Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Elements of the Cthulhu Mythos

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The following tables and lists feature elements of the Cthulhu Mythos, that are often shared between works within that fictional setting.

Contents

The Cthulhu Mythos was originally created by writer H. P. Lovecraft in his horror short stories, although the term itself was coined later by August Derleth. Many writers, both during Lovecraft's lifetime and after, have added stories and elements to the Mythos. There is no central co-ordination of these stories, nor any oversight of the Cthulhu Mythos in general. Becoming part of the Mythos can be based on personal opinion and inclusion of these elements.

Overview

Tables appearing under these entries are organized as follows:

  • Name. This is the commonly accepted name of the being or mythos element.
  • Epithet(s), Other name(s). This field lists any epithets or alternate names. These are names sometimes mentioned in books of arcane literature, but may also be the names preferred by cults.
  • Description. This entry briefly summarizes the being or mythos element.
  • References. This field lists the sources in which the being or mythos element makes a significant appearance or otherwise receives important mention. A simple two-letter code is used—the key to the codes is found here. If a code appears in bold, this means that the reference introduces the being or mythos element.

    • Great Old Ones

    (includes a table listing all the Great Old Ones in the mythos)

    The Great Old Ones are powerful, ancient creatures worshipped by deranged human cults. Many of them are made of an unearthly material with properties unlike normal matter. A Great Old One's influence is often limited to the planet where it dwells. If it is based on a planet outside the solar system, it can only extend its influence to Earth when the star of its planetary system is in the night sky. In such cases, the help of cultists performing various rituals may be required.

    Outer Gods

    (includes a table listing all the Outer Gods in the mythos)

    The Outer Gods have unlimited influence, unlike the Great Old Ones, and function on a cosmic scale. They include a subgroup known as the Lesser Outer Gods, or Other Gods.

    Elder Gods

    (includes a table listing all the Elder Gods in the mythos)

    The Elder Gods oppose both the Outer Gods and the Great Old Ones. Many consider them to be non-Lovecraftian, because they introduce a good versus evil dichotomy into the cosmic indifference of Lovecraft's fiction. However, others argue that these beings have no more concern for human notions of morality than the beings they oppose, and that humanity and the human world are beneath their regard.

    Great Ones

    The Great Ones are the so-called "gods" of the Dreamlands, but they are not as powerful as the Great Old Ones and are not even as intelligent as most humans. However, they are protected by the Outer Gods, especially Nyarlathotep.

    Arcane literature and other media

  • Reference to first appearance.

    • Fictional locations

  • Reference to first appearance.

    • Signs and symbols

  • Reference to first appearance.

    • References

    Elements of the Cthulhu Mythos Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA