Hyperborea

Greek mythology, according to tradition, the Hyperboreans were a mythical people who lived to the far north of Greece. Their land, called Hyperborea, or Hyperboria ("beyond the Boreas (north wind)"), was perfect, with the sun shining twenty-four hours a day. Apollo spent his winter amongst them. Theseus and Perseus also visited the Hyperboreans.

According to Herodotus (4.13), they live beyond the Arimaspians and were visited by Aristeas, who is said to have written a hexameter poem (now lost) dealing with them.

Large quantities of gold were here, guarded by the griffins.

Abaris and Ilithyia are Hyperboreans.

See also Thule (myth).

Hyperborea in Recent Fiction

The cycle of Conan the Barbarian by Robert E. Howard, set in the fictious "Hyborian era", features Hyperborea as a far northern land of fair-haired barbarians, to the north and east of Conan's native Cimmeria.

Inspired by Howard, Lovecraft used the name in his mythology for his version of an Atlantis.