Snake Mountain
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- This article is about the fictional fortress from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. For the mountain in Vermont, see Snake Mountain, Vermont.
Snake Mountain as seen in the Filmation Masters of the Universe animated series.
Snake Mountain is a location in the He-Man series, located on the fictional world of Eternia. It is located on the Dark Hemisphere of Eternia and is home to the villainous, skull-faced demon Skeletor. It was later revealed to have once been home to the Snake Men. Its defining feature is its snake-like shape, hence the name.
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[edit] History of Snake Mountain
(Note: as with much of the line's matetial, it's details varied in different sources. The below description is assembled using several different versions, and may vary in some different sources.)
[edit] Preternia
Long ago in Eternia's past, a race known as the Zodakkians flourished. They were an advanced civilisation of powerful wizards and scientists. The most powerful of these were appointed King and Queen. During their time on Eternia, some of the Zodakkians became evil and were exiled to the dark side of Eternia, to the Banshee Jungle. Over the generations the blood of the Zodakkians became diluted by other blood and few "pure-blood" Zodakkians were left. These peoples became known as the Eternians.
One day a race of Snake-Men, led by King Hiss, arrived from a far-off planet and attacked Eternia. Upon discovering the Banshee Jungle, Hiss ordered his men to build a fortress at the summit of a great mountain. Around the mountain, the Snake-Men carved the body of a huge snake, and the mountain became known as Snake Mountain. Hiss and his men made many assaults on Eternia, and for many years the Eternians fought against the Snake-Men. The few remaining Zodakkians and the Eternians combined their magic and succeeded in sending Hiss and his army into the White Void, a timeless dimension of eternal suffering. King Hiss swore he would take revenge on the people of Eternia.
[edit] Modern era
Decades passed by and the threat of Snake Mountain decreased, until the arrival of the Evil Horde. The leader of the squadron sent to take over Eternia was named Hordak. He, and his protege Skeletor, let an assault force against King Randor while using Snake Mountain as a base. Eventually the Evil Horde was defeated and left Eternia to return to Horde World. For his betrayal they left Skeletor on Eternia to fend for himself. Taking over Snake Mountain himself Skeletor began recruiting people for his army. Over the years Skeletor met a woman called Evil-Lyn. He tutored her in the practice of dark magic, and they both became very powerful. Skeletor, with Evil-Lyn as his protege, began to amass a great army. Soon their army was vast and they begun their own assault on Eternia.
[edit] Cartoon appearances
[edit] 1980s cartoon
In the original 1980's Filmation series the mountain is in the shape of a snake coiled around a mountain with its mouth open as if to strike. Blood red water (or lava) flows between the two peaks, and fog forms at its base.
[edit] New Adventures of He-Man
Snake Mountain appears in the first episode only, looking very similar to the filmation version.
[edit] 2002 cartoon
In the 2002 series the mountain looked more like a snake carved from the rock, lava flowing out of its open mouth, though it was later revealed that Snake Mountain was actually the petrified body of Serpos, the god of the Snake-Men.
[edit] Toy
The 1980s toy version of Snake Mountain looks little like its Filmation appearance. It is a purple mountain (without a peak), with its most notable feature being a demon-like face on one side. There is a snake at the top of one side of the play set, which operates a trap-door when turned.
The 2002 toy-line did not release a Snake Mountain toy.
[edit] Snake Mountain and Conan connection
Somehow the idea of Snake Mountain suspiciously came from Conan the Barbarian. Just as said, Conan was supposed to be Mattel's toy line but then the adult content of the media made them change several characters (although this version of events is refuted by MOTU creator Roger Sweet, who indicates that the influence was minimal, but then Conan influence is so heavy in He-Man but to a dumbed down side).
Since Thulsa Doom in the comics also resided in such a fortress (minus the diverse villains), perhaps this was the plan- Snake Mountain soon came to He-Man. In the movie, Thulsa Doom (which looked more like Thoth-Amon but wore a skull mask in battle, in the comics he looks like Skeletor of today but at a more evil look) was called "the master of the Mountain of Power", therefore Skeletor became the "lord of Snake Mountain" as well, which leaves much to be seen why Mattel chose him as the villain over King Hiss. Whether or not Skeletor worships Set is still unknown.
The fact that it also looks like a Snake Cult headquarters where King Hiss worships Set (or Serpos), may also refer back to Conan the Barbarian both the comics and the movie. Also since it used to house the snake-men (or serpent-men), it's also having much influence as being a dumber version of Conan as He-Man is a kind and caring version of Conan aside from Conan the Adventurer.
Instances too are that Thoth-Amon was turned into King Hiss and Thulsa Doom as Skeletor. Both villains in their original versions ran such a place, had control of the snakemen as well and had uneasy alliances against Conan who became He-Man.
[edit] Trivia
Snake Mountain was not introduced until a way in to the MOTU franchise. Previously, Skeletor's hideout had been described as "amongst the catacombs deep under Eternia", while the bible for the Filmation series listed his base as being Point Dread, located in the middle of the ocean (with seemingly little connection to Point Dread, the playset).
