Stygia (Conan)
Stygia is a country that features in Conan the Barbarian.
Contents |
History
Stygia was a country that had existed as a pre-human kingdom south of Thuria, since before the Cataclysm, which left her untouched. After the Cataclysm, however, a civilization who oppressed the Lemurians far in the east of Thuria were overthrown, with its survivors arriving and conquering Stygia.
In the first centuries of the Hyborian Age, the ancient and mysterious kingdom of Stygia was 'sleeping'. For centuries, Stygian armies ravaged the pastoral lands of Shem on its eastern borders
It was noted that the king casts down and elevated priests and mages at his own will.
The Stygian overthrew an attempt by the city states of Shem to conquer Stygia. However, a Stygian army was defeated by the Hyrkanians at Nilus and their country was nearly overrun by these invaders, until intervention by the Amazons. Because of the Pictish thrust on their western conquests, many Hyrkanian raiders couldn't afford conquering all of Stygia. However, Stygia was shaken by such conflicts and, afterwards, became encroached by the surrounding black kingdoms, oppressed by the cruel aristocratic reigning class.
Overview
In appearance, Stygia was a land located south of Shem and north of the Black Kingdoms. Much of its borders are defined by the river Styx. Stygia's terrain is a mix of mountains, desert, plains, and marshes. South of Stygia are the vast black kingdoms of the Amazons, Kushites, Atlaians, and the ancient empire of Zembabwei. Stygia was an intensely insular country. Though at times throughout history, its borders have extended very far, even encompassing Shem and farther north, now its power has diminished, and its rulers hold the borders very strictly.
Locations in Stygia included:
- Khemi : Stygia's priestly capital, if not the royal one, is located at the north-eastern tip of the country where the bordering Styx river empties into the Western Sea.
- Luxur : the royal capital of Styiga, lies a hundred miles south of the Styx on the tributary Bakhr River, almost exactly halfway between the east and west borders. The City of Kings was built around and eventually engulfed an oasis in the desert. Foreign traders find it easier to sell their wares here rather than the much more regulated Khemi.
- Pteion : an abandoned, cursed city in eastern Stygia, rumored to have been built by the serpent men of Valusia. It was a home to the black wizards before the deserts encroached upon it and the wizards fled to Khemi during the Seventh Dynasty.
- Harakht : the City of the Hawk God was located along the river Styx. Its independence is only barely tolerated only as a buffer between Stygia and Shem. The city is defended by giant hawks and their riders, grown to enormous size by a mysterious green star-rock discovered by a former ruler.
- Kheshatta : the city of magicians located in southern Stygia, situated on the north-south caravan route from Kush.
The Stygians were a mysterious dark skinned people where the the ruling elite tended to be tall, dusky, hawk-nosed, and haughty. Meanwhile, most of the common ranks were descendants of the various races across the world and included people from Shem, Koth, the Black Kingdoms, and the Hyborian kingdoms. Taians from the northeast province were taller, more slender, and had darker of skin than the average Stygian where they wore dyed kilts to show clan allegiance.
Slavery was noted for being common in Stygia.
Technically, Stygia was noted for being a monarchy, with a ruling family and line of noble succession. Originally, it was said to had been ruled by a monarchy with a ruling family and line of noble succession. The land came to eventually be ruled by a theocracy of sorcerer-kings.
Stygians worshipped the noble and peaceful heron god Ibis until Thoth-Amon banned the worship of the god and instituted the worship of the serpent god Set in its place.
Inhabitants
- Thugra Mentuphera :
- Ctesphon : king of Stygia who, according to Thoth-Amon, casts down and elevates priests or mages at his own will. He is probably a priest-king, like the rulers of Stygia's daughter kingdoms, such as Kutchemes and Acheron. He may be the pontiff of maltheists in Conan's world and probably serves the gods that the white-skinned elite did worship before conquering the land of the serpent-men and founding Stygia.
- Ctesphon II :
- Ctesphon III :
- Ctsephon IV :
- Thoth-Amon :
- Thalis : A beautiful Stygian princess who sought refuge in Xuthal.
- Prince Kutamun : a rebellious prince who joined forces with Natoh.
- Thothmekri : Ancient high priest of Set, revived by the Heart of Ahriman improperly and became an animate mummy.
- Thugra Khotan : ancient ruler of Kuthchemes and powerful sorcerer of Set. In his ravings, when confronting Conan, he was shown to be a vainglorious egomaniac respecting or believing in nothing but himself.
- Kalanthes : a high ranking priest of Ibis.
Notes
- Stygia was created by Robert E. Howard where it featured in the setting of the Conan the Barbarian universe.
In other media
Television
- In Conan the Adventurer, Stygia was referenced in the setting of the 1992 animated television series. It was a city that worshipped the serpent god Set and had many Serpent Men within it. The Stygian sorcerer Ram-Amon once accidentally mutated a lizard that became Set's chief warrior Rath-Amon who enacted his plans. A Stygian sorceress named Mesmira was responsible for turning Greywolf's siblings into wolves.
Films
Video games
- In Age of Conan, Stygia was referenced in the setting of the MMORPG video game. Stygians were one of the player races and one class was the Tempest of Set who were priests that worshipped he elder god Set. His most faithful disciples received power that allowed them to call upon lightning strikes that could tear the top of mountains or lay wastes to entire regions. These spellcasters were well known for leaving ruins in their wake but also had the power to heal their compatriots. It was referred to as an infamous desert kingdom on the Hyborian mainland that was the birthplace of the Priesthood of Set. Stygia was said to be ruled by the clergy whose the disciples of Set having considerable power and influence in their society.
- In Conan Exiles, Stygia was referenced in the setting of the video game. It was said that many Stygian sorcerers were loosely organised in a brotherhood known as the Black Ring that was based in Kheshatta which was known as the City of Magicians. During the ancient days, the black magicians were situated in Pteoin that was located in eastern Stygia near the Taian border but was abandoned when the desert began to encroach on it. The higher ranking members of the Black Ring were said to kill with a touch thus leaving a black mark on their victim and their master was Thoth-Amon who was the High Priest of Set.
Appearances
- Conan the Barbarian:
External Links
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