Crom
Encyclopedia
Crom (ˈkrɒm) is a deity
created by American
author Robert E. Howard
. He is mainly mentioned in swearing by his character Conan the Cimmerian
, and "worshipped," it is presumed, by the bulk of the Cimmerian
people. His name is probably derived from the ancient Celtic deity Crom Cruach
, with the Cimmerians functioning as proto-Celts in Howard's pre-historic Hyboria.
, is mentioned by Conan in one story.
The Stygian followers of Set placate their deity with human sacrifice and actively venerate serpents, while Derketo
's worshippers follow the pleasures of the flesh; in Vendhya, the followers of Asura seek truth beyond the illusions of the physical world, and the Hyborian devotees of Mitra
are almost Judaeo-Christian in their merging of asceticism
with a commitment to compassion and justice. By contrast, Conan remarks in conversation that it is best to avoid doing anything that would draw Crom's attention, as the god brings down only trouble and doom. As a result, he is not so much worshipped in Howard's works as invoked in curses and expletives (for instance, Conan exclaims things like "Crom and his devil
s"), or when trying to gather one's courage. This does not however imply that he ever does anything, good or bad, to mortals; it is said that his sole gift to men is to bestow them at birth with the courage to survive, persevere, and vanquish adversity.
Crom is never depicted as directly intervening or otherwise explicitly causing any event to occur in the original Conan stories by Robert E. Howard. In fact, there is little consistent evidence in his works that Crom, or any other deity, actually exists; the existence of demons and highly advanced aliens are confirmed (as in the stories "The God in the Bowl
" and "The Tower of the Elephant
"), while the story "The Phoenix on the Sword
" implies that Set is one of H. P. Lovecraft
's Great Old Ones. Howard's story "Black Colossus", however, has a princess vocally directed by Mitra to make Conan her champion. Crom makes no such appearances.
, co-written by Oliver Stone
, and loosely based on Robert E. Howard's works. The film's Crom is similar to the god described in Howard's works, although elements of Norse mythology
, in particular the mythos of Odin
, are introduced. During a theological discussion, Conan says that when he dies, he will go in front of Crom, who will ask of him the Riddle of Steel, and if he does not know the answer, Crom will mock him and cast him away from Valhalla
(the Riddle of Steel is not mentioned in Howard's stories).
The only time Conan sincerely prays in the film (and, it is implied, in his entire life) is when he faces the men who killed his lover, Valeria. He admits to Crom that he has never prayed to him, saying "I have no tongue for it." His prayer is as follows:
"Crom, I have never prayed to you before. I have no tongue for it. No one, not even you will remember if we were good men or bad, why we fought, or why we died. No, all that matters is that two stood against many, that's what's important. Valor pleases you, Crom, so grant me one request, grant me REVENGE! And if you do not listen, then the hell with you!"
In the 1984 sequel Conan the Destroyer
, however, Conan appears to have reconciled with his god. Conan is found praying to Crom by Queen Taramis for the return of Valeria. He tells the Queen (of Valeria) "She sits by the side of my god." He also says "Crom" as an expletive or expression of surprise at numerous points in the film.
Crom is also mentioned in Conan the Adventurer
animated series. There, despite many differences in other things, Crom is also mostly portrayed as he is in Howard's stories, a distant deity that Conan more invokes in exclamations than formal worship, such as by saying "By Crom!" in times of danger. Not irreligious, though, Conan is seen to make solemn vows in the name of his god - or, in the case of the cartoon, guardian spirit of his tribe. For example, when his family is turned to stone, he swears in Crom's name to free them.
In the Oscar-nominated The Secret of Kells, a 2009 animated feature directed by Tomm Moore
and Nora Twomey
, the main character Brendan ventures into the underground lair of Crom, a giant serpent who guards the secret to completing the holy Book of Kells
.
In the 2011 film, Conan The Barbarian, Crom is mentioned but only in passing and in expletives.
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
created by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
. He is mainly mentioned in swearing by his character Conan the Cimmerian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
, and "worshipped," it is presumed, by the bulk of the Cimmerian
Cimmeria (Conan)
Cimmeria is a fictional land of barbarians in antediluvian earth and the homeland of Conan the Barbarian in the works of Robert E. Howard.-Fictional history:...
people. His name is probably derived from the ancient Celtic deity Crom Cruach
Crom Cruach
Crom Cruach or Cromm Crúaich , also known as Cenn Cruach /ˈkʲɛnˠ: ˈkɾˠuəxˠ/ or Cenncroithi /ˈkʲɛnˠ: ˈkɾˠoθʲɨ/, was a deity in pre-Christian Ireland, reputedly propitiated with human sacrifice, whose worship is said to have been ended by St...
, with the Cimmerians functioning as proto-Celts in Howard's pre-historic Hyboria.
Nature of the god
Crom is a grim and gloomy and unforgiving god, ever watching from atop his mountain in dark clouds and obscuring mists, ready to pass a disapproving judgment on any and all. However, he is also said to value courage and tenacity in mortals, even if the human ultimately proves too frail to succeed. He is the only member of the Cimmerian pantheon named with any regularity, although another Celtic deity, Manannán mac LirManannán mac Lir
Manannán mac Lir is a sea deity in Irish mythology. He is the son of the obscure Lir . He is often seen as a psychopomp, and has strong affiliations with the Otherworld, the weather and the mists between the worlds...
, is mentioned by Conan in one story.
The Stygian followers of Set placate their deity with human sacrifice and actively venerate serpents, while Derketo
Derketo (Conan)
Derketo is a goddess worshipped in the Conan the Barbarian series of stories by Robert E. Howard. She is a goddess of pleasure, and her cult is licentious and hedonistic, worshipping her with orgies. She is the consort of Father Set...
's worshippers follow the pleasures of the flesh; in Vendhya, the followers of Asura seek truth beyond the illusions of the physical world, and the Hyborian devotees of Mitra
Mitra (Conan)
Mitra is a fictional deity from the Hyborian Age works of Robert E. Howard. In the Conan the Barbarian series of stories by Howard, Mitra is a popular god among the Hyborian peoples, a personification of good...
are almost Judaeo-Christian in their merging of asceticism
Asceticism
Asceticism describes a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various sorts of worldly pleasures often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals...
with a commitment to compassion and justice. By contrast, Conan remarks in conversation that it is best to avoid doing anything that would draw Crom's attention, as the god brings down only trouble and doom. As a result, he is not so much worshipped in Howard's works as invoked in curses and expletives (for instance, Conan exclaims things like "Crom and his devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
s"), or when trying to gather one's courage. This does not however imply that he ever does anything, good or bad, to mortals; it is said that his sole gift to men is to bestow them at birth with the courage to survive, persevere, and vanquish adversity.
Crom is never depicted as directly intervening or otherwise explicitly causing any event to occur in the original Conan stories by Robert E. Howard. In fact, there is little consistent evidence in his works that Crom, or any other deity, actually exists; the existence of demons and highly advanced aliens are confirmed (as in the stories "The God in the Bowl
The God in the Bowl
"The God in the Bowl" is one of the original short stories featuring the sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard but not published during his lifetime. It is set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan robbing a temple museum only to...
" and "The Tower of the Elephant
The Tower of the Elephant
"The Tower of the Elephant" is one of the original short stories starring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard. It is set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan infiltrating a perilous tower in order to steal a...
"), while the story "The Phoenix on the Sword
The Phoenix on the Sword
"The Phoenix on the Sword" is one of the original short stories about Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard and first published in Weird Tales magazine December 1932. The tale was a rewrite of the unpublished Kull story, "By This Axe I Rule!" with long passages being...
" implies that Set is one of H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
's Great Old Ones. Howard's story "Black Colossus", however, has a princess vocally directed by Mitra to make Conan her champion. Crom makes no such appearances.
In other media
Crom is briefly mentioned in Conan the Barbarian, a 1982 film directed by John MiliusJohn Milius
John Frederick Milius is an American screenwriter, director, and producer of motion pictures.-Early life:Milius was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Elizabeth and William Styx Milius, who was a shoe manufacturer. Milius attempted to join the Marine Corps in the late 1960s, but was rejected...
, co-written by Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
, and loosely based on Robert E. Howard's works. The film's Crom is similar to the god described in Howard's works, although elements of Norse mythology
Norse mythology
Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
, in particular the mythos of Odin
Odin
Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
, are introduced. During a theological discussion, Conan says that when he dies, he will go in front of Crom, who will ask of him the Riddle of Steel, and if he does not know the answer, Crom will mock him and cast him away from Valhalla
Valhalla
In Norse mythology, Valhalla is a majestic, enormous hall located in Asgard, ruled over by the god Odin. Chosen by Odin, half of those that die in combat travel to Valhalla upon death, led by valkyries, while the other half go to the goddess Freyja's field Fólkvangr...
(the Riddle of Steel is not mentioned in Howard's stories).
The only time Conan sincerely prays in the film (and, it is implied, in his entire life) is when he faces the men who killed his lover, Valeria. He admits to Crom that he has never prayed to him, saying "I have no tongue for it." His prayer is as follows:
"Crom, I have never prayed to you before. I have no tongue for it. No one, not even you will remember if we were good men or bad, why we fought, or why we died. No, all that matters is that two stood against many, that's what's important. Valor pleases you, Crom, so grant me one request, grant me REVENGE! And if you do not listen, then the hell with you!"
In the 1984 sequel Conan the Destroyer
Conan the Destroyer
Conan the Destroyer is a 1984 American action fantasy film directed by Richard Fleischer, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mako returning to resume their roles as Conan and Akiro the wizard, respectively. The cast also includes Grace Jones, Wilt Chamberlain, Tracey Walter and Olivia d'Abo. It is...
, however, Conan appears to have reconciled with his god. Conan is found praying to Crom by Queen Taramis for the return of Valeria. He tells the Queen (of Valeria) "She sits by the side of my god." He also says "Crom" as an expletive or expression of surprise at numerous points in the film.
Crom is also mentioned in Conan the Adventurer
Conan the Adventurer (animated series)
Conan the Adventurer is an American animated television series adaptation of Conan the Barbarian, the literary character created by Robert E. Howard in the 1930s. Produced by Jetlag Productions and Sunbow Productions, the series debuted on September 12, 1992, ran for 65 episodes and concluded on...
animated series. There, despite many differences in other things, Crom is also mostly portrayed as he is in Howard's stories, a distant deity that Conan more invokes in exclamations than formal worship, such as by saying "By Crom!" in times of danger. Not irreligious, though, Conan is seen to make solemn vows in the name of his god - or, in the case of the cartoon, guardian spirit of his tribe. For example, when his family is turned to stone, he swears in Crom's name to free them.
In the Oscar-nominated The Secret of Kells, a 2009 animated feature directed by Tomm Moore
Tomm Moore
Tomm Moore is an Irish illustrator, comics artist and filmmaker. He is co-founder of Cartoon Saloon, an animation studio and production company, based in Kilkenny, Ireland...
and Nora Twomey
Nora Twomey
Nora Twomey is an Irish animator and filmmaker. She is a partner in Cartoon Saloon, an animation studio and production company, based in Kilkenny City, Ireland.-Early life:...
, the main character Brendan ventures into the underground lair of Crom, a giant serpent who guards the secret to completing the holy Book of Kells
Book of Kells
The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript Gospel book in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. It was created by Celtic monks ca. 800 or slightly earlier...
.
In the 2011 film, Conan The Barbarian, Crom is mentioned but only in passing and in expletives.