Crom
Crom & His Dark Race Religion in Cimmeria
Cimmerians believe in a rather dark pantheon is held, with those present drinking a toast to the departed, of gods, all of whom are ruled by Crom and are of his race. then pouring out the remainder of their beverages onto Crom is a dire god, as gloomy as the Cimmerians themselves, the ground for the dead. If revenge is called for – and and as dangerous. The Cimmerians do not pray to Crom, the Cimmerians can feud like no-one but the Tlazitlans nor do they worship him or any of his kind. Crom and – the drinking-vessels are then smashed, with each warrior his race of gods despise weaklings who call on them for aid boasting of how he personally will take his revenge on behalf and would likely make the situation worse for the petitioner. of the deceased. Such vengeance is usually in the form of a The Cimmerians value individuality and self-worth; their number of heads, to be collected from the enemy tribe that gods expect them to take slew him. Many of the care of life themselves. Cimmerian tribes practice Indeed, Crom only takes headhunting of their fallen pride in a Cimmerian if ‘They have no hope here or hereafter,’ foes in a ritualistic manner, that Cimmerian never calls answered Conan. ‘Their gods are Crom similar to that of their later upon him for aid in his life. and his dark race, who rule over a sunless Celtic descendants. Cimmerians are supposed place of everlasting mist, which is the to take what they want world of the dead.’ To capture the feel of from life, not ask a god for Howard’s milieu in your blessings, wealth, health or Robert E. Howard, The Phoenix on the campaign, avoid the pitfall anything else. Sword of presuming Crom is ‘good’. Cimmerians do In The Tower of the not want to attract Crom’s Elephant, Howard wrote, attention, or any god’s, for ‘His gods were simple and Conan once said he would understandable; Crom was their chief, and he lived on a not want to walk even on their shadow. As Conan said, great mountain, whence he sent forth dooms and death. It ‘What use to call on him? Little he cares if men live or die. was useless to call on Crom, because he was a gloomy, savage Better to be silent than to call his attention to you; he will god, and he hated weaklings. But he gave a man courage at send you dooms, not fortune! He is grim and loveless…’ birth, and the will and might to kill his enemies, which, in The actions of Crom, of any real supernatural entity, usually the Cimmerian’s mind, was all any god should be expected bring about the destruction of men, not the succour of man. to do.’ Simply put, the Cimmerians do not pray to Crom… ever. Crom was imagined to live on Ben Morgh so Cimmerians stay away from that tall mountain to avoid his ‘dooms and death.’ After death, the Cimmerians believe their spirit travels to a grey realm, misty and icy, where they forever wander in cheerless gloom. Still, the Cimmerians do not fear death and gladly meet it with steel in hand and a war cry on their lips. Cimmerian funerary customs are quick and deadly. The slain are left where they fell, or disposed of simply; it is no matter, since their shades are departed. A wake
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An indifferent creator god is a characteristic of many animist religions. The primitive religious beliefs of the Cimmerians fall into this category. Spirits walk the earth and they inhabit the things of the earth. While men have no chance of communicating with Crom, they might be able to influence the spirits through minor rituals. Ritual is a part of life, important for placating the spirits so that food may be found and survival ensured. They have death rituals, divinatory rituals, agricultural rituals, hunting rituals, rites of passage, healing rituals and war rituals. Common rites of passage include birth rites, naming rites, marriage rites, initiation
