Conan the Barbarian (the esoteric symbolism)

I spoke with Gwap360 recently. we were discussing some of the symbolism of this movie. so i decided to post some of the ideas that came up during our discussion

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the beginning of the movie shows Conan's father creating a steel sword. pounding, heating, and hammering steel until it turns into a sword. the opening analogy is representative of Conan's coming life struggle. starting off as an insignificant nobody, and through many trials and tribulations, forges himself into a dangerous weapon. the transformation of steel into a sword is symbolic of Conan's transformation, from slave to eventually ruler of his own kingdom.

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Conan's father lays out the mythology surrounding "Crom" and "The Riddle of Steel"

Crom is conan's god and god of the Cimmerians. he lives inside the earth and inside mountains.

In the past, giants from inside the earth, stole steel from the god's. the god's backlashed against the giants, living steel on earth from which humanity learned to use.

It was the task of a human warrior, that after death, they would have to face Crom and would be asked to answer "the riddle of steel." and if one fails to answer the riddle correctly, they would be cast out of Valhalla and cursed

Robert E. Howard (author of the conan character) said that the Cimmerians were loosely based on ancient Celts and a few mythological characters from those legends. and Valhalla (the warrior afterlife) is taken from Norse mythology.

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Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones) is the bad guy of the movie. is the leader of a serpent cult and is endowed with various strange powers of controlling the minds of people.

the director said on the DVD commentary, that Thulsa Doom with his dark skin, straight hair, and green eyes was supposed to represent a lost and forgotten race of people. the very opening of the movie, the narrator mentioned that this tale takes place after the destruction of atlantis and wrote the storyline so as his character came from there.

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Thusla Doom's serpent cult symbol

Two serpents...probably representing two separate snake cult factions who are at odds...but are connected underground

over a rising/setting sun...could represent the cultures both east (rising) and west (setting) and the serpent cult's control over them

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Conan was taught and trained by the war masters of the east. a gift for the best warriors of his day. east to west importation of science?

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Conan get seduced by a beautiful women. and while having sex with her, she turns into a demon succubus and trying to kill him . so he does what any barbarian would do in a situation like that. he throws her into the fire

Gwap360 with his Kealey-esque interpretation points out this represents the Desdemona..."destroy demon women!"

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Conan stealing "the eye of the serpent" jewel from one of Thulsa Doom's temples

the red stone, the philosopher's stone?

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Conan gets captured and beaten by Thusla Doom's thugs. Doom is angered at Conan for stealing his stone. and before going to kill Conan, he offers him the answer to the Riddle of Steel

"steel isn't strong boy, flesh is stronger."
*thusla doom orders one of his servant to kill themselves and the servant does so instantly*
"that is strength, boy! that is power! the strength and power of flesh. what is steal compared to the hand that wields it? look at the strength of your body, and the desire of your heart. i give you this!"

what Thusla doom is talking about here, is not merely about swords, nor is it really just about flesh. he's talking about the spirit of control.

there's something that the Samurai used to say..."the sword is an extension of the samurai's soul"
it's what happens when the brain neurophysiologically adapts itself to treat an external object or tool, almost as if the tool was part of the user's body.
it's like cybernetics of the nervous system with external objects, all controlled by the brain.

So what Thusla Doom is saying, is basically, "yeah, Conan, you can master a sword...but i can master an army of sword masters! i am king, so beat that!"
Doom's soul extends, not just to a mere tool...but an entire mass of people who are all united under his rule. like a group body with himself as the brain.

think about the Brahmin's of India. they created an entire religion based on the idea that the caste system was the body of Brahma (god)...and the Brahmin ruling caste places themselves at the head.

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Conan gets crucified on the tree of woe

symbolic of the sun god crucifixion...where as the serpent (Thusla Doom) would be represented by the moon...the solar energy is present in Conan

the sun's shadow doesn't move for 3 days on the winter solstice. so the sun god dies before it is resurrected...or seemingly, brought back to life

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semi conscious and bound, near death Conan is being suffocated by demons...see sleep paralysis

his love interest, the Valkyrie women saves his life on more than one occasion. she aids in the resurrection the fallen hero by fighting back the demons and nursing his sick body

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the valkrie asks, "do you want to live forever?" ...she gives him the power of resurrection and life

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Conan born again, now understands the answer to The Riddle of Steel

later continues his own quest...not for small material gain, like the accumulation of steel...but a much greater project

he wants to be king and ruler of his own kingdom! he will show Thusla Doom who's the boss

Conan kills Thusla Doom at the end by cutting off his head...how else do you kill a serpent?

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showing his head before his followers, "may ur god or gods go with ya" and tosses his head down the steps

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Conan...taking Doom's understanding of the Riddle, applies it to his life and becomes king at a later time
...controlling the minds of his own followers

but that's another story

"may ur god or gods go with ya"

Alan watt says
"May your god or your gods go with you". I wonder if he got that line from this movie?

that's actually not from the movie. i just added it there for lolz