кочевом иранском племени Кубани, чьи женщины должны были убить врага, прежде чем они могли выйти замуж.
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 – Под влиянием средневековой Западной Европы и элементов колониальной Северной Америки. Название заимствовано из Аквилонии, города в Южной Италии, между современными Венесой и Беневенто. Это также древнее название Кимпера и напоминает название аквитанского региона Франции, который в средние века долгое время находился под властью Англии. Название происходит от латинского aquilo(n–), "северный ветер". Аквила также означает "орел" на латыни.
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 – Различные мореплаватели Средиземноморья, например, острова Крит, Сардиния и Сицилия. Название происходит от "Арго", корабля аргонавтов, или, возможно, от города Аргос, Пелопоннес, считающегося старейшим городом в Греции, расположенным в начале залива Арголис недалеко от современного Нафплиона. Также намеки на Италию в отношении внешности, имен и культуры коренного населения. В картографии гиборианской эпохи Аргос принимает форму "ботинка" в своих границах по сравнению с Италией, напоминающей "сапог". Прибрежный город Мессантия/Массантия получил свое название от Мессины, города на северо-востоке Сицилии.
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 (Aesgaard в комиксах) – Темный век Скандинавии. Асгард – дом асов в норвежской мифологии. Говард утверждает, что Балтийское море после катаклизма разделит его вымышленный Асгард на современную Норвегию, Швецию и Данию, согласно эссе "Гиборианская эпоха".
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.
Бараханские острова – Карибские острова. Возможно, от Islas Borrachas ("Пьяные острова"). Пиратский город Тортедж получил свое название от Тортуги.
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.
Пограничные королевства – Географически расположены на современном немецком побережье Балтийского моря. Беззаконный регион, полный разбойников и полуварварских народов. Конан однажды прошел через Пограничные королевства по пути в Немидию. Примерами могут служить низменные страны, Балтика и пограничные районы Шотландии и Англии.
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.
Боссонские марки – Уэльс, с наложением колониальной Северной Америки. Возможно, от Боссини, бывшего парламентского округа в Корнуолле, Юго-Западная Англия, в который входил замок Тинтегел, связанный с Делом Британии.
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.
Бритюния – Континентальные земли англов и саксов, вторгшихся в Великобританию, откуда происходит название, хотя предполагается, что бритюны гиборианской эпохи – это другая группа, которая может быть связана с ранними славянами. Семантически название Бритюния происходит от валлийского Brython, "британец", от того же корня, что и латинские Brito, Britannia, хотя Говард заявил, что название было сохранено асами и немедийцами, поселившимися там, что еще больше подразумевает, что бритюны не являются германцами или кельтами. Земля географически изображена на территории современной Польши, Литвы и Латвии.
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 утверждает в "Гиборианской эпохе", что "гелы, предки ирландцев и горских шотландцев, произошли от чистокровных киммерийских кланов". Он соотносит Киммерию с кимрийцами, кимбрами, гимирраи, скифами, киммерийцами и Крымом. Географически расположена на территории современной Ирландии, Шотландии, Уэльса и Англии. Название происходит от греческих легенд о северном народе, жившем в вечном тумане и темноте возле Земли Мертвых. Говард называет киммерийцев предками протоиндоевропейцев.
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.
Конаджохара (Аквилония) – Название, возможно, основано на Canajoharie.
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 – Древняя Греция, в частности Македония, исходя из ее географии. От Коринфа (Коринтос), богатого города в классической Греции. Возможно, предложено Говарду Посланиями к Коринфянам или регионом Каринтия. Это горная страна, расположенная к востоку от Кота.
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 вывел это название из региона Дарфур, Судан, в Северо-Центральной Африке. Дарфур – название на арабском языке, означающее "жилище (дар) фур", доминирующего народа этого района. Оригинальный Дарфур сейчас является западной частью Республики Судан.
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.
Гандерланд – Возможно, от Гандерланда из Хесбае, графа при дворе Меровингов, или от Гелдерланда, провинции в Нидерландах, или от Гунтера (Гундикара), короля Бургундии, или Гундерика, короля вандалов.
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, Россия и страны Балтии (Гиперборея). Это земля в "самом крайнем севере" по словам греческого историка Геродота. Говард описывает свою Гиперборею как первое гиборианское королевство, "которое началось с грубого укрепления из валунов, сложенных для отражения нападений племен". Возможно скифское влияние.
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 – Евразийские степи, в частности тюркско-монгольские народы, которых Говард называет их потомками в своем эссе "Гиборианская эпоха". Гиркания в классической географии – это регион к юго-востоку от Каспийского моря или Гирканийского моря, соответствующий иранским провинциям Голестан, Мазандаран и Гилан. Название происходит от греческого названия древнеперсидского Варканы, одной из сатрапий империи Ахеменидов, и сохранилось в названии реки Горган. Изначальное значение, возможно, "земля волков". В иранской легенде Гиркания примечательна своими волшебниками, демонами, волками, духами, ведьмами и вампирами.
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 – Восточная земля, соответствующая современной Ирану. Исторически название страны происходит от Ирана + персидского суффикса -istan, -estan "страна".
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/Камбулджа – Изначальное название Камбоджи, также известной как Кампучия.
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 – Название происходит от "Кеш", египетского названия Нубии.
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 – Название, возможно, происходит от региона Хауран в Сирии, хотя его положение помещает его недалеко от Македонии, с критским влиянием. По-видимому, Саломея в Новом Завете – потомок этого королевского дома.
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 – Китай. Название происходит от империи киданей (китайский 遼朝 Liáo cháo или династия Ляо) и народа, правившего северным и северо-восточным Китаем. Название происходит от киданьского языка для империи киданей, Mos diau d kitai huldʒi gur; на современном китайском языке 契丹國 или Qìdān guó. В гиборианскую эпоху Хитай – это древняя империя, которая постоянно воюет с Камбуджей на юге. В древние времена Хитай был подчинен империей завоева...
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.
Боги
Стигийские последователи Сета поклоняются своему божеству человеческими жертвоприношениями и активно почитают змей, а последователи Иштар предаются чувственным наслаждениям. В Вендхье последователи Асуры ищут истину, выходящую за пределы иллюзий материального мира, а хиборийские почитатели Митры в своем сочетании аскетизма с преданностью состраданию и справедливости почти напоминают христиан.
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.
Хром
Кром — божество в фантастических рассказах Роберта Э. Говарда о гиборианской эпохе. Он признан главным богом главным героем Конаном и его протокельтским киммерийским народом. Имя Кром, вероятно, происходит от древнеирландского божества Кром Круах или Кром Дух. Кром — верховный бог киммерийского пантеона, обитающий на великой горе, откуда он ниспосылает судьбу или смерть. Считается бесполезным взывать к Крому, поскольку он мрачный и жестокий бог, ненавидящий слабость. Однако Кром дарует человеку мужество, свободу воли и силу сражаться с врагами, что киммерийцы считают всем необходимым от него. Кром не заботится о жизни и смерти людей, и его имя обычно используется лишь как клятва или проклятие. Он — единственный член киммерийского пантеона, имя которого упоминается с какой-либо регулярностью. В оригинальных историях о Конане Роберта Э. Говарда Кром никогда не изображается непосредственно вмешивающимся или явно вызывающим какое-либо событие. В его произведениях мало убедительных доказательств существования Крома, в отличие от демонов и высокоразвитых существ из иных миров, появляющихся в рассказах «Бог в чаше» и «Башня слона», а повесть «Феникс на мече» намекает, что Сет — один из Древних богов Лавкрафта. В рассказе Говарда «Чёрный колосс» принцесса, направляемая Митрой, вербует Конана в качестве своего чемпиона, но Кром не проявляет себя подобным образом. Кром — исключительно киммерийский бог, другие цивилизации почти не обращают на него внимания, и клятва Конана именем Крома сразу же выдаёт его как киммерийца.
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 – олицетворение добра, популярное среди людей той эпохи. Вероятно, он свободно основан на ведийском и зороастрийском божестве с тем же именем, а в Гиборианской вселенной его культ обычно ассоциируется с христианством. В эссе «Гиборианская эпоха» Говард пишет, что последователям Митры предписывается прощать врагов (хотя многие не в силах это сделать). Религия Митры – миссионерская; её последователи порой становятся мучениками, пытаясь распространить свою веру среди враждебных народов. Поклонение Митре доминирует и фактически является государственной религией в гиборианских странах, соответствующих современной Западной Европе. В землях, соответствующих Азии и Африке, Митра – лишь один из многих богов, а его культ запрещён в Стигии (Египет и Северная Африка). Митра – главный бог большинства цивилизованных гиборианских королевств, включая Аквилонию, Офир, Немедию, Бритюнию, Коринфию и Зингару. Его почитатели – монолатристы, поскольку в одной из историй священники Митры признают существование Сета. Он изображается как «мягкий» бог. В Хорае, на границе между Гиборианскими и Шемитскими королевствами, культ Митры был в значительной степени забыт в пользу шемитских богов, но в часы великой нужды хорайцы всё ещё взывают к Митре и получают ответ («Чёрный Колосс»). Хотя Митра и его последователи в целом представлены в положительном свете в рассказах о Конане, в «Часе Дракона» Говарда они нетерпимо преследуют последователей Асуры. Конан, будучи «варваром», не разделяет этого «цивилизованного» предрассудка и защищает последователей Асуры, которые впоследствии оказываются полезными. Культ Митры никогда не практикует жертвоприношения и ценит эстетическую простоту. Поэтому его святилища обычно лишены украшений и почти не содержат иконографии, за исключением единственного идола. Сам идол имеет облик идеализированной фигуры бородатого мужчины и является основным объектом поклонения. Однако, будучи вездесущим и бесплотным, Митра не считается пребывающим в иконе и не разделяет её облик. Он также символически представлен фениксом в произведениях Говарда, анкхом в MMORPG Age of Conan и бронзовым колоссом в игре на выживание Conan Exiles. Митра появляется непосредственно в «Чёрном Колоссе» Говарда, где он беседует с принцессой Ясмелой из Хораи и направляет её в час отчаяния. Вмешательство Митры оказывает значительное влияние на карьеру Конана. Хотя Конан никогда не командовал более чем «шайкой головорезов», он предстаёт в качестве победоносного генерала в исторически важном сражении с участием десятков тысяч воинов. Несмотря на то, что карьера Конана будет полна взлётов и падений, это был важный шаг на пути к тому, чтобы в конечном итоге стать королём. С точки зрения Митры, Конан, очевидно, был лучшим выбором для победы над заклятым врагом Гиборианских королевств.
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.
Скелосы
Скелос упоминается в "Людях Чёрного Круга", "Часе Дракона" и в стихотворном прологе к "Купальне Чёрного". Он — злой бог смерти, и как многие другие, например Один, связан с мудростью и знаниями. Библия мальтеистов и некромантов во времена Конана называется "Книга Скелоса", автором которой является Вателос Слепой. Слепой провидец Тиресий в греческой мифологии был тесно связан с Гадесом, царством мёртвых. В "Одиссее" Гомера Одиссей отправляется в Киммерию, преддверие Аида, чтобы посоветоваться с тенью Тиресия. Вателлен — это название существующей вулканической горы, расположенной там, где в мире Конана находится Луксор, столица Стигии. В "Часе Дракона" Ораст воскрешает Ксальтотуна с помощью заклинания Скелоса: "Древнего, когда Атлантида была юна", то есть гораздо старше Стигии, не говоря уже о культе Сета. Идол, которому поклоняется тёмный жрец-маг Ротат в рассказе о Кулле "Проклятие Золотого Черепа", представляется ухмыляющимся черепом. В этом рассказе упоминается более ранняя версия "Книги Скелоса". Бог Ротата тождественен тёмному безымянному богу, которому поклоняется Тхурон в "Алтаре и Скорпионе". Скелос — один из аспектов этого великого безымянного.
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.