Antonius Rex was an Italian progressive rock band founded in Milan in 1974 by guitarist and singer Antonio Bartoccetti as the successor to Jacula. The other two members of the trio were his wife, keyboardist and singer Doris Norton, as well as British drummer Albert Goodman. The recording of their first album remained unreleased. Consequently, Zora would actually be their second album. However, it is Antonius Rex’s first genuine commercial release from 1977, which appeared exclusively in Italy on the tiny Milanese label Tickle.

The defining elements of the four tracks on the debut LP are church organ sounds, a sombre and eerie atmosphere, and lyrics sung in Italian dealing with occult themes. A type of sacred, dark gothic progressive rock, enriched with electronic sounds from the Minimoog and Hammond organ, as well as occasional traces of jazz rock and 1970s Italo-pop. The Italian reissue of the LP from 1978 features a different, less provocative cover and includes an additional bonus track. After just a few tours and another unsuccessful album, the trio split up a year later. Original first pressings featuring the sensational and masterfully painted „Naked Witch“ cover by the Italian illustrator Emanuele Taglietti have become cult items over the years and, due to their limited print run, are rare and expensive.