page_title: The Worm Ouroboros
section_title: The kingdoms of Mercury
hierarchical_section_title: The Worm Ouroboros / The kingdoms of Mercury
caption_attribution_description: English: Map of "Mercury" as described in "The Worm Ouroboros" by E.R. Eddison
context_page_description: The Worm Ouroboros is a heroic high fantasy novel by English writer E. R. Eddison, first published in 1922. The book describes the protracted war between the domineering King Gorice of Witchland and the Lords of Demonland in an imaginary world that appears mainly medieval and partly reminiscent of Norse sagas. The work is slightly related to Eddison's later Zimiamvian Trilogy, and collectively they are sometimes referred to as the Zimiamvian series.
  The book was illustrated by Keith Henderson, who also illustrated books by Geoffrey Chaucer and W. H. Hudson.
context_section_description: The named nations and countries are:
  Witchland
  Demonland
  Pixyland
  Impland
  Goblinland
  The Foliot Isles
  The land Zimiamvia (beyond the known world)
  The Ghouls, wiped out in a genocidal war a few years before the story opens
  The King of Witchland claims lordship over a number of locations which are not described (page 12):
  Duke of Buteny and Estremerine
  Commander of Shulan, Thramnë, Mingos, and Permio
  Warden of the Esamocian Marches
  Duke of Trace
  King Paramount of Beshtria and Nevria
  Prince of Ar
  Great Lord over Ojedia, Maltraëny, Baltary, and Toribia
  Despite the names of the nations, all the characters in the book are recognizably human and they are all the same species, or at least able to intermarry (e.g., Goldry Bluszco and Princess Armelline, Lord Corund and Lady Prezmyra).  Witchland, Demonland, and others appear to be country names, like England and France.  When first presented, the Demons are seen to have horns on their heads, but these horns are not mentioned again, nor is it said whether the other peoples have horns.
caption: Map by David Bedell, 1978.
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