I haven't finished watching the video, admittedly. But I have to comment: Hyperborea is a region or country in the Hyborian age :) I have a pretty different take on Crom to what Rob describes. My memory could be failing me here, but I don't remember ever getting the impression from Howard's stories that Conan was in any way empowered by Crom. He uses Crom's name as a curse or expletive. But unlike in the movie, he never prays to Crom and asks him for strength, nor do I ever remember reading a scene, where we see Crom intervening in any way that I could tell. In fact, I believe Crom is said several times to be a very unmoving god. He gives a man strength when he is born and then expects you to take care of yourself, basically. So I suppose we could conceive of Conan as having been particularly "blessed" by Crom at his birth, but after that I don't think there's any real "connection" there, so to speak. Of course, I could be forgetting something. Nevertheless, I'll end by quoting the Cimmerian himself from the story Queen of the Black Coast, in response to a question about what gods he prays to (the questioner mentions she has never heard him call on them): "Their chief is Crom. He dwells on a great mountain. What use to call on him? Little he cares if men live or die. Better to be silent than to call his attention to you; he will send you dooms, not fortune! He is grim and loveless, but at birth he breathes power to strive and slay into a man's soul. What else shall men ask of the gods?"
I once heard of the word syncretism, "the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought", which has stuck in my mind and I tend to think of things like Warhammer as syncretic - a hybrid of several distinct influences that has become it's own thing with its own identity.
As Conan comes from what is now Galway, I assume that Hyborea is a portmanteau of Hibernia and Hyperborea which is a mythical land that the Greeks thought lay at the north pole
The world of Conan would fit as another feral world in 41th millenium, where the god-emperor would be worshipped in the same manner as Crom and Mytra. And a Stygia like kingdom in the warmer south ruled by a decadent priest class who happens to be chaos sorcerers.
Worth noting that the Death Wing novella has Conan references in the scene where the marine visits a bar and doesn't understand why people would be rude to him when being rude to him.will clearly result in death. It makes me think that, more widely, there is a little Conan dna in the techno barbarian aspects of space marines.
I haven't finished watching the video, admittedly. But I have to comment: Hyperborea is a region or country in the Hyborian age :)
I have a pretty different take on Crom to what Rob describes. My memory could be failing me here, but I don't remember ever getting the impression from Howard's stories that Conan was in any way empowered by Crom. He uses Crom's name as a curse or expletive. But unlike in the movie, he never prays to Crom and asks him for strength, nor do I ever remember reading a scene, where we see Crom intervening in any way that I could tell. In fact, I believe Crom is said several times to be a very unmoving god. He gives a man strength when he is born and then expects you to take care of yourself, basically. So I suppose we could conceive of Conan as having been particularly "blessed" by Crom at his birth, but after that I don't think there's any real "connection" there, so to speak.
Of course, I could be forgetting something. Nevertheless, I'll end by quoting the Cimmerian himself from the story Queen of the Black Coast, in response to a question about what gods he prays to (the questioner mentions she has never heard him call on them): "Their chief is Crom. He dwells on a great mountain. What use to call on him? Little he cares if men live or die. Better to be silent than to call his attention to you; he will send you dooms, not fortune! He is grim and loveless, but at birth he breathes power to strive and slay into a man's soul. What else shall men ask of the gods?"
Excellent stuff, and good to know!
Another amazing chat involving one of my favorite movies and some of my favorite tales of all time! Thanks friends!
Cheers mate!
Conan the barbarian is just amazing the soundtrack is one of the best ever.
Incredible stuff isn’t it!
Great chat - learnt some and bought back lots and lots of fond memories. Really enjoy this series more should subscribe!
I once heard of the word syncretism, "the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought", which has stuck in my mind and I tend to think of things like Warhammer as syncretic - a hybrid of several distinct influences that has become it's own thing with its own identity.
I know it wasn't, but I'd like to think the model for the HeroQuest barbarian was Wolf from Gladiators
Wolf did actually pose for the titular role for the cover of the Barbarian computer game for ZX Spectrum and Commodore
Great stuff as always chaps
Cheers Stu!
As Conan comes from what is now Galway, I assume that Hyborea is a portmanteau of Hibernia and Hyperborea which is a mythical land that the Greeks thought lay at the north pole
oh wow... I haven't watched this movie for... a while.
Good chat gentlemen. Very enjoyable.
Glad you enjoyed it!
With a nod nod wink wink, I always thought the Emperor was suggested to be Conan
This was excellent.
Check the GW ad for Contrast Paints with Duncan, Peachy and Louise...😂 The influence is fully assumed !
Loved the Conn films and Howard's books - great to listen to this while painting.
Hope you enjoyed it!
The world of Conan would fit as another feral world in 41th millenium, where the god-emperor would be worshipped in the same manner as Crom and Mytra. And a Stygia like kingdom in the warmer south ruled by a decadent priest class who happens to be chaos sorcerers.
Great pod!
Cheers!
Worth noting that the Death Wing novella has Conan references in the scene where the marine visits a bar and doesn't understand why people would be rude to him when being rude to him.will clearly result in death. It makes me think that, more widely, there is a little Conan dna in the techno barbarian aspects of space marines.
In the context of genre, Hyperborea is the creation of Clark Ashton Smith. Contemporary and fellow traveller of Howard and Lovecraft. Read his stuff.
Thanks for another good discussion 🤩
Squeak-squeak! 🤩🐀🌠
Cheers mate!
Well, the "classical" races/species thing is very, very much Tolkien, but yes, Chaos is definitely not.
Very true
ALIENS