Thanagarians (Earth-7642)

Thanagarians are the native race of the planet Thanagar, Known for their proud cultural heritage, lack of major religions, and massive wings on their backs, the Thanagarians have been at war with the Ariguans and their Kree suppliers over dominance of territory. While they are not inhabitants of the Nine Realms, they are still watched by Heimdall. Some advanced species, such as Kryptonians and the Asgardians, consider them barbaric.

## History

The people of Thanagar once worshiped a pantheon of extradimensional entities known as The Great Old Ones. At that time, Thanagar was a harsh world and theirs a primitive and savage culture; in return for offerings made to him, the Old Ones' leader, Icthultu, gave the Thanagarians agriculture, mathematics, and philosophy — the foundations of their entire culture. As they matured, however, the Thanagarians stopped worshiping them — modern-day Thanagarians bow down to no higher power.

Their knowledge of the Great Old Ones was used in the creation of their personal weaponry. For this reason, their Nth metal weapons — such as Hawkgirl's mace and Hro Talak's battle-axe for example — have mystical properties and can work against Green Lantern's power ring or Superman's invulnerability.

### Galactic Exploits

As time went on, Thanagarians developed spaceships and started to explore the galaxies sending spies to study other planets, which ended up them conquering other planets stripping them of their inhabitants and culture and making them constituent states of Thanagar. With this planets they conquered, they was known to be the protectorates of the Thanagarian Empire.

### Relationships with Kryptonians

At some point, they were contacted by the Kryptonians during their space expansion and opened relations. There were many tensions between the two races, and the Kryptonians looked down upon the Thanagarians as primitive and barbaric.

## Culture and society

### Culture

Thanagarian culture was hierarchical, with the State at the top in public life, and parents within the home. Thanagarians valued advanced age as a sign of strength, power, and wisdom. The Lower class (most aliens, some Thanagarians) were cast down to the lower ghettos referred to as Downside, while the Thanagarians lived in High Towers above where poverty, crime, and suffering were virtually unheard of. Thanagarian architecture often reinforced established hierarchy by placing important individuals in physically high locations. The emphasis on hierarchy and other factors were fertile ground for intense rivalries between individuals and families.

Thanagarian culture valued family highly, despite the obligations to the State that might make Thanagarians choose the State over family. Thanagarian homes were typically multi-generational and hierarchical, with male and female parents sharing authority. Thanagarian culture emphasized family loyalty. Similar to some other cultures, Thanagarians placed great value on the continuation of family lines, and as such were pro-natalist, though they were not known for having large numbers of offspring.

### Education

Thanagarians considered their educational system to be unparalleled in the Alpha Quadrant and educational attainment was regarded as a key asset in Thanagarian society. The education system was highly centralized and universally accessible to all citizens, with affirmative action for applicants from nations associated with cultural backwardness. Thanagarian children were often put into intensive mind-training programs, from as early as three or four. It is because of these mind-training programs that some Thanagarian were able to resist a mind meld. Thanagarian were also trained, during this time, to have photographic memories.

Most graduates from the compulsory program do not attend university but begin their obligatory military service or proceed to work in farms or factories instead. The main deficiencies of higher education are the heavy presence of ideological subjects, which comprise 50% of courses in social studies and 20% in sciences, and the imbalances in curriculum. The study of natural sciences is greatly emphasized while social sciences are neglected.

### Religion

The people of Thanagar once worshiped a pantheon of extra-dimensional entities known as The Great Old Ones. At that time, Thanagar was a harsh world and theirs was a primitive and savage culture; in return for offerings made to him, the Old Ones leader, Icthultu, gave them agriculture, mathematics, and philosophy — the foundations of their entire culture. As they matured, however, the Thanagarians stopped worshiping them — modern Thanagarians bow down to no higher power.

 In order to survive, Thanagarian society embraced a totalitarian police-state which would be strong enough to provide for the material needs of its citizens. As the ancient religion was a deviation from utter devotion to the government, the modern Thanagarian was founded as a non-theistic society where loyalty to the State achieved profound importance.

Modern Thanagarians seemed to regard the religions of other galactic species as anachronistic or backward, as the regime targeted religions based on state interests, and while most organized religions were never outlawed, religious property was confiscated, believers were harassed, and religion was ridiculed while atheism was propagated in schools.

Although over time a more ancient thanagarian religion formed underground, Theses Thanagarians believe a group of deities called the Seven Brothers and the Seven Sisters created the universe, and then created the planet Thanagar. Soon after, they created their own realms, the Seven Heavens and the Seven Hells.

### Arts

Arts, specifically literature and painting, were highly regarded in Thanagarian culture. Thanagarian literature often reflected Thanagarian values, such as family, duty and the glorification of the state.