by Gary Romeo
“The Ivory Goddess” first appeared in Conan the Swordsman, Bantam Books, 1978. I doubt this is anyone’s favorite Conan story. It’s a pretty simple tale with an unsatisfying conclusion. Muriela deserved better, I think.
The credits list this story as by Lin Carter and L. Sprague de Camp but that has been questioned. Per Wikipedia: “According to Morgan Holmes, citing de Camp friend Loay Hall, Carter did none of the writing, and the story was written by de Camp in collaboration with his wife, Catherine Crook de Camp. Robert M. Price also believes Lin Carter had very little input into this story:
I don’t doubt that Catherine Crook de Camp had a hand in this story. There are certain key lines that almost scream a woman’s touch. But more on that below. As normal, there is the introduction placing the story’s chronological order. This tale is a sequel to “Jewels of Gwahlur” AKA “The Servants of Bit-Yakin.”
Conan is described as “a huge man, nearly naked, his massive arms, broad shoulders, and deeply arched chest burned to a bronzen hue. His only garments were a pair of ragged silken breeks, a leathern baldric, and sandals of rhinoceros hide. […] The man’s thick mane of coarse blue-black hair was square-cut at the nape of his neck. Smoldering eyes of volcanic blue stared out beneath thick, drawn brows.”
Conan, with Muriela in tow, has a plan for her to impersonate the goddess Nebethet and have himself declared the best choice to lead the Puntian army. Muriela points out this is the same plan that failed before (in “Jewels of Gwahlur”). When Conan and Muriela arrive at the Temple of Nebethet, they are attacked by a furry beast and an old hag.
No, the “old hag” in the story doesn’t sell Pizza but her role in the tale would have been more interesting if she had. (I need to complain to the owner of this place that the woman pictured above sorta looks like my deceased grandmother. Shame on them!)
Anyway, onward… As in “Jewels of Gwahlur” Muriela hides in a secret panel. This time she’ll be the voice of the skull-faced goddess Nebethet when the Puntish priest arrives for consultation. There is a twist in this story… Nebethet takes over Muriela’s body!
You can read the story for yourself. But basically, Conan escapes death (Catherine Crook de Camp probably wrote this part) since “he was kind to the woman whose body is my garment.” And, later says: “Your concern [for Muriela] does credit to you, Conan.”
So, Conan leaves Muriela trapped within Nebethet: “She shall be my garment as long as I wish.” The goddess does assure Conan that Muriela will be eventually free and well provided for. Conan’s reaction to all this seems out of character in my opinion, but I’m not overly upset. It was a throwaway story to show how Conan and Muriela became separated. I don’t believe Muriela’s fate was ever followed up in another story. If not, some enterprising writer should take this thread and sew up a worthy conclusion.
“The Ivory Goddess” was adapted to comics in Savage Sword of Conan #60. The cover is by Earl Norem. The story is by Roy Thomas, John Buscema, and Danny Bulandi.
The comic book adaptation actually works a bit better than the prose version. The art gives it a dramatic flair lacking in the prose. Muriela is nicely drawn. The dark inks create an eerie tone. John Buscema and Danny Bulandi made a rather bland story a decent contribution to the Conan comics saga.
spraguedecampfan 
If my memory of this one is correct, didn’t it end with Conan unsure of whether Muriela was truly possessed or trying to put one over on him? (Posing as a goddess presumably being a cushy job.) Half-inclined to call her out, but prudently deciding not to take the chance. I thought that was actually a good ending. I dunno, though, if it really went that way–it’s been a long time since I read it.
That might have made a better ending. But, no, I think it is clear that Muriela has been taken over by Nebethet. “You are truly Nebethet?” “Aye, so some men call me.”
Hm. Dug up my copy and reread the ending, and my memory is not in accord with the facts, which are clearly as you state. Wonder where that impression came from?
As I’ve been re-reading some Conan tales of late, and getting great insights by this blog, I’ve been noticing that our barbarian friend is most often described as wearing “silken breeks” and not the furry underwear as per almost every comic book I’ve seen of him. What’s the deal there?
In the Lancer Series, the early stories (chronologically speaking), have Conan in a loincloth most of the time. ”Silken breeks” started to appear later. Comic books like a “uniform.” Conan in furry diaper was what they started with and that became the standard “uniform.”
Lol, “diaper” …