Zingara
Mitra & Zingara Religion in Zingara
The religion of Zingara is a vague at best. Zingara is not a Hyborian nation according to Howard, although they were conquered by Hyborians as most other nations were. L. Sprague de Camp establishes Zingara as a nation of Mitra worshippers, though it is not unreasonable to presume that gods akin to the Shemite pantheon and the Pictish gods also exist there.
The Sabaoth
According to L. Sprague de Camp, Mitra is the head of the pantheon. This is interesting because in all other Hyborian nations, Mitra is the One True God. The melting pot of Zingara has also produced a melting pot of religions. Mitra, as the god of the last conquerors, now rules supreme over the other gods in a Zeus-like role. The saints have vanished, but the legions of heaven and hell remain. A variant of Ishtar serves as his consort in a court that contains Shemitish and Pictish deities, all with portfolios of power in an complex fashion duplicating the complicated Zingaran court.
With the head of a rooster, the body of a man and feet like a mass of snakes, Abrazas is a horrific figure. He is the number 365 and he commands this many demons and archons in the world, ensuring the world moves as it should. Originally a servitor of Urci, once the truth of Mitra was revealed, he rebelled and offered his Allegiance to Mitra. He is now the general of Mitra’s armies. Every act he makes is good and evil, truth and lie, light and dark. He speaks lies so that his listeners learn truth. His word kills and resurrects all in the same moment.
Mitra, Great Prince of Light
Ahriman
Mitra is the one unknowable god and from him came the archons known as the Sabaoth, god-like entities who comprise the celestial host. Mitra demands that his worshippers stand upright before him rather than prostrating themselves and does not require either man or beast in sacrifice. He is a god of rights and justice; those kingdoms that have adopted his rule usually have at the very least some kind of minimal human rights that apply even to the lowliest of peasants, though the Zingarans get around this with some complex theology to allow them to continue owning slaves. Worshippers of Mitra are encouraged to battle oppression and seek out justice wherever they can. At heart Mitra is a warrior god, holy to soldiers and knights, who are encouraged to show mercy on the field of battle, forgiving enemies. It is possible that this latter concept is the origin of chivalry among the Zingarans.
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These celestial beings sprung from Mitra’s essence. In the past they were erroneously worshipped as gods, but Epemitreus the Sage established their true nature to the Zingarans.
Abrazas
Ahriman is the archon of anger and discord. He is the source of evil and taunted Mahri into creating Urci. He then influenced Urci into becoming a jealous and angry god. He taunts those in power and brings strife and disease wherever he looks. His power is to bring down those who wield power. He is a force of rebellion. He created Set and Asura to oppose Mitra. He is the father of Atophys and Hedone.
