Thoth-Amon
Encyclopedia
Thoth-Amon is a fictional character created by Robert E. Howard
. He is an evil wizard in The Phoenix on the Sword
, the first of the Conan the Cimmerian
stories. He is often used as Conan's arch enemy in derivative works but the two characters never actually meet in any of Howard's original stories.
and Amon
. Thoth-Amon was the foremost sorcerer of the Stygian culture, which Howard set up as the ancestors of the ancient Egyptian civilization. Thoth-Amon was a worshipper of a god he referred to as Father Set. While this must derive from the Egyptian deity Set
, Howard transforms him into a serpent god
. There is some intimation that Father Set may be one of the Great Old Ones that H. P. Lovecraft
created. Howard and Lovecraft were friends and correspondents who often drew inspiration from each other's work.
In his first, and only, appearance, Howard describes Thoth as "a somber giant, whose dusky skin revealed his Stygian blood."
The character is one of Howard's most memorable villains and has been used by other authors, notably L. Sprague de Camp
. Thoth-Amon was a recurring villain in Marvel Comics
' various Conan titles. Several of the sorcerer's accoutrements, The Scroll of Thoth and The Serpent Ring of Set, have also shown up in other stories by Richard Tierney and others. Though the villain in the film Conan the Barbarian is named Thulsa Doom
, after an evil wizard in Howard's Kull stories, he more closely resembled Thoth-Amon.
The enduring popularity of Thoth-Amon may be because of his unusual characterization. Though a villain, the sorcerer has many heroic qualities. He is brave, physically strong, intelligent, and devoted to the advancement of his people. He is perhaps the best example of the noble villains.
, which was also the first appearance of Conan. In this story he is temporarily powerless and the slave of an Aquilonian
outlaw called Ascalante. It is revealed that he used to be the greatest wizard of Stygia until the Serpent Ring of Set was stolen and his power was broken. It is described as "of a metal like copper, and was made in the form of a scaled serpent, coiled in three loops, with its tail in its mouth. Its eyes were yellow gems which glittered balefully." Thoth-Amon regains the ring and his power during the course of the story. His attack on Conan during the story is accidental, when he sends a demon to kill Ascalante and his conspirators who are at that time attempting to assassinate the Cimmerian.
Thoth-Amon is mentioned in two further Conan stories. First in The God in the Bowl
(earlier in Conan's career than the first story) and then in The Hour of the Dragon
(later than the first story). In both he is feared as a major Stygian wizard. The God in the Bowl is the only one of the two in which his actions threaten Conan, although indirectly as in The Phoenix on the Sword. In The Hour of the Dragon Conan's actions actually aid Thoth when he destroys a cabal plotting to use the Heart of Ahriman, which Conan needs for his own ends, against Thoth.
Howard made one more reference to the character, in a non-Conan story. Set in the modern 1930s, Thoth's Serpent Ring of Set again appears in the John Kirowan
story The Haunter of the Ring
. This was one of Howard's direct contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos
, which was created by his correspondent H. P. Lovecraft
.
The ring is at first described physically: "Oh, a fantastic thing--copper, made like a scaly snake coiled three times, with its tail in its mouth and yellow jewels for eyes. I gather he picked it up somewhere in Hungary." Later in the story it is directly named as the "accursed ring of Thoth-amon, handed down by foul cults of sorcerers since the days of forgotten Stygia."
Thoth proceeded to murder his friend and take his name, realizing Kharantus would be unable to tell the difference. Thoth became a priest of Ibis, studying alongside Kharantus's son Kalanthes, until he began to lust after more power. Deciding to harness the power of ancient Acheron, Thoth set off on a journey where he entered an ancient tomb and was bitten nearly to death by snakes. There, the God Set came to him and sealed his fate with a dark bargain. Thoth returned to Memphia and began to murder members of Ibis's temple in sickening clandestine rituals, as well as engineering the death of the King and all his heirs to make certain his and Kalanthes's friend, young Cstephon would inherit the throne. Thoth's activities were discovered by Kharantus and the two engaged in battle.
Thoth defeated the old priest and forced him under mind control to confess to worship of Set, a great crime then. Kharantus was, through the magic of Ibis, robbed of his mind and kept by Thoth as a servant. Now puppet master of the throne, Thoth set up a vicious dictatorship that beget numerous rebels, including the barbarian hero Akkad of the Danu. Kalanthes soon realized what was happening and with the remainders of Ibis's priesthood set out to kill Thoth. Thoth's power proved greater than they realized and they were bested. In response, Thoth convinced Cstephon to banish worship of Ibis and turned Memphia to the worship of the arch-demon serpent god Set. The people, disenchanted with Ibis by the apparent lack of help the feathered god provided them, welcomed it.
Thoth intended to have the assassins all killed, but Cstephon decided instead to banish them. Furious, Thoth exposed Cstephon to dark magic in secret, destroying the young king's mind and making him a thrall. Kalanthes was crucified and left to die in the desert where he was rescued by Akkad of the Danu.
In an encounter with his past, Thoth recognized a thief brought before him as one man who had stolen his treasure horde so many years ago and demanded in return for his release eighteen coins, the exact amount that had been taken from Thoth. The thief was one short and so Thoth had him blinded and imprisoned for life. Thoth suddenly recalled his promise to his sister long ago and sent a servant to find his family and bring them before him. Thoth began to suffer voices in his head, whispering to him, trying to dissuade him of the path he had chosen. He attempted to ignore them to no avail.
Thoth, attempting to unearth Acheron's secrets accidentally resurrected the ancient sorcerer Xaltoun who brought about the fearsome serpent men on Stygia. Akkad, Kalanthes and their forces arrived to aid Thoth in battling Xaltoun and his men back to oblivion, but Akkad fell in the battle. The battle won, Thoth intended to establish his power even further as Stygia's savior, whereupon Kalanthes sarcastically asked Thoth if he was to go back to the tree now to be crucified again.
To Kalanthes's fury, Thoth took a moment to think of the question and Kalanthes delivered a savage blow that hurled Thoth to the ground, snarling "The question was not serious, liar priest, but I am sickened you had to think of the answer. I will take my poor father and leave the city. Perhaps you will learn something. Perhaps not."
Thoth-Amon was left shivering in a corner, his own weakness exposed.
Shortly thereafter, Thoth's servant arrived with news his family had perished from a grain plague Thoth himself had unleashed upon the lands. Thoth, no longer caring, decided to use the plague to convert the rest of the populace to the worship of Set, despite the pleas of the voices in his head, asking if he even cared any longer that he had been responsible for his once beloved sister's death.
The source of the voices was truly Amon, who had been the first of many to die for Thoth-Amon's ambitions. Sadly, Thoth no longer paid him heed, not for many years. Amon, however, still had hope, even for one lost in darkness as his once most beloved friend.
What became of Thoth-Amon, no tales can truly tell, though he and Kalanthes remained great enemies for many, many years. Some claim he quietly faded into legend, far from fact, some tales claim that he was finally defeated in a savage battle with King Conan himself.
Whatever the truth, many ages after Conan's empire had faded into legend, the chronicles of the Barbarian King were uncovered by a prince and his Wazir...a mysterious Wazir dressed in Stygian clothing, with emerald, serpent-like eyes who was noticeably uncomfortable about the mention of Conan and was heard to remark "Always Barbarians, everywhere I turn...is there no end to them?"
Age of Conan. Players start out marked and enslaved by Thoth-Amon, but are purged by ancient magic and are given the chance to break free from his control. Only a group of the strongest players are strong enough to confront him.
. However, the name is the only link to the original character. This Thoth-Amon does not appear, in terms of character, clothing or setting, to be Stygian/Egyptian nor do his actions resemble anything in Howard's stories. The monster Conan faces in the Thoth-Amon scenes (an ape-like creature in a red cloak) does resemble the character Thak from the short story Rogues in the House
, but this story does not include Howard's Thoth-Amon.
, the central villain Wrath-Amon is likely based on Thoth-Amon. However, unlike Thoth-Amon, Wrath-Amon is a Serpent Man who took the Black Ring and became Set's New High Priest, although he used to serve Ram-Amon. Ram-Amon also suspiciously resembled Thoth-Amon, suggesting a possible split of the character.
Alternatively, the Howard story, The Phoenix on the Sword
, includes the line "Men spoke of Thoth-Amon as they spoke of Rammon". The similar name of another feared Stygian wizard may have been the inspiration for Ram-Amon instead.
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 an evil wizard in 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...
, the first of the 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...
stories. He is often used as Conan's arch enemy in derivative works but the two characters never actually meet in any of Howard's original stories.
Character
Howard most likely derived the character's name from the Egyptian deities ThothThoth
Thoth was considered one of the more important deities of the Egyptian pantheon. In art, he was often depicted as a man with the head of an ibis or a baboon, animals sacred to him. His feminine counterpart was Seshat...
and Amon
Amun
Amun, reconstructed Egyptian Yamānu , was a god in Egyptian mythology who in the form of Amun-Ra became the focus of the most complex system of theology in Ancient Egypt...
. Thoth-Amon was the foremost sorcerer of the Stygian culture, which Howard set up as the ancestors of the ancient Egyptian civilization. Thoth-Amon was a worshipper of a god he referred to as Father Set. While this must derive from the Egyptian deity Set
Set (mythology)
Set was in Ancient Egyptian religion, a god of the desert, storms, and foreigners. In later myths he was also the god of darkness, and chaos...
, Howard transforms him into a serpent god
Set (Serpent God)
Set is the name of a fictional demon-god within the continuities of Conan the Barbarian and Marvel Universe.He is apparently an amalgam of the name of the Egyptian god Set and the appearance and characteristics of the Egyptian monster Apep and the Greek mythological figure the Lernaean Hydra. This...
. There is some intimation that Father Set may be one of the Great Old Ones that 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....
created. Howard and Lovecraft were friends and correspondents who often drew inspiration from each other's work.
In his first, and only, appearance, Howard describes Thoth as "a somber giant, whose dusky skin revealed his Stygian blood."
The character is one of Howard's most memorable villains and has been used by other authors, notably L. Sprague de Camp
L. Sprague de Camp
Lyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
. Thoth-Amon was a recurring villain in Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
' various Conan titles. Several of the sorcerer's accoutrements, The Scroll of Thoth and The Serpent Ring of Set, have also shown up in other stories by Richard Tierney and others. Though the villain in the film Conan the Barbarian is named Thulsa Doom
Thulsa Doom (character)
Thulsa Doom is a fictional character first appearing in the Kull short story "Delcardes' Cat" by Robert E. Howard. He has since appeared in comic books and film as the nemesis of Kull and, later, one of Howard's other creations, Conan the Barbarian....
, after an evil wizard in Howard's Kull stories, he more closely resembled Thoth-Amon.
The enduring popularity of Thoth-Amon may be because of his unusual characterization. Though a villain, the sorcerer has many heroic qualities. He is brave, physically strong, intelligent, and devoted to the advancement of his people. He is perhaps the best example of the noble villains.
Appearances in Howard's works
Thoth-Amon only ever appeared directly in one of Robert E. Howard's stories - The Phoenix on the SwordThe 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...
, which was also the first appearance of Conan. In this story he is temporarily powerless and the slave of an Aquilonian
Aquilonia (Conan)
Aquilonia is a fictional country created by Robert E. Howard as part of his Hyborian world, created for his character Conan the Barbarian. Conan eventually becomes king of this country....
outlaw called Ascalante. It is revealed that he used to be the greatest wizard of Stygia until the Serpent Ring of Set was stolen and his power was broken. It is described as "of a metal like copper, and was made in the form of a scaled serpent, coiled in three loops, with its tail in its mouth. Its eyes were yellow gems which glittered balefully." Thoth-Amon regains the ring and his power during the course of the story. His attack on Conan during the story is accidental, when he sends a demon to kill Ascalante and his conspirators who are at that time attempting to assassinate the Cimmerian.
Thoth-Amon is mentioned in two further Conan stories. First in 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...
(earlier in Conan's career than the first story) and then in The Hour of the Dragon
The Hour of the Dragon
The Hour of the Dragon, also known as Conan the Conqueror, is a fantasy novel written by Robert E. Howard featuring his seminal sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian. It was first published in serial form in the pulp magazine Weird Tales in 1935 through 1936; and in book form in 1950 by Gnome...
(later than the first story). In both he is feared as a major Stygian wizard. The God in the Bowl is the only one of the two in which his actions threaten Conan, although indirectly as in The Phoenix on the Sword. In The Hour of the Dragon Conan's actions actually aid Thoth when he destroys a cabal plotting to use the Heart of Ahriman, which Conan needs for his own ends, against Thoth.
Howard made one more reference to the character, in a non-Conan story. Set in the modern 1930s, Thoth's Serpent Ring of Set again appears in the John Kirowan
John Kirowan
Professor Michael Kirowan is a fictional character from Robert E. Howard's contributions to H.P. Lovecraft's story cycle "the Cthulhu Mythos".Kirowan is often partnered with the character John Conrad, to the extent that these stories are often referred to under the group title Conrad & Kirowan...
story The Haunter of the Ring
The Haunter of the Ring
"The Haunter of the Ring" is a 1934 short story by Robert E. Howard, belonging to the Cthulhu Mythos. It was first published in the pulp magazine Weird Tales in the June 1934 issue. Howard earned $60 for this publication...
. This was one of Howard's direct contributions to the Cthulhu Mythos
Cthulhu Mythos
The Cthulhu Mythos is a shared fictional universe, based on the work of American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft.The term was first coined by August Derleth, a contemporary correspondent of Lovecraft, who used the name of the creature Cthulhu - a central figure in Lovecraft literature and the focus...
, which was created by his correspondent 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....
.
The ring is at first described physically: "Oh, a fantastic thing--copper, made like a scaly snake coiled three times, with its tail in its mouth and yellow jewels for eyes. I gather he picked it up somewhere in Hungary." Later in the story it is directly named as the "accursed ring of Thoth-amon, handed down by foul cults of sorcerers since the days of forgotten Stygia."
The Book of Thoth (Dark Horse Comics)
In Dark Horse's new comic series, Thoth-Amon was finally given an origin. Thoth-Amon, the dark wizard began life as young Thoth, a street thief of Memphia, stealing for his father to barely earn a living with perpetual beatings the only sign of affection his father gave. The only person Thoth cared for was his sister, whom he vowed to take away from the cruel city one day. As fate would have it, Thoth's only true friend, a street urchin named Amon saved the life of Kharantus, priest of Ibis, the feathered god, by calling out a warning of assassins about to assault the priest's litter. Amon was given a boon by the priest and asked to train at the temple of Ibis, though believing himself unworthy to look the holy man in the eye, he kept his head down. That evening, Thoth's private trove of coins was discovered by thieves who beat Thoth and stole his money when Amon arrived to tell him the news.Thoth proceeded to murder his friend and take his name, realizing Kharantus would be unable to tell the difference. Thoth became a priest of Ibis, studying alongside Kharantus's son Kalanthes, until he began to lust after more power. Deciding to harness the power of ancient Acheron, Thoth set off on a journey where he entered an ancient tomb and was bitten nearly to death by snakes. There, the God Set came to him and sealed his fate with a dark bargain. Thoth returned to Memphia and began to murder members of Ibis's temple in sickening clandestine rituals, as well as engineering the death of the King and all his heirs to make certain his and Kalanthes's friend, young Cstephon would inherit the throne. Thoth's activities were discovered by Kharantus and the two engaged in battle.
Thoth defeated the old priest and forced him under mind control to confess to worship of Set, a great crime then. Kharantus was, through the magic of Ibis, robbed of his mind and kept by Thoth as a servant. Now puppet master of the throne, Thoth set up a vicious dictatorship that beget numerous rebels, including the barbarian hero Akkad of the Danu. Kalanthes soon realized what was happening and with the remainders of Ibis's priesthood set out to kill Thoth. Thoth's power proved greater than they realized and they were bested. In response, Thoth convinced Cstephon to banish worship of Ibis and turned Memphia to the worship of the arch-demon serpent god Set. The people, disenchanted with Ibis by the apparent lack of help the feathered god provided them, welcomed it.
Thoth intended to have the assassins all killed, but Cstephon decided instead to banish them. Furious, Thoth exposed Cstephon to dark magic in secret, destroying the young king's mind and making him a thrall. Kalanthes was crucified and left to die in the desert where he was rescued by Akkad of the Danu.
In an encounter with his past, Thoth recognized a thief brought before him as one man who had stolen his treasure horde so many years ago and demanded in return for his release eighteen coins, the exact amount that had been taken from Thoth. The thief was one short and so Thoth had him blinded and imprisoned for life. Thoth suddenly recalled his promise to his sister long ago and sent a servant to find his family and bring them before him. Thoth began to suffer voices in his head, whispering to him, trying to dissuade him of the path he had chosen. He attempted to ignore them to no avail.
Thoth, attempting to unearth Acheron's secrets accidentally resurrected the ancient sorcerer Xaltoun who brought about the fearsome serpent men on Stygia. Akkad, Kalanthes and their forces arrived to aid Thoth in battling Xaltoun and his men back to oblivion, but Akkad fell in the battle. The battle won, Thoth intended to establish his power even further as Stygia's savior, whereupon Kalanthes sarcastically asked Thoth if he was to go back to the tree now to be crucified again.
To Kalanthes's fury, Thoth took a moment to think of the question and Kalanthes delivered a savage blow that hurled Thoth to the ground, snarling "The question was not serious, liar priest, but I am sickened you had to think of the answer. I will take my poor father and leave the city. Perhaps you will learn something. Perhaps not."
Thoth-Amon was left shivering in a corner, his own weakness exposed.
Shortly thereafter, Thoth's servant arrived with news his family had perished from a grain plague Thoth himself had unleashed upon the lands. Thoth, no longer caring, decided to use the plague to convert the rest of the populace to the worship of Set, despite the pleas of the voices in his head, asking if he even cared any longer that he had been responsible for his once beloved sister's death.
The source of the voices was truly Amon, who had been the first of many to die for Thoth-Amon's ambitions. Sadly, Thoth no longer paid him heed, not for many years. Amon, however, still had hope, even for one lost in darkness as his once most beloved friend.
What became of Thoth-Amon, no tales can truly tell, though he and Kalanthes remained great enemies for many, many years. Some claim he quietly faded into legend, far from fact, some tales claim that he was finally defeated in a savage battle with King Conan himself.
Whatever the truth, many ages after Conan's empire had faded into legend, the chronicles of the Barbarian King were uncovered by a prince and his Wazir...a mysterious Wazir dressed in Stygian clothing, with emerald, serpent-like eyes who was noticeably uncomfortable about the mention of Conan and was heard to remark "Always Barbarians, everywhere I turn...is there no end to them?"
Thoth-Amon in Age of Conan
Thoth-Amon plays the role as main antagonist in the MMORPGMMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
Age of Conan. Players start out marked and enslaved by Thoth-Amon, but are purged by ancient magic and are given the chance to break free from his control. Only a group of the strongest players are strong enough to confront him.
Thoth-Amon in Conan the Destroyer
A wizard with the same name appears in the film Conan the DestroyerConan 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, the name is the only link to the original character. This Thoth-Amon does not appear, in terms of character, clothing or setting, to be Stygian/Egyptian nor do his actions resemble anything in Howard's stories. The monster Conan faces in the Thoth-Amon scenes (an ape-like creature in a red cloak) does resemble the character Thak from the short story Rogues in the House
Rogues in the House
"Rogues in the House" is one of the original short stories starring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard and first published in Weird Tales magazine circa January 1934...
, but this story does not include Howard's Thoth-Amon.
Thoth-Amon in Conan the Adventurer
In Conan the AdventurerConan 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...
, the central villain Wrath-Amon is likely based on Thoth-Amon. However, unlike Thoth-Amon, Wrath-Amon is a Serpent Man who took the Black Ring and became Set's New High Priest, although he used to serve Ram-Amon. Ram-Amon also suspiciously resembled Thoth-Amon, suggesting a possible split of the character.
Alternatively, the Howard 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...
, includes the line "Men spoke of Thoth-Amon as they spoke of Rammon". The similar name of another feared Stygian wizard may have been the inspiration for Ram-Amon instead.