Mapping Holmes: A Theory
I have long wanted to do a map inspired by Holmes world as it appears in the Tales of Peril collection. On review I have come to two conclusions and would like my fellow Holmes scholars input.
Portown as it is described in the Blue book Sample Dungeon is inspired on the fictional Arkham from Lovecraft's stories, particularly "The Festival". Mapping it too close to the "Maze of Peril" world is a mistake.
I think Holmes' "Tales of Peril" world was inspired by the geography around the Black Sea and Northern Turkey.
I think Portown was inspired by Holmes "port city" of Bythinium.
Bythinium (also called Claudiopolis), was a Roman city near present-day Bolu in north-western Turkey.
Holmes world was inspired by the geography of classical myth; especially the "Golden Fleece" locations around the the Black Sea. The city of Caladan's name was inspired by Dune; but the Greek origin of that fictional world's ruling dynasty is a clue.
This part of the world had numerous Greek colonies in the ancient era and Byzantine states in the medieval world.
I think Caladan may be roughly where roman Claudiopolis was in his fictional reality.
The forest terrain would also make sense.
Heraclea Pontica would be a good possible candidate for the location of Holmes' relocated Bythinium. I think he just kept Caladan's old name but just moved the location North. Also the term could refer to the entire area.
Another clue is that north of this area is the legendary home of the classical Amazons, a major faction along with Pirates and Dagonites in Holmesian world.
Homles' lost city could be in a fictional Arabian desert south of here (matching Howard's Nameless City) and his East Africa inspired locations also make sense (Eastern Africa was heavily influenced by medieval Islam).
Aren't there also references in Holmes Tales of Peril to the "Iranian coast"? Portown's "Islamic culture" to the South?
Tell me what you think!
I’ve attempted to tie the varied geographies of Holmes’ stories and came to a similar, east Mediterranean conclusion. Portown of the sample dungeon appears to be based on Lovecraft’s Kingsport, based on Marblehead, Mass. (see link).
ReplyDeleteBoinger and Zereth did sail past “the Iranian coast” in one adventure. Iranistan would fit in Holmes’ world for a Conan touch.
Holmes never did make a map of his entire game world.zenopusarchives.blogspot.com - Kingsport as Portown
Huh. Nice bit of detective work.
ReplyDeleteWould not be surprised to find out this was the case. Many older folks cut our fantasy teeth on the classic Greek myths, rather than Percy Lightning-Thief, etc. This part of the world has a rich and storied history, but is sufficiently "exotic" to Westerners (while still retaining similar myths and legends) that it makes an excellent basis for a campaign setting...plus it's relatively close to both Egypt and India (lands of mystery and riches); good areas to place adventure sites.
The proximity of Capadocia (and its miles of multistory underground complexes is suggestive of his view of an underworld that is everywhere, and just below the surface... Also the Phoenicians were supposed to be Dagon worshipers. Byzantium was also a site frequented by crusaders and merchants, both classes of "adventurer".
ReplyDeleteI like Turkey as an inspiration, though Dad never mentioned it. Constantanople is too large for Portown but it lies nicely between East and West. The characters from T o P did travel South to the Lost city of Irem across deserts. Portowm might have been suggested by Innsmouth. Dad spent most of his life near the sea.
ReplyDeleteInteresting thoughts Mark Tygart. There are some maps made by Holmes with Byrithium (sometimes spelled Byruthium) on them. These seem to correspond to the Boinger & Zereth adventures relayed in A&E, and as Chris mentions would be to the south of where the original dungeon was located. I'm starting to make an index of these maps (125+ pages). We hope to share them in some to-be-determined form in the future.
ReplyDeleteZach H I think you will find the same spellings in Howard's Conan stories, inspired by the same classical location and geography.
ReplyDeleteAnother clue is that the "northern" sea and the "stormy sea" are both early Geek names for the Black Sea.
ReplyDeleteEarly Geek as in 1970s D&D players? ; )
ReplyDeleteZach H Freudian slip! :)
ReplyDelete