Khorshemish, Kothian for "Queen of the South," was the capital city of the land of Koth,[3] located north of the Black Wood.[4]
History
Origins and Khossus' rule[]
Circa 13,000 BC,[1][5] King Khossus V founded Khorshemish[5] upon ruins already present there.[5][1]
Khossus V built his palace upon the same ruins. During the construction, workers broke into a walled-up doorway while digging cellars. Aftter the Grand Vizier died in the pits beyond the doorway in circumstances, Khossus had the pits walled up again and the palace abandoned.
Khossus then built another palace in the suburbs, but fled it as well upon discovering some black mold having appeared on its marble floor one morning.[5]
Akhutho I's rule[]
Centuries later, wishing to restore the lost glories of Khorshemish, Akhutho I built a fortress upon the second palace.[5]
Age of Conan[]
Strabonus' rule[]
During the Age of Conan, circa 10,000 BC, the wizard Tsotha-Lanti took possession of the Scarlet Citadel, descended into a well he found there, and returned with a strange expression which never left his eyes since.[5]
Ten years later, after King Conan of Aquilonia was poisoned, defeated and captured in battle, he was brought to the Scarlet Citadel, where King Strabonus and Tsotha-Lanti tried in vain to convince Conan to abdicate in favor of Prince Arpello of Pellia.[5]Points of Interest
- Scarlet Citadel - First palace (13,000 BC), abandoned; Castle and domain of Tsotha-Lanti (10,000 BC)[5]
- Unnamed fortress and second palace (13,000 BC), in the suburbs[5]
Residents
Khorshemish has been the place of residence of many prominent individuals, and other beings:
- Khossus V - King circa 13,000 BC
- Akhutho I - King
- Strabonus - King circa 10,000 BC[5]
- Allarmaj - Lord of Khorshemish
- Tsotha-Lanti - Wizard, rumored to Koth's true ruler during Strabonus' rule circa 10,000 BC[5]
- Scarlet Citadel's prisoners, staff and menagerie circa 10,000 BC
- Shukeli - Chief eunuch
- Beeya - Guard
- Satha, the Old One - Chiefest of Tostah's pets, manifestation of Set into a giant serpent
- Pelias, the sorcerer - Prisoner
- Amric the Bull - Adventurer, Aquilonian Black Dragon
Notes

"The High Point of the Empire of Acheron - Circa 13,000 BC"
(Giant-Size Conan #1; September, 1974)
- Khorshemish was a city created by Robert E. Howard in "The Scarlet Citadel".[1]
- The map "The High Point of the Empire of Acheron" in Giant-Size Conan #1 (September, 1974) describes "Korshemish" as within the borders of Acheron,[6] Khorshemish is represented within Acheron, though the city was seemingly only founded after the Fall of Acheron. This is either an error or a marker for reference.
See Also
- 6 appearance(s) of Khorshemish
- 9 mention(s) of Khorshemish
- 1 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Khorshemish
- 2 image(s) of Khorshemish
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Savage Sword of Conan #35 ; A Gazetteer of the Hyborian Age, Part IV: Khorshemish's entry
- ↑ Giant-Size Conan #1 ; The High Point of the Empire of Acheron
- ↑ Handbook of the Conan Universe #1 ; Koth's profile
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #176
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 Savage Sword of Conan #30 ; The Scarlet Citadel
- ↑ Giant-Size Conan #1 's map