Thoth-Amon
Thoth-Amon is a male literary character who features in Conan.
Contents |
Biography
Thoth-Amon was a male sorcerer who came to live in the
In time, he came to be the greatest wizard in Stygia until the Serpent Ring of Set was stolen from him thus leading to his powers being removed. In this powerless state, he came to be a slave of an Aquilonian outlaw by the name of Ascalante.
Thoth-Amon’s first major recorded actions occurred during his service as a priest of Set, the serpent god worshipped in Stygia. Once a member of the high order, his fortunes changed when a servant stole the Serpent Ring of Set, the source of much of his power. Reduced to plotting in the shadows, Thoth-Amon found himself unable to command the same degree of sorcery without the relic. Despite this loss, he survived by allying with Stygian nobles and assassins, lending his knowledge of black magic to manipulate political rivalries. Even without the ring, his cunning intellect and deep knowledge of sorcery kept him dangerous.
His activities later placed him in direct opposition to Conan of Cimmeria. Hired by nobles to eliminate threats to their rule, Thoth-Amon prepared rituals of summoning and assassination designed to slay rivals. He unleashed creatures of darkness, conjured illusions, and relied on assassins aided by sorcery to weaken his enemies. While Conan often disrupted his schemes, Thoth-Amon’s role was rarely that of a battlefield warrior; instead, he orchestrated events from behind the curtain, preferring to let others carry out the initial violence before he struck with magical precision. Thoth-Amon eventually regained possession of the Serpent Ring of Set, restoring his status as one of the most powerful sorcerers in the Hyborian Age. With its return, he commanded vast magical energy, summoning great serpents, controlling demonic entities, and channeling destructive blasts that could slay multiple foes. He used this resurgence to reestablish his authority in Stygia, consolidating political power while directing magical forces against both rivals and heroes alike. Though Conan defeated or eluded him in direct confrontations, Thoth-Amon survived each encounter, his ambition and black arts ensuring his continual rise as one of the Cimmerian’s most enduring foes.
Ascalante and his conspirators later attempted to assassinate the Cimmerian known as Conan with Thoth-Amon summoning to kill his Aquilonian captors.
Overview
Personality and attributes
In appearance, Thoth-Amon was depicted as a tall Stygian man with dark complexion and sharp, angular features. His skin was said to be leathery and wrinkled thus showing signs of his age along with his body being ravaged by magic. It was said that he had inhuman-like green eyes that seemed to burn from within like emeralds. He often wore robes befitting a high priest or sorcerer, decorated with serpentine motifs that reflected his allegiance to Set. When in possession of the Serpent Ring, it glowed ominously upon his finger, its jewel radiating unnatural power. His physical form was less imposing than his mystical presence, as his bearing and attire communicated wealth, knowledge, and menace.
Thoth-Amon’s personality was characterized by ambition, cruelty, and an unshakable devotion to Set. He combined a priest’s sense of ritual order with the ruthless pragmatism of a court schemer, using assassination, manipulation, and sorcery to achieve his aims. He was arrogant in his command of magic, often underestimating those without it, yet shrewd enough to retreat and preserve his strength when overmatched. Above all, he was patient, willing to wait years to consolidate power or to strike when an enemy least expected.
He was noted for being a cruel and capricious man who would stop at nothing to gain sorcerous power. In time, he came to be the most powerful of all the sorcerers in Stygia. Thoth-Among thus came to be known as a corrupt and terrifying sorcerer of the Black Ring where his reputation was to the point that Stygian lords feared to anger him. He seemingly claimed worship of the serpent god Set but in reality had no interest in anything except his own power.
Thoth-Amon was regarded as the deadliest foe of Kalanthes.
Powers and abilities
Thoth-Amon’s powers stemmed from his mastery of sorcery, heightened when wielding the Serpent Ring of Set. Even without it, he could summon lesser demons, animate shadows, and employ curses and enchantments. With the ring, his abilities expanded exponentially: summoning colossal serpents, binding the will of men, and unleashing destructive magical forces on a battlefield scale. His knowledge of ritual magic, necromancy, and summoning made him versatile, and his magical constitution granted him resilience beyond that of a normal man, though he remained physically vulnerable compared to warriors like Conan.
Ultimately, his power was tied to the Black Ring of Set which he used to cast his spells.. It was described as being made of a metal similar to copper but one that formed a scaled serpent which coiled in three loops that led to its tail in its mouth. The eyes of the serpent were said to be yellow gems which glittered balefully. Without the ring, it was said that Thoth-AMong was powerless and inn such a state he had the same vulnerabilities as any other man and was powerless without the mystical relic.
He was also shown to be in possession of the Scroll of Thoth.
Notes
- Thoth-Amon was created by Robert E. Howard and his first appearance in Weird Tales "The Phoenix on the Sword" (December, 1932).
In other media
Television
- In Conan the Adventurer, Thoth-Amon himself did not appear in the 1990s animated television series. Instead, a character by the name of Wrath-Amon appeared as the main antagonist in the setting.
Comic Books
- In Conan the Barbarian v1 #7 (1971), Thoth-Amon was adapted into the setting of Marvel Comics.
- In the Savage Sword of Conan v1 #55 (1980), it was revealed in the Marvel Comics setting that Thoth-Amon was once the master of Kulan Gath. However, his apprentice was forced to flee after performing acts that were too horrendous to the sorcerers of Stygia.
- In King Conan v1 #4 (1985), Thoth-Amon appeared in the Marvel Comics setting where he killed by Prince Conn of Aquilonia who was the son of Conan. Despite this, it was shown that the Serpent Ring could summon his spirit back and even create a new body for him.
- In Conan the Barbarian v3 #8 (2019), Thoth-Amon returned to Marvel Comics after the publisher was given the rights to Conan. He cast a spell to take over Conan's home village in Cimmeria in an effort to kill the barbarian. However, the possessed were defeated with the frustrated Thoth-Amon looking for his foe's demise where he received a prophecy regarding the Crimson Witch.
Appearances
- Weird Tales: "The Phoenix on the Sword" (1932)
- Conan the Barbarian v3:
External Links
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