Mitra (Conan)

Mitra is a deity from the Hyborian Age setting created by Robert E. Howard for his Conan the Barbarian series of stories. Mitra is a personification of good popular among the Hyborian peoples.

He is probably loosely based on the Vedic and Zoroastrian figure by the same name, and in the Hyborian universe, his worship generally represents Christianity. In the essay "The Hyborian Age", Howard notes that followers of Mitra are urged to forgive their enemies (though many of them fail to actually do so – like many actual Christians, past and present). The Mitra religion is strongly missionary, its adherents sometimes risking their lives in trying to spread it in hostile environments.

Significantly, Mitra worship is strong and dominant – effectively the state religion – in the Hyborian countries corresponding to Western Europe. In other parts of the world, corresponding to Asia and Africa, Mitra is at best one god among many, and in Stygia (Egypt and North Africa) worship of Mitra is altogether banned.

Mitra is the chief god of most of the civilized Hyborian kingdoms, including Aquilonia, Ophir, Nemedia, Brythunia, Corinthia, and Zingara. His worshippers are monolatristic, since at least one tale depicts priests of Mitra recognizing the existence of another deity (Set). He is depicted as a "gentle" god. In Khoraja, which is on the border line of the Hyborian kingdoms with the Semite ones, the worship of Mitra was largely forgotten in favor of the Semite gods – but in hours of great need, Khorajans still call on Mitra and are answered ("Black Colossus").

While Mitra and his followers are in general presented favorably in the Conan stories, in The Hour of the Dragon there is a considerable reference to Mitra followers having a strong prejudice against those of Asura and engaging in active persecution of them. Conan, being a "Barbarian", does not share this "civilized" prejudice and protects the Asura followers – which proves of great benefit in his hour of need.

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