The Hyborian Age

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

42182

Title

The Hyborian Age

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Robert E. Howard's foundational text establishing the Hyborian Age, a fictional prehistoric era where ancient civilizations crumble and barbarian tribes rise. This background narrative introduces the mythic geography, the cataclysmic events that reshaped the world, and the evolution of iconic races like the Hyborians, Picts, and Atlanteans, setting the stage for Conan's legendary sagas.

Summary up to 500 words

Robert E. Howard's "The Hyborian Age" presents a comprehensive fictional history of a prehistoric epoch following a global cataclysm that sank the legendary civilizations of Atlantis and Lemuria. This text serves as the essential backdrop for his Conan stories, blending historical fiction with fantasy to create a sense of depth and realism. The narrative traces the evolution of various peoples from stone-age savagery to complex societies, detailing the rise and fall of kingdoms across a reshaped world. Following the initial cataclysm, the Thurian Continent was dominated by crumbling civilized kingdoms, while barbarian nations like the Picts, Atlanteans, and Lemurians thrived in the wilds. The Picts, initially savage, were eventually reformed by the Nemedian priest Arus, who introduced the worship of Mitra and iron-working techniques to the tribe of Gorm. Under Gorm's leadership, the Picts forged a vast empire, conquering the civilized Aquilonian kingdom and driving out the Bossonians. However, this barbaric empire was eventually overthrown not by internal decay, but by the rising power of the Hyrkanians from the east and the fierce Cimmerians from the north. The narrative culminates in a second, even more devastating cataclysm that reshaped the continents into their modern forms. Vast sections of the western coast sank, forming the Mediterranean and the North Sea, while new mountain ranges rose in the center of the northern continent. This geological upheaval destroyed the great cities and empires of the Hyborian Age, leaving only scattered tribes and distorted legends. Howard connects these ancient tribes to modern European and Asian peoples, arguing that the history of the modern world is rooted in the struggles and migrations of these Hyborian ancestors. The blond Achaians, Goths, and Britons are traced to Nordic tribes like the Æsir and Vanir; the Gaels to the Cimmerians; and the Huns, Mongols, and Turks to the Hyrkanians. The work illustrates how the modern world emerged from the tangled debris of these ancient races, their wars, and their migrations, effectively grounding the fantastical adventures of Conan in a pseudo-historical framework of depth and consequence.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Adventure
• Fiction