History
Origins[]
Various origins have been given to Opar:
- Opar was a mighty outpost of the empire of Atlantis before the Great Cataclysm, 10,000 years ago.[2] This datation, which doesn't fit the Great Cataclysm, matches with the Post-Hyborian Cataclysm occurred circa 8,000 BC, but could simply be erroneous.
- Opar was one of the surviving islands (along with Antillia, Ptahuacan, Avalon, Mayapan, Zothique, and Ruta) where Atlanteans fled after the Great Cataclysm that happened circa 18,500 BC. The Post-Hyborian Cataclysm circa 8,000 BC virtually erased evidence of the existence of society developed on Opar and the other surviving islands.[3]
- Opar was an African city (along with Negari) colonized at some point by Atlantean descendants.[4]
Modern Age[]
In any case, by the Modern Age, Opar was a dying city with ruined ramparts, set in the Congo jungles. The city was inhabited by the Oparians, "half-human fiends", led by La, high-priestess of Opar who worshiped the Flaming God and invoked the name of Valka). To the Waziri, Opar was a place of soulless ghosts.[2]
Tarzan (John Clayton) used to venture to the lost city of Opar to replenish his fortune, for there was so much in the sunken vaults of the city, which frightened Jane,[1] easily accessed a passage unknown to the Oparians and leading from the outskirts of the city right into the treasure vaults. On such raids, Tarzan left the jewels away but took gold ingots with him. On one occasion, the Waziri accompanying Tarzan had fled, too fearful of the place.[2] In an untold tale, he met La during of those expeditions, who fell in love with him.[6]
When the English company in which he had invested his wealth failed, and Tarzan and Jane were broke, and Tarzan decided to return to Opar to seize a part of the wealth lying there.[1][2]
Tarzan and his Waziri allies were followed by Belgian scoundrel Albert Werper who wished to plunder the city. Albert Werper was captured by the Oparians to be sacrificed at the Temple of the Flaming God, but Tarzan, amnesic after a cave-in, intervened, spurning La's advances and fighting the Oparians.[2] Still amnesic, Tarzan plundered a pouch of treasure before leaving the city, accompanied by Werper who had taken the Sacrificial Knife of the Flaming God with him, and tried to slay Tarzan for the plundered jewels.[5]
Facts[]
Language[]
The Oparians and La spoke the Language of the Great Apes.[5]
Religion[]
The Oparians, led by their high priestess La, sacrificed humans in the Temple of the Flaming God. As the name of Valka was mentioned by La in incantation,[2] it is possible that the Flaming God worshiped by the Oparians is Valka.
The Oparians feared to be slain by the holy ritual knife, the Sacrificial Knife of the Flaming God, which served to perform the sacrifices.[2][5]Points of Interest
- Vaults containing seemingly limitless gold in jewels and ingots
- Temple of the Flaming God
Residents
- La of Opar[2]
Notes
- Opar is a fictional lost city in the Tarzan novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs, first appearing in the second Tarzan novel, The Return of Tarzan (1913).
- For some fans, Opar would be another name for the biblical Ophir,[7][8] Ophir is also a name for a kingdom created by Robert E. Howard.
See Also
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Tarzan #2
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Tarzan #3
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #1 ; Atlantis' profile
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Blockbusters of the Marvel Universe #1 ; Great Cataclysm's profile
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Tarzan #4
- ↑ Tarzan #3 : "In the The Return of Tarzan"
- ↑ Opar by by Rick Johnson
- ↑ Den Valdron's Fantasy Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs Series