Scholars are still working through some possible interpretations of this painting. Chronological evidence places its construction to the period immediately after Conan’s reign, probably during the first ten years on Conn’s rulership.

The skull’s mixture of vaguely ophidian features mixed with human is part of the discussion surrounding the painting. Some scholars, namely Dr. T.S. Crinblock, are positing that this mixture is an anatomically accurate depiction of a lizard man. However, another group of scholars are arguing that the representation is largely symbolic, more indicative of the shifting nature of humanity.

A second wave of Hyborian Age paintings have been released by Miskatonic University. Art enthusiasts will remember that earlier in the year, Perverse Osmosis posted several of these newly discovered prints. Now, thanks to the tireless efforts of members of the Art and Artistics department, here we have the first of several outstanding representations of Hyborian Art.

This piece is considered quite a rare find; as far as any researchers can tell, it is the only representations of guards in the famed City of Skulls, where Conan and Juma adventured in Conan.

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Conan the Valiant (1988)

Location:

• Aghrapur, capital of Turan
• Fort Zheman, a fort in Turan
• The Ilbars Mountains [see note below]

• Ermius the Necromancer: trying to lead the Transformed [again, don't look at me: talk to that Roland Green fella] against Turan. As is often the case, he is killed by his own spells.
• Illyana the sorceress; she is trying to gain control over the Jewels of Kurag, but, much like Ermius’s spells, the Jewels are her death.

Love interests:

• Making up for yesterday’s shutout, Conan makes out with Pyla, Zaria, and Thebia all at the same time. After a brief recuperation period, he woos Raihna the sword maiden [who we also see in Conan the Relentless], and Dessa the dancer.

Interesting Facts:

• King Ibram ruled Turan 200 years ago
• Lord Mishrak, the chief of the Turanian secret police, is not a man to be trifled with, although Conan trifles.
• The back of the Tor paperback has quite a homoerotic typo. “Conan the Cimmeria must ride to comfort Ermius, accompanied against his will by the sorceress Illyana.” I think it is supposed to be “confront,” but  . . .
• There is also some poor Hyborian geography here. The narrative and the back cover use the term “Ibars Mountains,” where the rest of the maps of Hyboria use Ilbars Mountains. That is just lazy.

Conan the Marauder (1987)

Location:

• The steppes of Hyrkania
• The City of the Mounds, a taboo part of Hyrkania

Wizard:

• Khondemir, who wants to use the Hyrkanian horde to lead the sack of Turan because his mother was King Yildiz’s first wife, but Khondemir lost out on the crown.

Love Interest:

• Conan is too busy either fighting with or fighting for the Horde to have time to woo and court.  Maybe he needed a break after some of last week’s conquests.

Interesting Facts:

• The leader of the Horde, Bartatua, gains Conan’s respect to the point where the Cimmeria claims, “He was a great man, perhaps the greatest I have known.” Bartatua’s reign as Horde leader is cut short by his love for an ambitious woman, who, in proper ambitious woman fashion, kills him.
• The City of Mounds is the sacred burial grounds of the Ashkuz, a tribe of Hykanians, where they bury their dead chiefs and leaders. As an added benefit, it is also a nexus point for magic and elemental energy.