The Aquilonians worship Mitra, the ‘universal god of the Hyborians.’ The Aquilonians are fervent in their devotion to Mitra and the Mitran priests completely dominate religious life in Aquilonia despite King Conan’s refusal to persecute foreign religions. Mitra is regarded as the one true god, standing in the universe with no pantheon nor even a consort to support his cosmic reign. He does command a heavenly host, however. The saints also stand with him, as evidenced by the exclamation from a Poitanian when
Conan, thought dead, stood revealed in The Hour of the Dragon: ‘Saints of heaven!’ The religion practices religious intolerance in order to better achieve secular power.
The religion of Mitra is one of forgiveness and peace. It is a religion of civilisation and pacification. It is taught that the wonders of the Hyborian world are the direct result of Mitra’s power. Societal problems in Ophir, Corinthia, Brythunia and Koth are depicted as the harvest reaped by those who are neglectful of Mitra’s seeds and who allow other religions to share their land. Priests of Mitra are taught many things in addition to theology and philosophy. Many learn practical aspects of their culture, such as smithy work, carpentry, stonework, mining, smelting, minting, marriage brokering, mercantilism and diplomacy.
The philosophy of Mitra’s religion is that Mitra is the Truth and serpents (such as Set and Asura) represent Deceit. The religion attempts to overcome fear of death, so it offers a form of afterlife as part of its belief system. The religion of Mitra has a heaven and a hell. Mitra’s followers are suspicious and intolerant of other cults, although certain cults raise their ire more than others. Most hated above all cults are the cults of Set and his entire pantheon of ‘apish gods that squat on the shadowy altars of dim temples in the dark land of Stygia’. Next on Mitra’s list of devils are the Pictish gods.
In addition to its intolerance toward foreign religions, the Mitran religion frowns upon ostentatious religious displays. Mitra’s temples are awesomely plain, yet stately,
artistic and beautiful despite the lack of ornate symbols and massive, sweeping structural forms so prevalent in most Hyborian Age temples. The altar is a symbolic
gesture at best, for followers of the Mitran religion do not sacrifice humans nor animals to their omnipresent deity. A single dignified statue is likewise permitted but is not worshipped. Any statues of Mitra are considered attempts by the faithful to visualise Mitra in an idealised form, for his true form is unknowable.
Conan, thought dead, stood revealed in The Hour of the Dragon: ‘Saints of heaven!’ The religion practices religious intolerance in order to better achieve secular power.
The religion of Mitra is one of forgiveness and peace. It is a religion of civilisation and pacification. It is taught that the wonders of the Hyborian world are the direct result of Mitra’s power. Societal problems in Ophir, Corinthia, Brythunia and Koth are depicted as the harvest reaped by those who are neglectful of Mitra’s seeds and who allow other religions to share their land. Priests of Mitra are taught many things in addition to theology and philosophy. Many learn practical aspects of their culture, such as smithy work, carpentry, stonework, mining, smelting, minting, marriage brokering, mercantilism and diplomacy.
The philosophy of Mitra’s religion is that Mitra is the Truth and serpents (such as Set and Asura) represent Deceit. The religion attempts to overcome fear of death, so it offers a form of afterlife as part of its belief system. The religion of Mitra has a heaven and a hell. Mitra’s followers are suspicious and intolerant of other cults, although certain cults raise their ire more than others. Most hated above all cults are the cults of Set and his entire pantheon of ‘apish gods that squat on the shadowy altars of dim temples in the dark land of Stygia’. Next on Mitra’s list of devils are the Pictish gods.
In addition to its intolerance toward foreign religions, the Mitran religion frowns upon ostentatious religious displays. Mitra’s temples are awesomely plain, yet stately,
artistic and beautiful despite the lack of ornate symbols and massive, sweeping structural forms so prevalent in most Hyborian Age temples. The altar is a symbolic
gesture at best, for followers of the Mitran religion do not sacrifice humans nor animals to their omnipresent deity. A single dignified statue is likewise permitted but is not worshipped. Any statues of Mitra are considered attempts by the faithful to visualise Mitra in an idealised form, for his true form is unknowable.