Age of Acheron

This page covers an era whose precise beginning remains unrevealed. An arbitrary beginning, starting at the foundation of Acheron (circa 15,500 BC), and running for 2500 years, until the Fall of Acheron (circa 13,000 BC, which coincide or overlap with the beginning of the Hyborian Age)

Age of Acheron
Name	Age of Acheron
Reality and Participants
Reality	Earth-616
Locations	Acheron, Zamora, Far North
Protagonists	Kingdoms of Acheron, Stygia (Shem, Kuthchemes), Ophir, Koth, city of Eidoran
Publication Details
Creators	Robert E. Howard, Lin Carter
First	Conan the Barbarian #27 (March, 1973)
First	Conan the Barbarian #27 (March, 1973)

Synopsis

Preface

The Age of Acheron was the time of prominence of the kingdom of Acheron over the world continent while lasted for twenty-five centuries, and ended with the Fall of Acheron, circa 13,000 BC.

Dating

The Age of Acheron began centuries after the Great Cataclysm, which occurred circa 18,500 BC.

Though the beginning of the Age of Acheron was never explicitly mentioned, it can be considered that the Age of Acheron spanned over the whole existence of Acheron, which spanned over twenty-five centuries, consequently (see below) circa 15,500 BC, the attested date for the foundation of Acheron, and for the worship of Set there.

It took an end with the Fall of Acheron, circa 13,000 BC.

The end of the Age of Acheron and the beginning of the Hyborian Age overlaps or coincidence, as the Hyborian was mentioned to begin (or to dominate) circa 14,000 BC,

For the sake of clarity, a divide between the Age of Acheron and the Hyborian Age at 13,000 BC (with possible exceptions).

History

Foundation of Acheron (15,500 BC)

Circa 15,500 BC, thousand years after the Great Cataclysm. the kingdom of Acheron was founded by a northern offshoot of the Lemurian survivors, Stygians from Khemi, who established an outpost at the embouchure of the Tybor and expanded up-river, while enslaving or destroying the small unclassified tribes it encountered. By that period, they worshiped Set. The capital, Python, was likely set in southern Nemedia. Acheron soon broke off Stygian control, though it remained Stygian in culture.

By the same era, Eidoran (set in Argos, possibly in Eastern Argos, during the Age of Conan) was one of the places where Set was worshiped circa 15,500 BC. The city was mighty but decadent, and worshipers of Set summoned demons from Hell, seemingly including Set's servant Khorus.

After the Great Cataclysm, Agamotto, son of Oshtur, grew tired and retreated. When finally returned, he spent more time with Oshtur's new "offspring", who lived in a floating city dedicated to Oshtur and hovering above Earth: Akah Ma'at.

15,000 BC

15.000 year old mutants in a mass grave

Numerous events occurred circa 15,000 BC:

• The Acheronian empire quickly developed, encountered the wandering Hybori, and absorbed the Hyborian kingdoms (formerly under Stygia's dominion, seemingly Stygian satellites at some point, absorbed by Acheron during its expansion) of both Ophir and Koth.
• 17,000 years ago, Selene was born in Central Europe. She is as far as we know the oldest mutant with a clear era of birth (though there is likely other mutants predating her).
• In 15,000 BC, Agamotto choose as his successor Shamhat Saraswati, a great priestess of Akah Ma'at.

Guided by Shamhat, Oshtur and Agamotto, the Bird-Men of Akah Ma'at soon evolved into powerful sorcerers and almost godlike beings. Varuna, the most powerful among them, was eventually manipulated by Chthon and soon two factions rose among the Bird-Men: Varuna gathered same-minded followers, the Asura, and the Seraphim.

A mutant civilization carbon-dated to be 15,000 years old existed in modern-day Isla des Demonas. That civilization, built by the demon-looking mutants known as Neyaphem and led by Azazel who called himself Satan, enslaved humanity. That civilization eventually ended when the Neyaphem were repelled to another dimension by the "Angels", the Cheyarafim, another early group of mutants.

Notes

• The Age of Acheron created by Robert E. Howard, along with in Acheron, in "The Hour of the Dragon"/"Conan the Conqueror" (Weird Tales; December, 1935 to April, 1936). Originally expanding on information provided from the pseudo-historical essay "The Hyborian Age", which didn't mentioned Acheron.

See Also

• 2 minor appearance(s) of Age of Acheron
• 3 mention(s) of Age of Acheron
• 8 article(s) related to Age of Acheron