Cthulhu: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Fictional cosmic entity}} |
{{short description|Fictional cosmic entity}} |
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{{Other uses| |
{{Other uses|Cthulhu (disambiguation)}} |
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{{Infobox character |
{{Infobox character |
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| name = Cthulhu |
| name = Cthulhu |
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| series = [[Cthulhu Mythos]] |
| series = [[Cthulhu Mythos]] |
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| image = |
| image = Cthulhu3.jpg |
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| caption = |
| caption = Sketch of Cthulhu drawn by Lovecraft (11 May 1934) |
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| first = "[[The Call of Cthulhu]]" (1928) |
| first = "[[The Call of Cthulhu]]" (1928) |
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| creator = [[H. P. Lovecraft]] |
| creator = [[H. P. Lovecraft]] |
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| species = [[Great Old Ones|Great Old One]] |
| species = [[Great Old Ones|Great Old One]] |
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| gender = Variable depending on the publisher's ideas |
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| title = {{ubl|High Priest of the Great Old Ones|The Great Dreamer|The Sleeper of R'lyeh}} |
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| family = {{plainlist| |
| family = {{plainlist| |
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* |
*[[Azathoth]] (great-great-grandfather) |
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* |
*[[Yog-Sothoth]] (grandfather) |
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* |
*[[Shub-Niggurath]] (grandmother) |
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*[[List of Great Old Ones#Nug and Yeb|Nug]] (parent)<ref name="Lovecraft 1967 Letter 617">{{cite book|title=Selected Letters (1932–1934) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kr9lAAAAMAAJ |last=Lovecraft|first=H. P.|author-link=H. P. Lovecraft|year=1967|publisher=[[Arkham House]]|location=[[Sauk City, Wisconsin]]|isbn=0-87054-035-1|no-pp=y|page=Letter 617<!--|title-link=Selected Letters of H. P. Lovecraft IV (1932–1934)-->|access-date=17 August 2023}}</ref>}} |
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* [[List of Great Old Ones#Nug and Yeb|Nug]] (parent) |
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* Cthaeghya (half-sister) |
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* Nctosa and Nctolhu (twin daughters)<ref name="Lovecraft 1967 Letter 617">{{cite book|title=Selected Letters of H. P. Lovecraft IV (1932–1934)|last=Lovecraft|first=H. P.|author-link=H. P. Lovecraft|year=1967|publisher=[[Arkham House]]|location=[[Sauk City, Wisconsin]]|isbn=0-87054-035-1|no-pp=y|page=Letter 617|title-link=Selected Letters of H. P. Lovecraft IV (1932–1934)}}<!--|access-date=27 May 2012--></ref>}} |
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'''Cthulhu''' is a fictional [[Cosmicism|cosmic entity]] created by writer [[H. P. Lovecraft]]. It was introduced in his [[short story]] "[[The Call of Cthulhu]]",<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lovecraftzine.com/2016/07/21/lovecrafts-cthulhu-and-the-great-old-ones-fact-iction-or-foretold-in-the-necronomicon |title={title} |access-date=2018-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802132049/https://lovecraftzine.com/2016/07/21/lovecrafts-cthulhu-and-the-great-old-ones-fact-fiction-or-foretold-in-the-necronomicon/ |archive-date=2018-08-02 |url-status=live }}</ref> published by the American [[pulp magazine]] ''[[Weird Tales]]'' in 1928. Considered a [[Cthulhu Mythos deities#Great Old Ones|Great Old One]] within the [[Pantheon (religion)|pantheon]] of Lovecraftian cosmic entities, this creature has since been featured in numerous pop culture references. Lovecraft depicts it as a gigantic entity worshipped by cultists, in the shape of a green [[octopus]], [[dragon]], and a [[caricature]] of human form. It is the namesake of the Lovecraft-inspired [[Cthulhu Mythos]]. |
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'''Cthulhu''' is a fictional [[Cosmicism|cosmic entity]] created by writer [[H. P. Lovecraft]] and first introduced in the [[short story]] "[[The Call of Cthulhu]]",<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://lovecraftzine.com/2016/07/21/lovecrafts-cthulhu-and-the-great-old-ones-fact-iction-or-foretold-in-the-necronomicon |title={title} |access-date=2018-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802132049/https://lovecraftzine.com/2016/07/21/lovecrafts-cthulhu-and-the-great-old-ones-fact-fiction-or-foretold-in-the-necronomicon/ |archive-date=2018-08-02 |url-status=live }}</ref> published in the American [[pulp magazine]] ''[[Weird Tales]]'' in 1928. Considered a [[Cthulhu Mythos deities#Great Old Ones|Great Old One]] within the [[Pantheon (religion)|pantheon]] of Lovecraftian cosmic entities, the creature has since been featured in numerous popular culture references. Lovecraft depicts it as a gigantic entity worshipped by cultists, in shape like an [[octopus]], a [[dragon]], and a caricature of human form. Its name was given to the Lovecraft-inspired universe where it and its fellow entities existed, the [[Cthulhu Mythos]]. |
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==Etymology, spelling, and pronunciation== |
==Etymology, spelling, and pronunciation== |
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Invented by Lovecraft in 1928, the name Cthulhu was probably chosen to echo the word ''[[chthonic]]'' ( |
Invented by Lovecraft in 1928, the name Cthulhu was probably chosen to echo the word ''[[chthonic]]'' (Ancient Greek "of the earth"), as apparently suggested by Lovecraft himself at the end of his 1923 tale "[[The Rats in the Walls]]".<ref>{{cite book |title=H. P. Lovecraft's Dark Arcadia: The Satire, Symbology and Contradiction |last=Callaghan |first=Gavin |publisher=McFarland |year=2013 |isbn=978-1476602394 |pages=192}}</ref> The chthonic, or earth-dwelling, spirit has precedents in numerous ancient and medieval mythologies, often guarding mines and precious underground treasures, notably in the [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] [[Dwarf (folklore)|dwarfs]] and the Greek [[Chalybes]], [[Telchines]], or [[Dactyls (mythology)|Dactyls]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Kearns |first=Emily |editor-last=Finkelberg |editor-first=Margalit |title=Chthonic deities |url=http://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/wileyhom/chthonic_deities/0 |website=The Homer encyclopedia |publisher=Wiley |access-date=4 May 2017 |date=2011}}</ref> |
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Lovecraft transcribed the pronunciation of ''Cthulhu'' as ''Khlûl′-hloo'' and said |
Lovecraft transcribed the pronunciation of ''Cthulhu'' as ''Khlûl′-hloo'', and said, "the first syllable pronounced gutturally and very thickly. The 'u' is about like that in 'full', and the first syllable is not unlike 'klul' in sound, hence the 'h' represents the guttural thickness"<ref>{{cite book| first= H. P.| last= Lovecraft |title= Selected Letters V| pages= 10 – 11}}</ref> yielding something akin to {{IPA|/ˈq(χ)lʊlˌhluː/}}.{{Original research inline|date=June 2024}} [[S. T. Joshi]] points out, however, that Lovecraft gave different pronunciations on different occasions.<ref>{{cite book| first= S. T. |last= Joshi| chapter= The Call of Cthulhu| at= note 9| title= The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories}}</ref> According to Lovecraft, this is merely the closest that the human vocal apparatus can come to reproducing the syllables of an alien language.<ref>"Cthul-Who?: How Do You Pronounce 'Cthulhu'?", ''Crypt of Cthulhu #9''</ref> Cthulhu has also been spelled in many other ways, including Tulu, Katulu, and Kutulu.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia| first= Thomas| last= Harms| chapter= Cthulhu" and "PanCthulhu| encyclopedia= [[The Encyclopedia Cthulhiana]]| page= 64}}</ref> |
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Long after Lovecraft's death, [[Chaosium]] |
Long after Lovecraft's death, [[Chaosium]] stated in the ''[[Call of Cthulhu (role-playing game)|Call of Cthulhu]]'' [[role-playing game]]: "we say it kuh-THOOL-hu" ({{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|θ|uː|l|uː}}), even while noting that Lovecraft said it differently.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Petersen|first1=Sandy|title=Call of Cthulhu|last2=Willis|first2=Lynn|last3=Herber|first3=Keith|publisher=Chaosium|year=1981|edition=2|location=Oakland, California}}<sup>:What's in this box?</sup></ref> Others use the pronunciation {{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|t|uː|l|uː}}.<ref>e.g. the video game ''[[Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game|Call of Cthulhu]]''[http://www.callofcthulhu-game.com/en] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901224948/http://www.callofcthulhu-game.com/en|date=2020-09-01}} and season 14 of ''[[South Park]].''</ref> |
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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In "[[The Call of Cthulhu]]", H. P. Lovecraft describes a statue of Cthulhu as: "A monster of vaguely anthropoid outline, but with an octopus-like head whose face was a mass of feelers, a scaly, rubbery-looking body, prodigious claws on hind and fore feet, and long, narrow wings behind."<ref name="call">[[s:The Call of Cthulhu]]</ref> A carving of Cthulhu is described thusly: "It seemed to be a sort of monster, or symbol representing a monster, of a form which only a diseased fancy could conceive. If I say that my somewhat extravagant imagination yielded simultaneous pictures of an octopus, a [[dragon]], and a human caricature, I shall not be unfaithful to the spirit of the thing. A pulpy, [[tentacle]]d head surmounted a grotesque and scaly body with rudimentary [[wings]]."<ref name="call" /> |
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[[File:Cthulhu3.jpg|thumb|Drawing of Cthulhu by H. P. Lovecraft]] |
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Johansen in The Call of Cthulhu states that "The Thing cannot be described—there is no language for such abysms of shrieking and immemorial lunacy, such eldritch contradictions of all matter, force, and cosmic order. A mountain walked or stumbled." Cthulhu is described again shortly thereafter as a "mountainous monstrosity". His age is described to be at least "vigintillions of years".<ref>{{Cite web |title="The Call of Cthulhu" by H. P. Lovecraft |url=https://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/cc.aspx |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=www.hplovecraft.com}}</ref> He is also said to have cast spells which preserved the Great Old Ones until their reawakening. |
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In "[[The Call of Cthulhu]]", H. P. Lovecraft describes a statue of Cthulhu as "A monster of vaguely anthropoid outline, but with an octopus-like head whose face was a mass of feelers, a scaly, rubbery-looking body, prodigious claws on hind and fore feet, and long, narrow wings behind."<ref name="call">[[s:The Call of Cthulhu]]</ref> Cthulhu is said to resemble an octopus, a dragon and a human caricature, hundreds of meters tall, with webbed human-looking arms and legs and a pair of rudimentary wings on its back.<ref name="call" /> Its head is depicted as similar to the entirety of a [[gigantic octopus]], with an unknown number of tentacles surrounding its supposed mouth. |
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Cthulhu is said to resemble a green octopus, dragon, and a human caricature, hundreds of meters tall, with webbed, human-looking arms and legs and a pair of rudimentary wings on its back.<ref name="call" /> Its head is depicted as similar to the entirety of a [[gigantic octopus]], with an unknown number of tentacles surrounding its supposed mouth. |
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==Publication history== |
==Publication history== |
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The short story that first mentions Cthulhu, "The Call of Cthulhu", was published in ''[[Weird Tales]]'' in 1928, and established the character as a malevolent entity, hibernating within [[R'lyeh]], an underwater city in the [[Pacific Ocean|South Pacific]]. The imprisoned Cthulhu is apparently the source of constant subconscious anxiety for all mankind, and is also the object of worship, both by many human cults (including some within [[New Zealand]], [[Greenland]], [[Louisiana]], and the [[List of mountains in China|Chinese mountains]]) and by other Lovecraftian monsters (called [[Deep Ones]]<ref name="innsmouth">[[s:The Shadow Over Innsmouth]]</ref> and [[Mi-Go]]<ref name="darkness">[[s:The Whisperer in Darkness]]</ref>). The short story asserts the premise that, while currently trapped, Cthulhu will eventually return. His worshippers chant "''Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn''{{-"}} ("In his house at ''R'lyeh'', dead Cthulhu waits dreaming").<ref name="call" /> |
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[[File:H. P. Lovecraft in Florida, June 1934.png|thumb|upright|left|alt=A photo of H. P. Lovecraft, facing right|H. P. Lovecraft, Cthulhu's creator]] |
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The short story that first mentions Cthulhu, "The Call of Cthulhu", was published in ''[[Weird Tales]]'' in 1928 and established the character as a malevolent entity, hibernating within [[R'lyeh]], an underwater city in the [[Pacific Ocean|South Pacific]]. The imprisoned Cthulhu is apparently the source of constant subconscious anxiety for all mankind, and is also the object of worship, both by a number of human cults (including in [[New Zealand]], [[Greenland]], [[Louisiana]], and the [[List of mountains in China|Chinese mountains]]) and by other Lovecraftian monsters (called [[Deep Ones]]<ref name="innsmouth">[[s:The Shadow Over Innsmouth]]</ref> and [[Mi-Go]]<ref name="darkness">[[s:The Whisperer in Darkness]]</ref>). The short story asserts the premise that, while currently trapped, Cthulhu will eventually return. His worshippers chant "''Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn''{{-"}} ("In his house at ''R'lyeh'', dead Cthulhu waits dreaming.").<ref name="call" /> |
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Lovecraft conceived a detailed genealogy for Cthulhu (published as "Letter 617" in ''[[Selected Letters of H. P. Lovecraft IV (1932–1934)|Selected Letters]]'')<ref name="Lovecraft 1967 Letter 617"/> and made the character a central reference in his works.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Angell | first = George Gammell | editor-last = Price | editor-first = Robert M. | title = Cthulhu Elsewhere in Lovecraft | journal = Crypt of Cthulhu | issue = 9 |pages=13–15 | year = 1982 | issn = 1077-8179}}</ref> The short story "[[The Dunwich Horror]]" (1928)<ref name="dunwich">[[s:The Dunwich Horror]]</ref> refers to Cthulhu, while "[[The Whisperer in Darkness]]" (1930) hints that one of his characters knows the creature's origins ("I learned whence Cthulhu first came, and why half the great temporary stars of history had flared forth.") |
Lovecraft conceived a detailed genealogy for Cthulhu (published as "Letter 617" in ''[[Selected Letters of H. P. Lovecraft IV (1932–1934)|Selected Letters]]'')<ref name="Lovecraft 1967 Letter 617"/> and made the character a central reference in his works.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Angell | first = George Gammell | editor-last = Price | editor-first = Robert M. | title = Cthulhu Elsewhere in Lovecraft | journal = Crypt of Cthulhu | issue = 9 |pages=13–15 | year = 1982 | issn = 1077-8179}}</ref> The short story "[[The Dunwich Horror]]" (1928)<ref name="dunwich">[[s:The Dunwich Horror]]</ref> refers to Cthulhu, while "[[The Whisperer in Darkness]]" (1930) hints that one of his characters knows the creature's origins ("I learned whence Cthulhu first came, and why half the great temporary stars of history had flared forth.")<ref name="darkness"/> The 1931 [[novella]] ''[[At the Mountains of Madness]]'' refers to the "star-spawn of Cthulhu", who warred with another race called the [[Elder Thing]]s before the dawn of man.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/mm.asp| last= Lovecraft |first=H. P. |title= At the Mountains of Madness |page=66 |access-date=2011-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606025820/http://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/mm.asp |archive-date= 2011-06-06 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
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[[August Derleth]], a correspondent of Lovecraft, used the creature's name to identify the system of lore employed by Lovecraft and his literary successors |
[[August Derleth]], a correspondent of Lovecraft's, used the creature's name to identify the system of lore employed by Lovecraft and his literary successors, the [[Cthulhu Mythos]]. In 1937, Derleth wrote the short story "The Return of Hastur", and proposed two groups of opposed cosmic entities: |
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{{quote| the Old or Ancient Ones, the ''[[Elder God (Cthulhu Mythos)|Elder Gods]]'', of ''cosmic good'', and those of ''cosmic evil'', bearing many names, and themselves of different groups, as if associated with the elements and yet transcending them: for there are the Water Beings, hidden in the depths; those of Air that are the primal lurkers beyond time; those of Earth, horrible animate survivors of distant eons.<ref name= Derleth>{{cite book| first= August| last= Derleth| chapter= The Return of Hastur| title= The Hastur Cycle| editor-first= Robert M. |editor-last= Price}}</ref>{{rp|256}}}} |
{{quote| the Old or Ancient Ones, the ''[[Elder God (Cthulhu Mythos)|Elder Gods]]'', of ''cosmic good'', and those of ''cosmic evil'', bearing many names, and themselves of different groups, as if associated with the elements and yet transcending them: for there are the Water Beings, hidden in the depths; those of Air that are the primal lurkers beyond time; those of Earth, horrible animate survivors of distant eons.<ref name= Derleth>{{cite book| first= August| last= Derleth| chapter= The Return of Hastur| title= The Hastur Cycle| editor-first= Robert M. |editor-last= Price}}</ref>{{rp|256}}}} |
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According to Derleth's scheme, "Great Cthulhu is one of the Water Elementals" and was engaged in an age-old arch-rivalry with a designated air elemental, [[Hastur|Hastur the Unspeakable]], described as Cthulhu's "half-brother |
According to Derleth's scheme, "Great Cthulhu is one of the Water Elementals" and was engaged in an age-old arch-rivalry with a designated air elemental, [[Hastur|Hastur the Unspeakable]], described as Cthulhu's "half-brother."<ref name= Derleth />{{rp|256, 266}} Based on this framework, Derleth wrote a series of short stories published in ''Weird Tales'' (1944–1952) and collected as ''[[The Trail of Cthulhu]]'', depicting the struggle of a Dr. Laban Shrewsbury and his associates against Cthulhu and his minions. In addition, Cthulhu is referenced in Derleth's 1945 novel ''[[The Lurker at the Threshold]]'' published by [[Arkham House]]. The novel can also be found in ''[[The Watchers Out of Time and Others]]'', a collection of stories from Derleth's interpretations of Lovecraftian Mythos published by Arkham House in 1974. |
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Derleth's interpretations have been criticized by Lovecraft enthusiast [[Michel Houellebecq]], among others. Houellebecq's ''H. |
Derleth's interpretations have been criticized by Lovecraft enthusiast [[Michel Houellebecq]], among others. Houellebecq's ''[[H. P. Lovecraft: Against the World, Against Life]]'' (2005) decries Derleth for attempting to reshape Lovecraft's strictly amoral continuity into a stereotypical conflict between forces of objective good and evil.<ref>{{cite book| last= Bloch| first= Robert| chapter= Heritage of Horror| title= The Best of H. P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre}}</ref> |
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In [[John Glasby]]'s "A Shadow from the Aeons", Cthulhu is seen by the narrator roaming the riverbank near Dominic Waldron's castle, and roaring.{{ |
In [[John Glasby]]'s "A Shadow from the Aeons", Cthulhu is seen by the narrator roaming the riverbank near Dominic Waldron's castle, and roaring.<ref>{{cite book | title=The Brooding City and Other Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos | last=Glasby | first=John S. | publisher=Ramble House | date=2015-08-09}}</ref> |
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The character's influence also extended into gaming literature |
The character's influence also extended into gaming literature; games company [[TSR, Inc.|TSR]] included an entire chapter on the Cthulhu mythos (including character statistics) in the first printing of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' sourcebook ''[[Deities & Demigods]]'' (1980). TSR, however, were unaware that [[Arkham House]], which asserted copyright on almost all Lovecraft literature, had already licensed the Cthulhu property to game company [[Chaosium]]. Although Chaosium stipulated that TSR could continue to use the material if each future edition featured a published credit to Chaosium, TSR refused and the material was removed from all subsequent editions.<ref name="acaeum">{{cite web | url = http://www.acaeum.com/ddindexes/setpages/deities.html | title = Deities & Demigods, Legends & Lore | work = The Acaeum | access-date = 2010-05-10 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100903180904/http://www.acaeum.com/ddindexes/setpages/deities.html | archive-date = 2010-09-03 | url-status = live }}</ref> |
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==Legacy== |
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===Games=== |
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In 1981, Chaosium released their role-playing game ''[[Call of Cthulhu (role-playing game)|Call of Cthulhu]]''. This game may have greatly contributed to making the works of [[H. P. Lovecraft]] known to a bigger audience. It has now reached its 7th edition with a large amount of supplementary material also available, and has won several major gaming awards. In 1987 Chaosium published the [[cooperative board game|co-operative]] [[adventure board game]] ''[[Arkham Horror]]'', based on the same background, which has since been reissued by other publishers. In 1996, they released a Collectible Card Game, Mythos. |
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In 2004, [[Fantasy Flight Games]] began a long-term relationship with [[Chaosium]] and released a Collectible Card Game which has been remarketed in a new format (Living Card Game) in 2008 as ''[[Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game]]''. This was the first of a collection of games by this publisher, and the only one in its family which was not cooperative. Have followed since a fully rebuilt ''[[Arkham Horror]]'' (2005, 2018), the dice game ''[[Elder Sign (card game)|Elder Sign]]'' (2011), the dungeon (or mansion) crawler ''[[Mansions of Madness]]'' (2011, 2016), a pulp version of ''Arkham Horror'' with ''[[Eldritch Horror]]'' (2013), a storytelling Living Card Game ''[[Arkham Horror: The Card Game]]'' (2016), and a deduction game ''Arkham Horror: Final Hour'' (2019).<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/#/universe/arkham-horror-files| title= Arkham Horror Files at Fantasy Flight Games| website= www.fantasyflightgames.com| access-date= 2020-11-24| archive-date= 2020-11-23| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201123184450/https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/#/universe/arkham-horror-files| url-status= live}}</ref> |
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In 2006, [[Bethesda Softworks]], [[Ubisoft]], and [[2K Games]] jointly published a game by [[Headfirst Productions]], ''[[Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth]],'' based on the works of Lovecraft. Cthulhu himself does not appear, as the main antagonists of the game are the Deep Ones from ''[[The Shadow Over Innsmouth]]'', and the sea god [[Dagon]], but his presence is alluded to several times, and viewing a statue of him in one of the temples will undermine the player's sanity. Also, one of Cthulhu's Star Spawn, of similar hideous appearance, appears as a late-game enemy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bethesda-to-publish-call-of-cthulhu/1100-6026448/ |title=Bethesda to publish Call of Cthulhu |access-date=2018-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802102105/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bethesda-to-publish-call-of-cthulhu/1100-6026448/ |archive-date=2018-08-02 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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On March 19, 2007, [[Steve Jackson Games]] released an iteration of their card game [[Munchkin (card game)|''Munchkin'']] called ''Munchkin'' ''Cthulhu.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sjgames.com/newproducts/nrshipped.html?y=2007|title=Steve Jackson Games: Previously Shipped|website=www.sjgames.com|access-date=2018-05-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510132330/http://www.sjgames.com/newproducts/nrshipped.html?y=2007|archive-date=2018-05-10|url-status=live}}</ref> The game presents Cthulhu and its surrounding mythos with a cartoon art style and comedic tone, heavily playing upon themes of madness and cultism. ''Great Cthulhu'' features as a standalone monster in the deck, alongside various parodies of Lovecraft's creatures.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldofmunchkin.com/munchkincthulhu/cards.html|title=Munchkin® Cthulhu™ – Card List|website=www.worldofmunchkin.com|access-date=2018-05-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510184148/http://www.worldofmunchkin.com/munchkincthulhu/cards.html|archive-date=2018-05-10|url-status=live}}</ref> Cthulhu is depicted as an overweight, bright green creature with a large, bulbous head, and a pair of disproportionately small wings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sjgames.com/ill/archive/June_20_2016/Munchkin_Cthulhu_Guest_Artist_Edition_Then_And_Now|title=Daily Illuminator: Munchkin Cthulhu Guest Artist Edition: Then And Now|website=www.sjgames.com|access-date=2018-05-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510132343/http://www.sjgames.com/ill/archive/June_20_2016/Munchkin_Cthulhu_Guest_Artist_Edition_Then_And_Now|archive-date=2018-05-10|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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In the Ukrainian video game series ''[[S.T.A.L.K.E.R.]]'', there is a Cthulhu-inspired mutant called Bloodsucker. |
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Cthulhu is the main inspiration for the zombies in the video game ''[[Call of Duty: Black Ops 3]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/black-ops-3-zombies-trailer/|title=Jeff Goldblum, Heather Graham, and Ron Perlman lead Black Ops 3’s Lovecraft Noir Zombie mode|website=Digital Trends|last1=Fulton|first1=Will|date=July 10, 2015|access-date=May 31, 2020|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108092508/http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/black-ops-3-zombies-trailer/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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The massively multiplayer online role-playing game ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' has numerous references to Cthulhu and the Mythos, including an early raid boss called C'Thun and, more recently, one of the game's "Old Gods" named N'Zoth resting in a sunken city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/3516572|title=Patch 4.3 Raid Preview: Dragon Soul - WoW|website=World of Warcraft|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-13|archive-date=2018-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914022413/https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/news/3516572|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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In ''[[Scribblenauts]]'' (2009), Cthulhu is summonable. He is much smaller than described in Lovecraft's works but is much stronger than most other aggressive objects. |
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''[[Cthulhu Saves the World]]'' (2010) features Cthulhu in the unusual role of protagonist. A prequel, ''Cthulhu Saves Christmas'', was released in 2019. |
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''[[Terraria]]'' (2011) refers to Cthulhu in three boss fights: the Eye of Cthulhu, Brain of Cthulhu, and the final boss Moon Lord, implied to be Cthulhu's Brother, or possibly Cthulhu himself.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://terraria.gamepedia.com/Bosses|title=Bosses - The Official Terraria Wiki|website=Terraria Wiki|date=Nov 1, 2020|access-date=Nov 3, 2020|archive-date=November 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106041220/https://terraria.gamepedia.com/Bosses|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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In 2013, Treefrog Games released ''A Study in Emerald'', a boardgame based upon [[A Study in Emerald|a short story]] written by [[Neil Gaiman]] which blends Cthulhu Mythos and Sherlock Holmes.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.neilgaiman.com/Cool_Stuff/Short_Stories| title= Neil Gaiman short stories| website= www.neilgaiman.com| access-date= 2020-11-24| archive-date= 2020-11-12| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201112023015/https://www.neilgaiman.com/Cool_Stuff/Short_Stories| url-status= live}}</ref> |
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In 2015, the author of Chaosium's 1981 role-playing game [[Sandy Petersen]] designed an asymmetrical boardgame: ''Cthulhu Wars''. |
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In the 2015 video game ''[[Bloodborne]]'', game director [[Hidetaka Miyazaki]] decided to incorporate ideas and themes from [[H. P. Lovecraft]]'s novels such as creatures based on Lovecraft's [[Great Old Ones]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://community.eu.playstation.com/t5/Bloodborne/Bloodborne-Exclusive-Interview-with-Jun-Yoshino/td-p/23062300 |title=[Bloodborne] Exclusive Interview with Jun Yoshino! |work=playstation.com|access-date=April 12, 2015|archive-date=April 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415180918/http://community.eu.playstation.com/t5/Bloodborne/Bloodborne-Exclusive-Interview-with-Jun-Yoshino/td-p/23062300|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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In 2016, [[Z-Man Games]] released an alternate version of the board game ''[[Pandemic (board game)|Pandemic]]''. This new adaptation, ''[[Pandemic (board game)#Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu|Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu]]'', is set in the Cthulhu Mythos and explorers race to save the world before Cthulhu returns.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.zmangames.com/news/pandemic-roc-the-old-ones-series-hastur| title= Pandemic: ROC - The Old Ones Series - Hastur| website= zmangames.com| publisher= Z-Man Games| date= April 14, 2016| access-date= October 25, 2016| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161028093829/http://www.zmangames.com/news/pandemic-roc-the-old-ones-series-hastur| archive-date= October 28, 2016}}</ref> |
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In the 2016 Android video game ''[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.serialmmf.monsters Flappy monsters of Lovecraft]'', a flappy style game, you take control of Cthulhu. |
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In 2018, a survival horror role-playing video game called ''[[Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game]]'' was developed for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows PC. |
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On 2 April of 2018, an asymmetrical survival horror video game called ''[[Identity V]]'' was launched by NetEase. The game includes hunter characters from Cthulhu Mythos. The game can be played through both mobile and PC. |
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In 2019, CMON Limited released the boardgame ''Cthulhu: Death May Die''. |
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In June 2019, an open-world horror detective game called ''[[The Sinking City]]'', which is based on [[Cthulhu Mythos]] was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It was also released for Nintendo Switch in September of that year. |
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On December 10 of 2019, first-person shooter and survival horror ''[[Killing Floor 2]]'', released a seasonal update titled 'Yuletide Horror' which included a map named 'Sanitarium' with an Easter egg revealing the appearance of Cthulhu in the background.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sanitarium - Killing Floor 2 Wiki|url=https://wiki.killingfloor2.com/index.php?title=Sanitarium|access-date=2020-12-07|website=wiki.killingfloor2.com|archive-date=2020-09-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930051241/https://wiki.killingfloor2.com/index.php?title=Sanitarium|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Updates (Killing Floor 2) - Killing Floor 2 Wiki|url=https://wiki.killingfloor2.com/index.php?title=Updates_(Killing_Floor_2)#Yuletide_Horror_.282019.29|access-date=2020-12-07|website=wiki.killingfloor2.com|archive-date=2020-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215163631/https://wiki.killingfloor2.com/index.php?title=Updates_%28Killing_Floor_2%29#Yuletide_Horror_.282019.29|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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In 2020, Cthulhu was released as a playable character in the MOBA ''[[Smite (video game)|Smite]]''. |
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==Influence== |
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===Politics=== |
===Politics=== |
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{{main|Cthulhu for President}} |
{{main|Cthulhu for President}} |
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[[File:20100701 cthulhu poster.jpg|thumb|Poster from the [[2010 Polish presidential election]]: The caption translates as "Choose the greater evil. Vote Cthulhu."]] |
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Cthulhu has appeared as a [[parody candidate]] in several elections, including the [[2010 Polish presidential election]] and the [[2012 US presidential election|2012]] and [[2016 US presidential election]]s.<ref name="Cthulhu_for_president_2016">{{cite web|url=https://cthulhuforamerica.com/|title=Cthulhu for America|access-date=3 Aug 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803190725/https://cthulhuforamerica.com/| archive-date=3 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cthulhu2012.com/ |title=Cthulhu Dagon 2012 |access-date=2016-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014061420/http://www.cthulhu2012.com/ |archive-date=2016-10-14 |url-status=live }}</ref> The faux campaigns usually satirize voters who claim to vote for the "[[lesser of two evils principle|lesser evil]]". "Cthulhu for America" ran during the 2016 American presidential election, drawing comparisons with other satirical presidential candidates such as [[Vermin Supreme]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inverse.com/article/16964-who-is-behind-cthulhu-for-america|title=Who Is Behind Cthulhu For America?|website=Inverse|last1=Watson|first1=Zebbie|date=June 16, 2016|access-date=May 31, 2020|archive-date=October 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025092411/https://www.inverse.com/article/16964-who-is-behind-cthulhu-for-america|url-status=live}}</ref> The organization had a platform that included the legalization of human sacrifice, driving all Americans insane, and an end to peace.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/mar/01/could-cthulhu-trump-other-super-tuesday-contenders-hp-lovecraft|title=Could Cthulhu trump the other Super Tuesday contenders?|website=The Guardian|last1=Barnett|first1=David|date=March 1, 2016|access-date=May 31, 2020|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613201840/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/mar/01/could-cthulhu-trump-other-super-tuesday-contenders-hp-lovecraft|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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In 2016, the [[Internet troll|troll]] account known as "The Dark Lord Cthulhu" submitted an official application to be on the [[Massachusetts]] Presidential Ballot. The account also raised over $4000 from fans to fund the campaign through a gofundme.com page. Gofundme removed the campaign page and refunded contributions.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} |
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[[File:20100701 cthulhu poster.jpg|thumb|Poster from the [[2010 Polish presidential election]]. The caption translates as "Choose the greater evil. Vote Cthulhu."]] |
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Cthulhu has appeared as a [[parody candidate]] in several elections, including the [[2010 Polish presidential election]] as well as the [[2012 US presidential election|2012]] and [[2016 US presidential election]]s.<ref name="Cthulhu_for_president_2016">{{cite web|url=https://cthulhuforamerica.com/|title=Cthulhu for America|access-date=3 Aug 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803190725/https://cthulhuforamerica.com/| archive-date=3 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cthulhu2012.com/ |title=Cthulhu Dagon 2012 |access-date=2016-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014061420/http://www.cthulhu2012.com/ |archive-date=2016-10-14 |url-status=live }}</ref> The faux campaigns usually satirize voters who claim to vote for the "[[lesser of two evils principle|lesser evil]]". In 2016 the Troll account known as "The Dark Lord Cthulhu" submitted an official application to be on the Massachusetts Presidential Ballot. The account also raised over $4000 from fans to fund the campaign through a gofundme.com page. Gofundme removed the campaign page and refunded contributions. The Cthulhu Party<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/cthulhuparty/|title=Log In or Sign Up to View|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-18|archive-date=2019-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929195740/https://www.facebook.com/cthulhuparty/|url-status=live}}</ref> (UK), another pseudo-political organisation, claim to be 'Changing Politics for Evil', parodying the Brexit Party's 'Changing Politics for Good'; a member of The Cthulhu Party holds the position of Mayor of Blists Hill. Another organisation, Cthulhu for America, ran during the 2016 American presidential election, drawing comparisons with other satirical presidential candidates like [[Vermin Supreme]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inverse.com/article/16964-who-is-behind-cthulhu-for-america|title=Who Is Behind Cthulhu For America?|website=Inverse|last1=Watson|first1=Zebbie|date=June 16, 2016|access-date=May 31, 2020|archive-date=October 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025092411/https://www.inverse.com/article/16964-who-is-behind-cthulhu-for-america|url-status=live}}</ref> The organisation had a platform which included the legalisation of human sacrifice, driving all Americans insane, and an end to peace.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/mar/01/could-cthulhu-trump-other-super-tuesday-contenders-hp-lovecraft|title=Could Cthulhu trump the other Super Tuesday contenders?|website=The Guardian|last1=Barnett|first1=David|date=March 1, 2016|access-date=May 31, 2020|archive-date=June 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613201840/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/mar/01/could-cthulhu-trump-other-super-tuesday-contenders-hp-lovecraft|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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===Science=== |
===Science=== |
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Several organisms have been named after Cthulhu, including the California spider ''[[Pimoa cthulhu]]'',<ref name="Hormiga1994">{{cite journal |last1=Hormiga |first1=G. |year=1994 |title=A revision and cladistic analysis of the spider family Pimoidae (Araneoidea: Araneae) |journal=Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology |volume=549 |issue=549 |pages=1–104 |url=http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Zoology/pdf_hi/SCTZ-0549.pdf |access-date=2011-05-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013144034/http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Zoology/pdf_hi/SCTZ-0549.pdf |archive-date=2012-10-13 |url-status=live |doi=10.5479/si.00810282.549 }}</ref> the New Guinea moth ''[[Speiredonia cthulhui]]'',<ref name="Genus Speiredonia">{{cite journal |first1=Alberto |last1=Zilli |first2=Jeremy D. |last2=Holloway |first3=Willem |last3=Hogenes |name-list-style=amp |date=2005 |url=http://www.museodizoologia.it/ricerca/aldrovandia/aldrovandia-volume-1-2005-1/an-overview-of-the-genus-speiredonia-with-description-of-seven-new-species-insecta-lepidoptera-noctuidae |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722043508/http://www.museodizoologia.it/ricerca/aldrovandia/aldrovandia-volume-1-2005-1/an-overview-of-the-genus-speiredonia-with-description-of-seven-new-species-insecta-lepidoptera-noctuidae |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-07-22 |title=An Overview of the Genus ''Speiredonia'' with Description of Seven New Species (Insecta, Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) |journal=Aldrovandia |volume=1 |pages=17–36 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> and ''[[Sollasina cthulhu]]'', a fossil echinoderm.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rahman |first1=Imran A. |last2=Thompson |first2=Jeffrey R. |last3=Briggs |first3=Derek E. G. |last4=Siveter |first4=David J. |last5=Siveter |first5=Derek J. |last6=Sutton |first6=Mark D. |year=2019 |title=A new ophiocistioid with soft-tissue preservation from the Silurian Herefordshire Lagerstätte, and the evolution of the holothurian body plan |url=http://spiral.imperial.ac.uk/bitstream/10044/1/69181/2/_system_appendPDF_proof_hi.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |volume=286 |issue=1900 |pages=20182792 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2018.2792 |pmc=6501687 |pmid=30966985 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923134442/http://spiral.imperial.ac.uk/bitstream/10044/1/69181/2/_system_appendPDF_proof_hi.pdf |archive-date=2019-09-23 |access-date=2019-09-23 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Two microorganisms that assist in the digestion of wood by termites have been named after Cthulhu and Cthulhu's "daughter" Cthylla: ''[[Cthulhu macrofasciculumque]]'' and ''Cthylla microfasciculumque''.<ref name="james">{{cite journal|last1=James|first1=Erick R.|last2=Okamoto|first2=Noriko|last3=Burki|first3=Fabien|last4=Scheffrahn|first4=Rudolf H.|last5=Keeling|first5=Patrick J.|editor-last=Badger|editor-first=Jonathan H.|journal=PLOS ONE|issue=3|volume=8|date=2013-03-18|title=Cthulhu Macrofasciculumque n. g., n. sp. and Cthylla Microfasciculumque n. g., n. sp., a Newly Identified Lineage of Parabasalian Termite Symbionts|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0058509|pages=e58509|pmid=23526991|pmc=3601090|bibcode=2013PLoSO...858509J|doi-access=free}}</ref> |
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In 2014, science and technology scholar [[Donna Haraway]] gave a talk entitled "[[Anthropocene]], [[Capitalocene]], Chthulucene: Staying with the Trouble", in which she proposed the term "Chthulucene" as an alternative for the concept of the [[Anthropocene]] era, due to the entangling interconnectedness of all supposedly individual beings.<ref>{{cite AV media | url = https://vimeo.com/97663518 | title = Donna Haraway, "Anthropocene, Capitalocene, Chthulucene: Staying with the Trouble", 5/9/14 | people = [[Donna Haraway]] | date = 9 May 2014 | publisher = Vimeo, Inc. | access-date = 2017-03-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170128054002/https://vimeo.com/97663518 | archive-date = 28 January 2017 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Haraway has denied any indebtedness to Lovecraft's Cthulhu, claiming that her "chthulu" is derived from Greek ''khthonios'', "of the earth".<ref>{{Cite book|title=Staying with the Trouble|last=Haraway|first=Donna|publisher=Duke University Press|year=2016|isbn=978-0-8223-6224-1|location=Durham and London|pages=174n4}}</ref> However, the Lovecraft character is much closer to her coined term than the Greek root, and her description of its meaning coincides with Lovecraft's idea of the apocalyptic, multitentacled threat of Cthulhu to collapse civilization into an endless dark horror: "Chthulucene does not close in on itself; it does not round off; its contact zones are ubiquitous and continuously spin out loopy tendrils."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.publicseminar.org/2016/09/chthulu/ |title=Chthulucene, Capitalocene, Anthropocene |first=McKenzie|last=Wark |date=September 8, 2016 |work=PublicSeminar.org |access-date=2017-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201082438/http://www.publicseminar.org/2016/09/chthulu/ |archive-date=2017-12-01 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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The Californian spider species ''[[Pimoa cthulhu]]'', described by Gustavo Hormiga in 1994,<ref name="Hormiga1994">{{cite journal |last1=Hormiga |first1=G. |year=1994 |title=A revision and cladistic analysis of the spider family Pimoidae (Araneoidea: Araneae) |journal=Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology |volume=549 |issue=549 |pages=1–104 |url=http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Zoology/pdf_hi/SCTZ-0549.pdf |access-date=2011-05-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013144034/http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Zoology/pdf_hi/SCTZ-0549.pdf |archive-date=2012-10-13 |url-status=live |doi=10.5479/si.00810282.549 }}</ref> and the New Guinea moth species ''[[Speiredonia cthulhui]]'', described by Alberto Zilli and Jeremy D. Holloway in 2005,<ref name="Genus Speiredonia">{{cite journal |first1=Alberto |last1=Zilli |first2=Jeremy D. |last2=Holloway |first3=Willem |last3=Hogenes |name-list-style=amp |date=2005 |url=http://www.museodizoologia.it/ricerca/aldrovandia/aldrovandia-volume-1-2005-1/an-overview-of-the-genus-speiredonia-with-description-of-seven-new-species-insecta-lepidoptera-noctuidae |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722043508/http://www.museodizoologia.it/ricerca/aldrovandia/aldrovandia-volume-1-2005-1/an-overview-of-the-genus-speiredonia-with-description-of-seven-new-species-insecta-lepidoptera-noctuidae |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-07-22 |title=An Overview of the Genus ''Speiredonia'' with Description of Seven New Species (Insecta, Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) |journal=Aldrovandia |volume=1 |pages=17–36 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> are named after Cthulhu. |
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In 2015, an elongated, dark region along the equator of [[Pluto]], initially referred to as "the Whale", was proposed to be named "Cthulhu Region", by the NASA team responsible for the ''[[New Horizons]]'' mission.<ref name="brokenheart">{{cite news|last1=Feltman|first1=Rachel|title=New data reveals that Pluto's heart is broken|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/07/14/new-data-reveals-that-plutos-heart-is-broken/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=14 July 2015|date=14 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715112003/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/07/14/new-data-reveals-that-plutos-heart-is-broken/|archive-date=2015-07-15|url-status=live}}</ref> It was given the informal name [[Belton Regio|Cthulhu Macula]],<ref name = "disk-integrated photometry">{{cite journal |author=Amanda M. Zangari|display-authors=et al|title=New Horizons disk-integrated approach photometry of Pluto and Charon |journal=AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts #47|pages=210.01|publisher= American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #47, id.210.01 |date= November 2015 |volume=47|bibcode=2015DPS....4721001Z }}</ref><ref name = "Pluto System after New Horizons">{{Cite journal|last1=Stern |first1=S. A. |last2=Grundy |first2=W. |last3=McKinnon |first3=W. B. |last4=Weaver |first4=H. A. |last5=Young |first5=L. A.|title=The Pluto System After New Horizons|journal=Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics |volume=56 |pages=357–392 |arxiv=1712.05669|doi=10.1146/annurev-astro-081817-051935 |year=2018 |bibcode=2018ARA&A..56..357S |s2cid=119072504 }}</ref> though the feature was later officially named Belton Regio by the [[International Astronomical Union]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Two Names Approved for Pluto: Belton Regio and Safronov Regio {{!}} USGS Astrogeology Science Center |url=https://astrogeology.usgs.gov/news/nomenclature/two-names-approved-for-pluto-belton-regio-and-safronov-regio |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=astrogeology.usgs.gov}}</ref> |
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Two microorganisms that assist in the digestion of wood by termites have been named after Cthulhu and Cthulhu's "daughter" Cthylla: ''[[Cthulhu macrofasciculumque]]'' and ''Cthylla microfasciculumque''.<ref name="james">{{cite journal|last1=James|first1=Erick R.|last2=Okamoto|first2=Noriko|last3=Burki|first3=Fabien|last4=Scheffrahn|first4=Rudolf H.|last5=Keeling|first5=Patrick J.|editor-last=Badger|editor-first=Jonathan H.|journal=PLoS ONE|issue=3|volume=8|date=2013-03-18|title=Cthulhu Macrofasciculumque n. g., n. sp. and Cthylla Microfasciculumque n. g., n. sp., a Newly Identified Lineage of Parabasalian Termite Symbionts|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0058509|pages=e58509|pmid=23526991|pmc=3601090|bibcode=2013PLoSO...858509J}}</ref> |
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In 2014, science and technology scholar [[Donna Haraway]] gave a talk entitled "Anthropocene, Capitalocene, Chthulucene: Staying with the Trouble", in which she proposed the term "Chthulucene" as an alternative for the concept of the [[Anthropocene]] era, due to the entangling interconnectedness of all supposedly individual beings.<ref>{{cite AV media | url = https://vimeo.com/97663518 | title = Donna Haraway, "Anthropocene, Capitalocene, Chthulucene: Staying with the Trouble", 5/9/14 | people = [[Donna Haraway]] | date = 9 May 2014 | publisher = Vimeo, Inc. | access-date = 2017-03-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170128054002/https://vimeo.com/97663518 | archive-date = 28 January 2017 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Haraway has denied any indebtedness to Lovecraft's Cthulhu, claiming that her "chthulu" is derived from Greek ''khthonios'', "of the earth".<ref>{{Cite book|title=Staying with the Trouble|last=Haraway|first=Donna|publisher=Duke University Press|year=2016|isbn=978-0-8223-6224-1|location=Durham and London|pages=174n4}}</ref> However, the Lovecraft character is much closer to her coined term than the Greek root, and her description of its meaning coincides with Lovecraft's idea of the apocalyptic, multi-tentacled threat of Cthulhu to collapse civilization into an endless dark horror: "Chthulucene does not close in on itself; it does not round off; its contact zones are ubiquitous and continuously spin out loopy tendrils."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.publicseminar.org/2016/09/chthulu/ |title=Chthulucene, Capitalocene, Anthropocene |first=McKenzie|last=Wark |date=September 8, 2016 |work=PublicSeminar.org |access-date=2017-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201082438/http://www.publicseminar.org/2016/09/chthulu/ |archive-date=2017-12-01 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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In 2015, an elongated, dark region along the equator of [[Pluto]], initially referred to as "the Whale", was proposed to be named "Cthulhu Regio", by the NASA team responsible for the ''[[New Horizons]]'' mission.<ref name="brokenheart">{{cite web|last1=Feltman|first1=Rachel|title=New data reveals that Pluto's heart is broken|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/07/14/new-data-reveals-that-plutos-heart-is-broken/|work=The Washington Post|access-date=14 July 2015|date=14 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715112003/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/07/14/new-data-reveals-that-plutos-heart-is-broken/|archive-date=2015-07-15|url-status=live}}</ref> It is now known as "[[Cthulhu Macula]]".<ref name = "disk-integrated photometry">{{cite journal |author=Amanda M. Zangari|display-authors=et al|title=New Horizons disk-integrated approach photometry of Pluto and Charon |journal=AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts #47|pages=210.01|publisher= American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #47, id.210.01 |date= November 2015 |bibcode=2015DPS....4721001Z }}</ref><ref name = "Pluto System after New Horizons">{{Cite journal|last=Stern |first=S. A. |last2=Grundy |first2=W. |last3=McKinnon |first3=W. B. |last4=Weaver |first4=H. A. |last5=Young |first5=L. A.|title=The Pluto System After New Horizons|journal=Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics |volume=56 |pages=357–392 |arxiv=1712.05669|doi=10.1146/annurev-astro-081817-051935 |year=2018 }}</ref> |
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In April 2019, Imran A. Rahman and a team announced in ''[[Proceedings of the Royal Society B]]'' the discovery of ''[[Sollasina cthulhu]]'', an extinct member of the [[Ophiocistioidea|ophiocistioids group]].<ref>{{Cite journal|doi = 10.1098/rspb.2018.2792|title = A new ophiocistioid with soft-tissue preservation from the Silurian Herefordshire Lagerstätte, and the evolution of the holothurian body plan|journal = Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences|volume = 286|issue = 1900|pages = 20182792|year = 2019|last1 = Rahman|first1 = Imran A.|last2 = Thompson|first2 = Jeffrey R.|last3 = Briggs|first3 = Derek E. G.|last4 = Siveter|first4 = David J.|last5 = Siveter|first5 = Derek J.|last6 = Sutton|first6 = Mark D.|url = http://spiral.imperial.ac.uk/bitstream/10044/1/69181/2/_system_appendPDF_proof_hi.pdf|access-date = 2019-09-23|archive-date = 2019-09-23|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190923134442/http://spiral.imperial.ac.uk/bitstream/10044/1/69181/2/_system_appendPDF_proof_hi.pdf|url-status = live}}</ref> |
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=== Film and TV === |
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Several films and television programs feature the threat of Cthulhu returning to dominate the Universe. A notable example is three episodes of the adult cartoon series ''[[South Park]]'' in which [[Eric Cartman]] turns out to be so irredeemably evil that he is able to tame Cthulhu and direct him to annihilate personal enemies.<ref name=":1">{{Citation|title=Coon vs. Coon & Friends - Official South Park Studios Wiki|url=http://wiki.southpark.cc.com/wiki/Coon_vs._Coon_%26_Friends|access-date=2019-05-29|archive-date=2019-04-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410150852/http://wiki.southpark.cc.com/wiki/Coon_vs._Coon_%26_Friends|url-status=live}}</ref> In those episodes ("[[Coon 2: Hindsight]]", "[[Mysterion Rises]]", and "[[Coon vs. Coon & Friends]]") Cthulhu is faithfully represented as the monstrous tentacle-mouthed god-like being Lovecraft describes.<ref name=":1" /> In the popular [[Adult animation|adult animated]] [[Science fiction|science-fiction]] [[Animated sitcom|sitcom]] ''[[Rick and Morty]]'', a depiction of Cthulhu can be seen in the opening sequence, immediately prior to the [[Intertitle|title card]].<ref>{{cite AV media |
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| date =2 December 2013 |
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| title =Pilot |
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| type =Television production |
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| language =en |
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| time =2:30-2:33 |
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| publisher =Adult Swim}}</ref> In Cartoon Network's animated show ''[[The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy]]'', Cthulhu has a dedicated double-length episode called "Prank Call of Cthulhu". Cthulhu also made a short appearance at the beginning of ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Treehouse of Horror XXIX]]". |
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In the Justice League animated series episode 'The Terror Beyond' under Warner Bros, Cthulhu is shown as an invader from an interdimensional world to earth where Justice League team members fight with Cthulhu. |
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In season 2 [[Gravity Falls (season 2)#Episodes|episodes 18 and 19]] of ''[[Gravity Falls]]'', Cthulhu is briefly seen destroying a giant ear with a mouth-laser and then walking, respectively.<ref>{{cite AV media |
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| date =26 October 2015 |
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| title =Gravity Falls |
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| chapter=Weirdmageddon Part 1 |
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| type =Television production |
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| language =en |
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| time =5:30-5:35 |
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| publisher =Disney XD |
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| quote =[Gideon Gleeful sees Cthulhu mouth-laser a giant ear to death]}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |
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| date =23 November 2015 |
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| title =Gravity Falls |
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| chapter=Weirdmageddon Part 2 |
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| type =Television production |
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| language =en |
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| time =0:03-0:08 |
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| publisher =Disney XD |
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| quote =[Cthulhu is seen walking, with the caption stating, ‘Weirdmageddon Day 4’]}}</ref> |
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On October 27, 1987, Cthulhu appeared in season 2 episode 28 of ''The Real Ghostbusters'' animated cartoon entitled "The Collect Call of Cathulhu", in which the Ghostbusters went up against the Spawn, and Cult, of Cthulhu.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tor.com/2014/09/11/ghostbusting-lovecraft/ |title=The Ghostbusters are an Antidote to Lovecraft's Dismal Worldview |access-date=2018-08-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802101943/https://www.tor.com/2014/09/11/ghostbusting-lovecraft/ |archive-date=2018-08-02 |url-status=live |date=2014-09-11 }}</ref> |
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Cthulhu is featured in [[Arcana Studio]]'s ''Howard Lovecraft'' animated trilogy beginning with ''[[Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom]]'', and ending with the upcoming Kingdom of Madness.<ref>{{Citation|title=Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4768656/|access-date=2018-09-17|archive-date=2018-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820163550/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4768656/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2015/10/h-p-lovecraft-graphic-novel-movie-animated-arcana-shout-1201568108/|title=Shout! Acquires All U.S. Rights To Arcana Studios' H.P. Lovecraft Animated Film|last=Busch|first=Anita|date=2015-10-07|work=Deadline|access-date=2018-09-17|language=en-US|archive-date=2019-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111104105/https://deadline.com/2015/10/h-p-lovecraft-graphic-novel-movie-animated-arcana-shout-1201568108/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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[[The Call of Cthulhu (film)|''The Call of Cthulhu'']] is a 2005 independent silent-film adaptation of the eponymous short story, produced by Sean Branney and [[Andrew Leman]].{{citation needed | date=August 2020}} |
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''[[Cast a Deadly Spell]]'' is a 1991 noir film featuring private detective H. Philip Lovecraft, in a fictional Los Angeles where magic is real, monsters and mythical beasts stalk the back alleys, zombies are used as cheap labor, and everyone—except Lovecraft—uses magic every day. The plot revolves around a scheme to use a copy of the ''[[Necronomicon]]'' to summon an ancient god that might be Cthulhu.{{citation needed | date=August 2020}} |
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The 2007 film ''[[Cthulhu (2007 film)|Cthulhu]]'' is loosely based on Lovecraft's 1936 novella ''[[The Shadow over Innsmouth]]'', which is a part of the [[Cthulhu Mythos]].{{citation needed | date=August 2020}} |
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The creatures in the 2018 Netflix film [[Bird Box (film)|''Bird Box'']] are strongly implied to be related to Cthulhu.<ref>{{cite web | title=Just How Cosmic Is BIRD BOX’s Cosmic Horror? | url=https://nerdist.com/article/bird-box-cosmic-horror-lovecraft/ | author=Kyle Anderson | date=January 9, 2019 | access-date=August 28, 2020 | publisher=[[Nerdist News|Nerdist]] | archive-date=September 2, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902205347/https://nerdist.com/article/bird-box-cosmic-horror-lovecraft/ | url-status=live }}</ref> |
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Cthulhu appears in season 4 episode 7 of ''[[The Venture Bros.]]'', battling The Order of the Triad.{{citation needed | date=August 2020}} |
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Cthulhu is mentioned in season 2 episode 14 of ''Night Gallery'', Professor Peabody's Last Lecture.{{citation needed | date=August 2020}} |
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Cthulhu appears in the climax of the film [[Underwater (film)|''Underwater'']], worshipped by a civilisation of underwater humanoids.<ref>{{cite web | title=Underwater Movie’s Monster Is Cthulhu | url=https://screenrant.com/underwater-movie-monster-cthulhu-confirmed/ | author=Shannon Lewis | date=January 17, 2020 | access-date=August 28, 2020 | publisher=[[Screen Rant]] | archive-date=July 15, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715035731/https://screenrant.com/underwater-movie-monster-cthulhu-confirmed/ | url-status=live }}</ref> |
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Cthulhu, or at least his star-spawn, are set to appear in ''[[Lovecraft Country (TV series)|Lovecraft Country]]''.<ref>{{cite web | title=Enough Teasing, Here’s Cthulhu: New Trailer for HBO’s "Lovecraft Country" is the One You’ve Been Waiting For | url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3624846/enough-teasing-heres-cthulhu-new-trailer-hbos-lovecraft-country-best-one-yet/ | author=John Squires | date=July 24, 2020 | access-date=August 28, 2020 | publisher=[[Bloody Disgusting]] | archive-date=August 18, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818065627/https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3624846/enough-teasing-heres-cthulhu-new-trailer-hbos-lovecraft-country-best-one-yet/ | url-status=live }}</ref> |
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=== Music === |
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Heavy metal band [[Metallica]] reference Cthulhu in the song "Dream No More" from their 2016 album ''[[Hardwired... To Self-Destruct]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metallica.com/songs/44225/dream-no-more|title=Dream No More - Metallica|website=Metallica|access-date=2017-11-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035438/https://www.metallica.com/songs/44225/dream-no-more|archive-date=2017-12-01|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as on the 1984 album ''[[Ride the Lightning]]'' with the instrumental track "The Call of Ktulu", inspired by [[H. P. Lovecraft]]'s novella ''[[The Shadow over Innsmouth]]'', which was introduced to the rest of the band by [[Cliff Burton]],<ref>{{Cite book|title=To live is to die : the life and death of Metallica's Cliff Burton|last=Joel.|first=McIver|date=2009|publisher=Jawbone Press|others=Hammett, Kirk.|isbn=9781906002244|edition=1st|location=London|oclc=290435379}}</ref> and on the 1986 album ''[[Master of Puppets]]'' with the song "The Thing That Should Not Be" (whose lyrics are inspired by ''The Shadow over Innsmouth'' and contain partial quotes from "[[The Call of Cthulhu]]").<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metallica.com/songs/25911/the-thing-that-should-not-be|title=The Thing That Should Not Be - Metallica|website=Metallica|access-date=2017-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041923/https://www.metallica.com/songs/25911/the-thing-that-should-not-be|archive-date=2017-12-01|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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The fifth studio album by Canadian electronic music producer [[deadmau5]] features the song "Cthulhu Sleeps". |
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American Metal band [[The Acacia Strain]] features a song titled "Cthulhu" on their album "Continent" |
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The second album of British steampunk band [[The Men That Will Not Be Blamed for Nothing]] features the song "Margate Fhtagn". The song describes the band's meeting with Cthulhu while on holiday in Margate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://wickedspinsradio.org/wsr2012/tmtwnbbfn-2/|title=The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing|date=2012-03-19|work=Wicked Spins Radio|access-date=2017-12-03|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205050514/http://wickedspinsradio.org/wsr2012/tmtwnbbfn-2/|archive-date=2017-12-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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English [[extreme metal]] band [[Cradle of Filth]]'s fourth album, ''[[Midian (album)|Midian]]'', features a song titled "Cthulhu Dawn",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Cradle-Of-Filth-Midian/master/11203|title=Cradle Of Filth - Midian|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2018-02-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221100351/https://www.discogs.com/Cradle-Of-Filth-Midian/master/11203|archive-date=2018-02-21|url-status=live}}</ref> although the lyrics seem to have nothing to do with Lovecraft's sea-monster. |
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The songs "The Watchman" and "Last Exit for the Lost", by British [[gothic rock]] band [[Fields of the Nephilim]], both reference Cthulhu (or 'Kthulhu' as it is spelled on the album's inner sleeve).<ref name=":0">[[Fields of the Nephilim]], [[The Nephilim (album)|''The Nephilim'']] album, released 1988 by [[Situation Two]]/[[Beggars Banquet Records]]</ref> |
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The British progressive rock band CARAVAN released the song "C'Thlu Thlu" on the album ''[[For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night]]'' (1973). |
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The penultimate track on the 2011 [[Beastwars (album)|self-titled debut album]] by New Zealand [[sludge metal]] band [[Beastwars]] is titled "Cthulhu". |
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The album "Stairway To Valhalla" by Nanowar of Steel features a song titled "The Call of Cthulhu". |
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The song "Cthulhu" by German [[power metal]] and "SUPERHEROMETAL" band [[Grailknights]] mentions the city of Rlyeh. |
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The song “Angel of Disease” by American [[death metal]] band [[Morbid Angel]] references The Ancient Ones, Cthulhu, and Shub-Niggurath. |
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The British synthwave band, Gunship, released the song "Cthulhu" in 2019, featuring a well-known quote from Lovecraft's [[The Call of Cthulhu and Other Dark Tales]]<ref>https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8893285-they-worshipped-so-they-said-the-great-old-ones-who</ref> narrated by horror-film director, [[Corin Hardy]]. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lakeshorerecords.bandcamp.com/track/cthulhu|title=Gunship feat. Corin Hardy - Cthulhu|website=Bandcamp|language=en|access-date=2021-03-26}}</ref> |
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=== Theater === |
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The story was adapted for the stage by Oregon-based theater company Puppeteers for Fears, who performed "The Call of Cthulhu," as ''Cthulhu: the Musical!'' a feature-length rock and roll musical comedy performed with puppets, with the Cthulhu puppet being the largest and most complex. The script and songs were written by playwright Josh Gross,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thejoshgross.bandcamp.com/album/cthulhu-the-musical-original-cast-recording|title=Cthulhu: the Musical, Original Cast Recording, by Puppeteers for Fears|website=The Many Projects of Josh Gross|access-date=2018-07-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718115144/https://thejoshgross.bandcamp.com/album/cthulhu-the-musical-original-cast-recording|archive-date=2018-07-18|url-status=live}}</ref> and after a successful run in Ashland, Oregon, the production toured the west coast in 2018, including a sold-out run at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Of the show, ''The Portland Mercury'' wrote, "You haven't truly experienced Lovecraft's madness until you've experienced it in its truest form: As a puppet musical."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.portlandmercury.com/events/19083179/cthulhu-the-musical|title=Cthulhu: The Musical!|website=Portland Mercury|language=en|access-date=2018-07-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718115153/https://www.portlandmercury.com/events/19083179/cthulhu-the-musical|archive-date=2018-07-18|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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The 2019 [[StarKid Productions]] horror-comedy musical [[Black Friday (musical)|Black Friday]]'s main antagonist is an entity named Wiggly who takes the form of a plush toy that strongly resembles Cthulhu. The opening number "Wiggly Jingle" features the lyric "He's an underwater creature from outta this world" which is a direct reference to Cthulhu's origins.<ref>https://genius.com/Team-starkid-tickle-me-wiggly-jingle-lyrics</ref> In the second act Wiggly is revealed to be a much larger cosmic entity who was using the plush toys and the hysteria they caused to destroy humanity. Wiggly's larger form is a loose form puppet made out of the set dressing, but still has the recognizable Cthulhu shape.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.teamstarkid.com/black-friday |title=Archived copy |access-date=2021-01-09 |archive-date=2021-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205033326/https://www.teamstarkid.com/black-friday |url-status=live }}</ref> The musical was written by Matt and Nick Lang with lyrics and music by Jeff Blim. Black Friday successfully ran at the Hudson Mainstage Theater in Los Angeles, California from October 31, 2019 to December 8, 2019. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==Further reading== |
==Further reading== |
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{{Refbegin|30em}} |
{{Refbegin|30em}} |
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*{{cite book | last = Bloch | first = Robert | author-link=Robert Bloch| chapter = Heritage of Horror | year = 1982 | title = The Best of H. P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre | edition = 1st | publisher = Ballantine Books | isbn = 0-345-35080-4 }} |
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* {{cite book |
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*{{Cite book|last=Burleson|first=Donald R.|title=H. P. Lovecraft, A Critical Study|publisher=Greenwood Press|location=Westport, CT / London, England|year=1983|isbn=0-313-23255-5}} |
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| last = Bloch | first = Robert | author-link=Robert Bloch| chapter = Heritage of Horror | year = 1982 | title = The Best of H. P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre | edition = 1st | publisher = Ballantine Books | isbn = 0-345-35080-4 }} |
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* |
*{{Cite book|last=Burnett|first=Cathy|title=Spectrum No. 3:The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art|location=Nevada City, CA, 95959 USA|publisher=Underwood Books | isbn = 1-887424-10-5|year=1996 }} |
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* |
*{{Cite book|last=Harms|first=Daniel|title=The Encyclopedia Cthulhiana|chapter=Cthulhu|pages=64 – 7|edition=2nd|publisher=Chaosium|location=Oakland, CA|year=1998|isbn=1568821190}} |
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**"Idh-yaa", p. 148. Ibid. |
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* {{Cite book|last=Harms|first=Daniel|title=The Encyclopedia Cthulhiana|chapter=Cthulhu|pages=64 – 7|edition=2nd|publisher=Chaosium|location=Oakland, CA|year=1998|isbn=1568821190}} |
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** |
**"Star-spawn of Cthulhu", pp. 283 – 4. Ibid. |
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*{{Cite book|last1=Joshi|first1=S. T.|author-link=S. T. Joshi|first2=David E. |last2=Schultz|title=An H. P. Lovecraft Encyclopedia|publisher=Greenwood Press|location=Westport, CT|year=2001|isbn=0313315787}} |
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** "Star-spawn of Cthulhu", pp. 283 – 4. Ibid. |
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*{{cite book|last=Lovecraft|first=Howard P.|chapter=The Call of Cthulhu|chapter-url=http://www.mythostomes.com/content/view/30/92/|orig-year=1928|title=The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories|editor=S. T. Joshi|year=1999|location=London, UK; New York, NY|publisher=Penguin Books|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126181650/http://www.mythostomes.com/content/view/30/92/|archive-date=November 26, 2009}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Joshi|first=S. T.|author-link=S. T. Joshi|first2=David E. |last2=Schultz|title=An H. P. Lovecraft Encyclopedia|publisher=Greenwood Press|location=Westport, CT|year=2001|isbn=0313315787}} |
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*{{Cite book|last=Lovecraft|first=Howard P.|title=Selected Letters II|publisher=[[Arkham House]]|location=Sauk City, WI|year=1968|isbn=0870540297}} |
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* {{cite book |
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*{{Cite book|last=Lovecraft|first=Howard P.|title=Selected Letters V|publisher=Arkham House|location=Sauk City, WI|year=1976|isbn=087054036X}} |
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|last=Lovecraft |
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*{{Cite book|last=Marsh|first=Philip|title=R'lyehian as a Toy Language – on psycholinguistics|location=Lehigh Acres, FL 33970-0085 USA|publisher=Philip Marsh}} |
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|first=Howard P. |
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*{{Cite book|last=Mosig|first=Yozan Dirk W.|title=Mosig at Last: A Psychologist Looks at H. P. Lovecraft|edition=1st|location=West Warwick, RI|publisher=Necronomicon Press|year=1997|isbn=0940884909|author-link=Dirk W. Mosig}} |
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|chapter=The Call of Cthulhu |
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*{{Cite book|last=Pearsall|first=Anthony B.|title=The Lovecraft Lexicon|edition=1st|publisher=New Falcon Pub|location=Tempe, AZ|year=2005|isbn=1561841293}} |
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|chapter-url=http://www.mythostomes.com/content/view/30/92/ |
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*[http://www.hplovecraft.com/popcult/other.asp "Other Lovecraftian Products"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723121640/http://hplovecraft.com/popcult/other.asp |date=2008-07-23 }}, ''The H.P. Lovecraft Archive''<!--accessed July 9, 2008--> |
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|orig-year=1928 |
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|title=The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories |
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|editor=S. T. Joshi |
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|year=1999 |
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|location=London, UK; New York, NY |
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|publisher=Penguin Books |
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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126181650/http://www.mythostomes.com/content/view/30/92/ |
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|archive-date=November 26, 2009 |
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}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Lovecraft|first=Howard P.|title=Selected Letters II|publisher=[[Arkham House]]|location=Sauk City, WI|year=1968|isbn=0870540297}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Lovecraft|first=Howard P.|title=Selected Letters V|publisher=Arkham House|location=Sauk City, WI|year=1976|isbn=087054036X}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Marsh|first=Philip|title=R'lyehian as a Toy Language – on psycholinguistics|location=Lehigh Acres, FL 33970-0085 USA|publisher=Philip Marsh}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Mosig|first=Yozan Dirk W.|title=Mosig at Last: A Psychologist Looks at H. P. Lovecraft|edition=1st|location=West Warwick, RI|publisher=Necronomicon Press|year=1997|isbn=0940884909|author-link=Dirk W. Mosig}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Pearsall|first=Anthony B.|title=The Lovecraft Lexicon|edition=1st|publisher=New Falcon Pub|location=Tempe, AZ|year=2005|isbn=1561841293}} |
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* [http://www.hplovecraft.com/popcult/other.asp "Other Lovecraftian Products"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723121640/http://hplovecraft.com/popcult/other.asp |date=2008-07-23 }}, ''The H.P. Lovecraft Archive''<!--accessed July 9, 2008--> |
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{{Refend}} |
{{Refend}} |
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{{Commons category|Cthulhu (entity)}} |
{{Commons category|Cthulhu (entity)}} |
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{{Wikisource|The Call of Cthulhu}} |
{{Wikisource|The Call of Cthulhu}} |
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* |
*{{Cite web |url=http://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/cc.aspx |title=The Call of Cthulhu |last=Lovecraft |first=H. P. |website=www.hplovecraft.com |publisher=Donovan K. Loucks |access-date=2020-04-15}} |
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* [https://www.schematax.org/schemata/other-topics/schematax_lovecraft_call-of-cthulhu.pdf Schema on Lovecraft’s »The Call of Ctuhulhu« and the Cthulhu Mythos] |
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{{Cthulhu Mythos}} |
{{Cthulhu Mythos}} |
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{{H. P. Lovecraft|state=collapsed}} |
{{H. P. Lovecraft|state=collapsed}} |
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[[Category:Cthulhu Mythos deities]] |
[[Category:Cthulhu Mythos deities]] |
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[[Category:Extraterrestrial supervillains]] |
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[[Category:Fictional characters with dream manipulation abilities]] |
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[[Category:Fictional |
[[Category:Fictional aquatic aliens]] |
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[[Category:Fictional |
[[Category:Fictional cephalopods]] |
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[[Category:Fictional demons]] |
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[[Category:Fictional gods]] |
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[[Category:Fictional immortals]] |
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Latest revision as of 20:45, 13 December 2024
Cthulhu | |
---|---|
Cthulhu Mythos character | |
First appearance | "The Call of Cthulhu" (1928) |
Created by | H. P. Lovecraft |
In-universe information | |
Species | Great Old One |
Gender | Variable depending on the publisher's ideas |
Family |
|
Cthulhu is a fictional cosmic entity created by writer H. P. Lovecraft. It was introduced in his short story "The Call of Cthulhu",[2] published by the American pulp magazine Weird Tales in 1928. Considered a Great Old One within the pantheon of Lovecraftian cosmic entities, this creature has since been featured in numerous pop culture references. Lovecraft depicts it as a gigantic entity worshipped by cultists, in the shape of a green octopus, dragon, and a caricature of human form. It is the namesake of the Lovecraft-inspired Cthulhu Mythos.
Etymology, spelling, and pronunciation
[edit]Invented by Lovecraft in 1928, the name Cthulhu was probably chosen to echo the word chthonic (Ancient Greek "of the earth"), as apparently suggested by Lovecraft himself at the end of his 1923 tale "The Rats in the Walls".[3] The chthonic, or earth-dwelling, spirit has precedents in numerous ancient and medieval mythologies, often guarding mines and precious underground treasures, notably in the Germanic dwarfs and the Greek Chalybes, Telchines, or Dactyls.[4]
Lovecraft transcribed the pronunciation of Cthulhu as Khlûl′-hloo, and said, "the first syllable pronounced gutturally and very thickly. The 'u' is about like that in 'full', and the first syllable is not unlike 'klul' in sound, hence the 'h' represents the guttural thickness"[5] yielding something akin to /ˈq(χ)lʊlˌhluː/.[original research?] S. T. Joshi points out, however, that Lovecraft gave different pronunciations on different occasions.[6] According to Lovecraft, this is merely the closest that the human vocal apparatus can come to reproducing the syllables of an alien language.[7] Cthulhu has also been spelled in many other ways, including Tulu, Katulu, and Kutulu.[8]
Long after Lovecraft's death, Chaosium stated in the Call of Cthulhu role-playing game: "we say it kuh-THOOL-hu" (/kəˈθuːluː/), even while noting that Lovecraft said it differently.[9] Others use the pronunciation /kəˈtuːluː/.[10]
Description
[edit]In "The Call of Cthulhu", H. P. Lovecraft describes a statue of Cthulhu as: "A monster of vaguely anthropoid outline, but with an octopus-like head whose face was a mass of feelers, a scaly, rubbery-looking body, prodigious claws on hind and fore feet, and long, narrow wings behind."[11] A carving of Cthulhu is described thusly: "It seemed to be a sort of monster, or symbol representing a monster, of a form which only a diseased fancy could conceive. If I say that my somewhat extravagant imagination yielded simultaneous pictures of an octopus, a dragon, and a human caricature, I shall not be unfaithful to the spirit of the thing. A pulpy, tentacled head surmounted a grotesque and scaly body with rudimentary wings."[11]
Johansen in The Call of Cthulhu states that "The Thing cannot be described—there is no language for such abysms of shrieking and immemorial lunacy, such eldritch contradictions of all matter, force, and cosmic order. A mountain walked or stumbled." Cthulhu is described again shortly thereafter as a "mountainous monstrosity". His age is described to be at least "vigintillions of years".[12] He is also said to have cast spells which preserved the Great Old Ones until their reawakening.
Cthulhu is said to resemble a green octopus, dragon, and a human caricature, hundreds of meters tall, with webbed, human-looking arms and legs and a pair of rudimentary wings on its back.[11] Its head is depicted as similar to the entirety of a gigantic octopus, with an unknown number of tentacles surrounding its supposed mouth.
Publication history
[edit]The short story that first mentions Cthulhu, "The Call of Cthulhu", was published in Weird Tales in 1928, and established the character as a malevolent entity, hibernating within R'lyeh, an underwater city in the South Pacific. The imprisoned Cthulhu is apparently the source of constant subconscious anxiety for all mankind, and is also the object of worship, both by many human cults (including some within New Zealand, Greenland, Louisiana, and the Chinese mountains) and by other Lovecraftian monsters (called Deep Ones[13] and Mi-Go[14]). The short story asserts the premise that, while currently trapped, Cthulhu will eventually return. His worshippers chant "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn" ("In his house at R'lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits dreaming").[11]
Lovecraft conceived a detailed genealogy for Cthulhu (published as "Letter 617" in Selected Letters)[1] and made the character a central reference in his works.[15] The short story "The Dunwich Horror" (1928)[16] refers to Cthulhu, while "The Whisperer in Darkness" (1930) hints that one of his characters knows the creature's origins ("I learned whence Cthulhu first came, and why half the great temporary stars of history had flared forth.")[14] The 1931 novella At the Mountains of Madness refers to the "star-spawn of Cthulhu", who warred with another race called the Elder Things before the dawn of man.[17]
August Derleth, a correspondent of Lovecraft's, used the creature's name to identify the system of lore employed by Lovecraft and his literary successors, the Cthulhu Mythos. In 1937, Derleth wrote the short story "The Return of Hastur", and proposed two groups of opposed cosmic entities:
the Old or Ancient Ones, the Elder Gods, of cosmic good, and those of cosmic evil, bearing many names, and themselves of different groups, as if associated with the elements and yet transcending them: for there are the Water Beings, hidden in the depths; those of Air that are the primal lurkers beyond time; those of Earth, horrible animate survivors of distant eons.[18]: 256
According to Derleth's scheme, "Great Cthulhu is one of the Water Elementals" and was engaged in an age-old arch-rivalry with a designated air elemental, Hastur the Unspeakable, described as Cthulhu's "half-brother."[18]: 256, 266 Based on this framework, Derleth wrote a series of short stories published in Weird Tales (1944–1952) and collected as The Trail of Cthulhu, depicting the struggle of a Dr. Laban Shrewsbury and his associates against Cthulhu and his minions. In addition, Cthulhu is referenced in Derleth's 1945 novel The Lurker at the Threshold published by Arkham House. The novel can also be found in The Watchers Out of Time and Others, a collection of stories from Derleth's interpretations of Lovecraftian Mythos published by Arkham House in 1974.
Derleth's interpretations have been criticized by Lovecraft enthusiast Michel Houellebecq, among others. Houellebecq's H. P. Lovecraft: Against the World, Against Life (2005) decries Derleth for attempting to reshape Lovecraft's strictly amoral continuity into a stereotypical conflict between forces of objective good and evil.[19]
In John Glasby's "A Shadow from the Aeons", Cthulhu is seen by the narrator roaming the riverbank near Dominic Waldron's castle, and roaring.[20]
The character's influence also extended into gaming literature; games company TSR included an entire chapter on the Cthulhu mythos (including character statistics) in the first printing of Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook Deities & Demigods (1980). TSR, however, were unaware that Arkham House, which asserted copyright on almost all Lovecraft literature, had already licensed the Cthulhu property to game company Chaosium. Although Chaosium stipulated that TSR could continue to use the material if each future edition featured a published credit to Chaosium, TSR refused and the material was removed from all subsequent editions.[21]
Influence
[edit]Politics
[edit]Cthulhu has appeared as a parody candidate in several elections, including the 2010 Polish presidential election and the 2012 and 2016 US presidential elections.[22][23] The faux campaigns usually satirize voters who claim to vote for the "lesser evil". "Cthulhu for America" ran during the 2016 American presidential election, drawing comparisons with other satirical presidential candidates such as Vermin Supreme.[24] The organization had a platform that included the legalization of human sacrifice, driving all Americans insane, and an end to peace.[25]
In 2016, the troll account known as "The Dark Lord Cthulhu" submitted an official application to be on the Massachusetts Presidential Ballot. The account also raised over $4000 from fans to fund the campaign through a gofundme.com page. Gofundme removed the campaign page and refunded contributions.[citation needed]
Science
[edit]Several organisms have been named after Cthulhu, including the California spider Pimoa cthulhu,[26] the New Guinea moth Speiredonia cthulhui,[27] and Sollasina cthulhu, a fossil echinoderm.[28] Two microorganisms that assist in the digestion of wood by termites have been named after Cthulhu and Cthulhu's "daughter" Cthylla: Cthulhu macrofasciculumque and Cthylla microfasciculumque.[29]
In 2014, science and technology scholar Donna Haraway gave a talk entitled "Anthropocene, Capitalocene, Chthulucene: Staying with the Trouble", in which she proposed the term "Chthulucene" as an alternative for the concept of the Anthropocene era, due to the entangling interconnectedness of all supposedly individual beings.[30] Haraway has denied any indebtedness to Lovecraft's Cthulhu, claiming that her "chthulu" is derived from Greek khthonios, "of the earth".[31] However, the Lovecraft character is much closer to her coined term than the Greek root, and her description of its meaning coincides with Lovecraft's idea of the apocalyptic, multitentacled threat of Cthulhu to collapse civilization into an endless dark horror: "Chthulucene does not close in on itself; it does not round off; its contact zones are ubiquitous and continuously spin out loopy tendrils."[32]
In 2015, an elongated, dark region along the equator of Pluto, initially referred to as "the Whale", was proposed to be named "Cthulhu Region", by the NASA team responsible for the New Horizons mission.[33] It was given the informal name Cthulhu Macula,[34][35] though the feature was later officially named Belton Regio by the International Astronomical Union.[36]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Lovecraft, H. P. (1967). Selected Letters (1932–1934). Sauk City, Wisconsin: Arkham House. Letter 617. ISBN 0-87054-035-1. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ "{title}". Archived from the original on 2018-08-02. Retrieved 2018-08-02.
- ^ Callaghan, Gavin (2013). H. P. Lovecraft's Dark Arcadia: The Satire, Symbology and Contradiction. McFarland. p. 192. ISBN 978-1476602394.
- ^ Kearns, Emily (2011). Finkelberg, Margalit (ed.). "Chthonic deities". The Homer encyclopedia. Wiley. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ^ Lovecraft, H. P. Selected Letters V. pp. 10–11.
- ^ Joshi, S. T. "The Call of Cthulhu". The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories. note 9.
- ^ "Cthul-Who?: How Do You Pronounce 'Cthulhu'?", Crypt of Cthulhu #9
- ^ Harms, Thomas. "Cthulhu" and "PanCthulhu". The Encyclopedia Cthulhiana. p. 64.
- ^ Petersen, Sandy; Willis, Lynn; Herber, Keith (1981). Call of Cthulhu (2 ed.). Oakland, California: Chaosium.:What's in this box?
- ^ e.g. the video game Call of Cthulhu[1] Archived 2020-09-01 at the Wayback Machine and season 14 of South Park.
- ^ a b c d s:The Call of Cthulhu
- ^ ""The Call of Cthulhu" by H. P. Lovecraft". www.hplovecraft.com. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
- ^ s:The Shadow Over Innsmouth
- ^ a b s:The Whisperer in Darkness
- ^ Angell, George Gammell (1982). Price, Robert M. (ed.). "Cthulhu Elsewhere in Lovecraft". Crypt of Cthulhu (9): 13–15. ISSN 1077-8179.
- ^ s:The Dunwich Horror
- ^ Lovecraft, H. P. At the Mountains of Madness. p. 66. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
- ^ a b Derleth, August. "The Return of Hastur". In Price, Robert M. (ed.). The Hastur Cycle.
- ^ Bloch, Robert. "Heritage of Horror". The Best of H. P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre.
- ^ Glasby, John S. (2015-08-09). The Brooding City and Other Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos. Ramble House.
- ^ "Deities & Demigods, Legends & Lore". The Acaeum. Archived from the original on 2010-09-03. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ "Cthulhu for America". Archived from the original on 3 August 2016. Retrieved 3 Aug 2016.
- ^ "Cthulhu Dagon 2012". Archived from the original on 2016-10-14. Retrieved 2016-10-29.
- ^ Watson, Zebbie (June 16, 2016). "Who Is Behind Cthulhu For America?". Inverse. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
- ^ Barnett, David (March 1, 2016). "Could Cthulhu trump the other Super Tuesday contenders?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
- ^ Hormiga, G. (1994). "A revision and cladistic analysis of the spider family Pimoidae (Araneoidea: Araneae)" (PDF). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 549 (549): 1–104. doi:10.5479/si.00810282.549. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-13. Retrieved 2011-05-09.
- ^ Zilli, Alberto; Holloway, Jeremy D. & Hogenes, Willem (2005). "An Overview of the Genus Speiredonia with Description of Seven New Species (Insecta, Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)". Aldrovandia. 1: 17–36. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Rahman, Imran A.; Thompson, Jeffrey R.; Briggs, Derek E. G.; Siveter, David J.; Siveter, Derek J.; Sutton, Mark D. (2019). "A new ophiocistioid with soft-tissue preservation from the Silurian Herefordshire Lagerstätte, and the evolution of the holothurian body plan" (PDF). Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 286 (1900): 20182792. doi:10.1098/rspb.2018.2792. PMC 6501687. PMID 30966985. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-09-23. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- ^ James, Erick R.; Okamoto, Noriko; Burki, Fabien; Scheffrahn, Rudolf H.; Keeling, Patrick J. (2013-03-18). Badger, Jonathan H. (ed.). "Cthulhu Macrofasciculumque n. g., n. sp. and Cthylla Microfasciculumque n. g., n. sp., a Newly Identified Lineage of Parabasalian Termite Symbionts". PLOS ONE. 8 (3): e58509. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...858509J. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0058509. PMC 3601090. PMID 23526991.
- ^ Donna Haraway (9 May 2014). Donna Haraway, "Anthropocene, Capitalocene, Chthulucene: Staying with the Trouble", 5/9/14. Vimeo, Inc. Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 2017-03-06.
- ^ Haraway, Donna (2016). Staying with the Trouble. Durham and London: Duke University Press. pp. 174n4. ISBN 978-0-8223-6224-1.
- ^ Wark, McKenzie (September 8, 2016). "Chthulucene, Capitalocene, Anthropocene". PublicSeminar.org. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
- ^ Feltman, Rachel (14 July 2015). "New data reveals that Pluto's heart is broken". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2015-07-15. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
- ^ Amanda M. Zangari; et al. (November 2015). "New Horizons disk-integrated approach photometry of Pluto and Charon". AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts #47. 47. American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #47, id.210.01: 210.01. Bibcode:2015DPS....4721001Z.
- ^ Stern, S. A.; Grundy, W.; McKinnon, W. B.; Weaver, H. A.; Young, L. A. (2018). "The Pluto System After New Horizons". Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics. 56: 357–392. arXiv:1712.05669. Bibcode:2018ARA&A..56..357S. doi:10.1146/annurev-astro-081817-051935. S2CID 119072504.
- ^ "Two Names Approved for Pluto: Belton Regio and Safronov Regio | USGS Astrogeology Science Center". astrogeology.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
Further reading
[edit]- Bloch, Robert (1982). "Heritage of Horror". The Best of H. P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre (1st ed.). Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-35080-4.
- Burleson, Donald R. (1983). H. P. Lovecraft, A Critical Study. Westport, CT / London, England: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-23255-5.
- Burnett, Cathy (1996). Spectrum No. 3:The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art. Nevada City, CA, 95959 USA: Underwood Books. ISBN 1-887424-10-5.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location (link) - Harms, Daniel (1998). "Cthulhu". The Encyclopedia Cthulhiana (2nd ed.). Oakland, CA: Chaosium. pp. 64–7. ISBN 1568821190.
- "Idh-yaa", p. 148. Ibid.
- "Star-spawn of Cthulhu", pp. 283 – 4. Ibid.
- Joshi, S. T.; Schultz, David E. (2001). An H. P. Lovecraft Encyclopedia. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0313315787.
- Lovecraft, Howard P. (1999) [1928]. "The Call of Cthulhu". In S. T. Joshi (ed.). The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories. London, UK; New York, NY: Penguin Books. Archived from the original on November 26, 2009.
- Lovecraft, Howard P. (1968). Selected Letters II. Sauk City, WI: Arkham House. ISBN 0870540297.
- Lovecraft, Howard P. (1976). Selected Letters V. Sauk City, WI: Arkham House. ISBN 087054036X.
- Marsh, Philip. R'lyehian as a Toy Language – on psycholinguistics. Lehigh Acres, FL 33970-0085 USA: Philip Marsh.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location (link) - Mosig, Yozan Dirk W. (1997). Mosig at Last: A Psychologist Looks at H. P. Lovecraft (1st ed.). West Warwick, RI: Necronomicon Press. ISBN 0940884909.
- Pearsall, Anthony B. (2005). The Lovecraft Lexicon (1st ed.). Tempe, AZ: New Falcon Pub. ISBN 1561841293.
- "Other Lovecraftian Products" Archived 2008-07-23 at the Wayback Machine, The H.P. Lovecraft Archive
External links
[edit]- Lovecraft, H. P. "The Call of Cthulhu". www.hplovecraft.com. Donovan K. Loucks. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
- Cthulhu Mythos deities
- Extraterrestrial supervillains
- Fictional aquatic aliens
- Fictional cephalopods
- Fictional demons
- Fictional gods
- Fictional immortals
- Fictional priests and priestesses
- Fictional sea monsters
- Fictional telepaths
- Horror villains
- Literary characters introduced in 1928
- Literary villains
- New religious movement deities
- H. P. Lovecraft characters