Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer: Imagined Worlds or Historical Anachronisms?

Introduction

ldquo;Periodrdquo; is defined as length of time, so the question is asking: “What time and what region of the current world would Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer have taken place in?” This makes no sense.

Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer, both based on the character created by Robert E. Howard, are set in a fictional prehistoric era known as the Hyborian Age. This period is described as occurring after the sinking of Atlantis and before recorded history, roughly around 10,000 to 15,000 years ago.

The Hyborian Age: A Historical Fictional World

The Hyborian Age features a variety of regions and cultures inspired by real-world ancient civilizations:

Cimmeria: Conanrsquo;s homeland, reminiscent of ancient Celtic or Nordic societies. Aquilonia: A powerful kingdom reflecting aspects of ancient Rome or medieval Europe. Stygia: A dark sorcerous land resembling ancient Egypt. Zamora: A region known for its thieves and assassins, similar to the Middle East.

These settings combine elements of various historical cultures and mythologies, creating a rich backdrop for Conanrsquo;s adventures.

Conanrsquo;s World According to the Films

Ive never seen Conan the Destroyer, but in the opening scene to Conan the Barbarian, it is stated that the story takes place between when the oceans drank up Atlantis and the rise of the sons of Aries. According to Plato, Atlantis sank around what we would call 9,000 BCE. The Sons of Aries most likely refer to the migration of peoples from which all Indo-European languages trace their originacademics in the previous century referred to as ldquo;Aryans.rdquo;

Conan is from Cimmeria, placed in what today is North Africa on the map. However, the map also depicts the Sahara Desert as much greener than in our own world, a historical reality during the same time period that we estimated Conan takes place. In the map, much of Europe seems to be covered in glaciers, which would not have been historically accurate.

The adventures of Conan seem to take him all across a continent that most resembles our own Africa. This suggests that while the films present a fictional timeline and setting, they draw inspiration from historical periods and regions.

Fictional Elements and Historical Accuracy

The Hyborian Age, while a richly imagined world, is not historically accurate. The settings and characters are a blend of various historical and mythological elements, creating a unique and compelling backdrop for the adventures of Conan. However, these elements do not necessarily align with historical facts about the timeline and geography of ancient times.

For example, Cimmeria, with its green Sahara Desert, reflects a time period when the climate was significantly different from what we know today. Similarly, the depiction of Europe covered in glaciers is more aligned with the historical Ice Age rather than the Hyborian Age as described in the stories.

Conclusion

In summary, while the world of Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer is a fascinating blend of historical and mythological elements, it is not to be taken as a direct representation of a specific time and place in our world. Instead, it is a meticulously crafted fiction that draws from various historical and mythological influences, creating a unique and engaging narrative for audiences.

ldquo;Conan the Barbarianrdquo; and ldquo;Conan the Destroyerrdquo; are trademarks of New Line Productions, Inc. and used with permission.