texas pict

Like any soldier, I'm sure Conan returned home on "leave" occassionally. I went home while I was in the Army, and now my sons come home while they're on leave. He more than likely picked up a horned helm (or two) on such a visit.

I think there are no REH stories about these periods, because these times wouldn't have been worth recounting. Conan lying around on his Dad's floor drinking beer, and playing Hyborian age X-box. Conan going out with his old running buddies, telling them they're wussies for staying at home on the farm. Conan gets a new tattoo, and doesn't remember where he got it. Conan gets his old girlfriend to... we'll he told her he was "deploying" right after he leaves.

Not quite tales of high adventure.

Earrings, maybe, but Howard would definitely have described tattoos, in fact, he mentions the Picts (traditionally tattooed people) many times, and would surely have made mention of tattoos if Conan had them. Since Howard never described either, I say forget about them, he didn't have them.

If Picts wore tatoos, you can bet Cimmerians didn't.  "Tats are for Picts.  That's why their called Picts."

While I haven't read, and re-read, the Bran Mak Morn stories with the intensity that I've read the Conan tales...

I casually looked through some of the descriptions of Bran (and other Picts mentioned), and I could find no reference to tattoos. I would have to assume that tattooing would have been common place during the Roman invasion (or at least woad dyeing), yet there is no mention...

I don't know if Conan had ear rings or tattoos, as a proto-Celt it wouldn't shock me if he did. This is one of the elements REH left to his readers' imaginations (or omitted to avoid a conflict with the editors of Weird Tales). I think ear rings, and tattoos, would have been possible but not integral to the story. Picture the Cimmerian as you will; but as the fancy dresser Conan was, body art and jewelry would have been a possibility.

This is the "parent" of gymjones style training: http://crossfit.com/. Their workout of the day is a killer. The idea is to never do exactly the same thing, preventing stagnation.

My son is in the DEP program heading to Ft Benning, GA (OSUT/Airborne School/Ranger School), and we are incorporating it into his preps (about eight weeks, so far). I spent eight years in the Army (82nd Airborne/10th Mountain), and this stuff is killing me. My knees aren't what they were when I was younger.

I am impressed with the functional improvement in my fitness. I have lifted weights since I left the service (1991), but I wasn't "in shape". I am "gimpy" after some WODs, but I am feeling more in shape, every day. An added bonus: my wife is impressed with the new, improved me.

"Lions are slaying the horses!" cried Valeria.
"Lions, nothing!" snorted Conan, his eyes blazing. "Did you hear a lion roar? Neither did I! Listen to those bones snap - not even a lion could make that much noise killing a horse."

'From beyond the thicket came the noisy crunching of bones and the loud rending of flesh, together with the grinding, slobbering sounds of a horrible feast.'

"Through the thicket was thrust a head of nightmare and lunacy. Grinning jaws bared rows of dripping yellow tusks, above the yawning wrinkled saurian-like snout. Huge eyes, like those of a python a thousand times magnified, stared unwinkingly at the petrified humans clinging to the rock above. Blood smeared the scaly, flabby lips and dripped from the huge mouth.'

-from Red Nails

I would have to conclude this was not a herbivore. I think meat is on the menu for this beastie!

I know this is an old thread, but it's a topic I have pondered on.

I grew up in Texas, in a rather xenophobic household. I joined the army at the age of 21, and ETSed at the age of 39. I returned home to the family ranch, and here I stay. I am now thinking about my army time, as two of my sons are headed off to Ranger school.

I left home speaking English, and not knowing much about foriegners. During my time in service, I travelled (a lot, 82nd Airborne, 75th Rangers, 10th Mountain), and was curious about the people and places I saw. I made a point of interacting with the locals (as much as possible), and seeing what I could.

While I'm no linguist, and my accent was "John Wayne-ish" when speaking other languages, I could communicate. I left the army able to chat up a girl (not the best sort), or interact with the local authorities (not all of them pleasent) in: Spanish, German, Korean, French, and to some extent Italian. I could also read enough of all those languages to get the gist of what was being said.

If I could do it, I'm sure a merc like Conan would have had no problems. Speaking the language, and understanding the culture, is very important to a combat arms soldier. Knowing what the locals are saying, and what may cheese them off, will save your rear. Most "foriegners" also seemed to be more friendly and cooperative, if you tried to communicate with them in their local tongue. Some would bust out with their high school English, if you tried to show them you had bothered learning some of their language.