Cthulhu
Cthulhu is a fictional cosmic entity created by American horror writer H.
Cthulhu is a fictional cosmic entity created by American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft, first introduced in the 1928 short story "The Call of Cthulhu." It is one of the best-known figures in the Cthulhu Mythos, a shared fictional universe developed from Lovecraft’s work and later expanded by other writers. Cthulhu is commonly depicted as a vast, monstrous being associated with ancient powers, madness, and hidden knowledge.
Origins
Cthulhu was created by H. P. Lovecraft and first appeared in "The Call of Cthulhu" in 1928. The figure became one of the core images associated with Lovecraftian horror.
Role in the Cthulhu Mythos
Cthulhu is part of the Cthulhu Mythos, a loosely connected body of fictional lore originating with Lovecraft and later expanded by other writers. In that setting, Cthulhu is usually treated as an ancient, malevolent cosmic being.
Depiction and characteristics
Cthulhu is commonly described as a giant, tentacled, winged creature with a humanoid shape. Sources in the mythos associate it with a deathlike sleep beneath the sea and with the submerged city of R'lyeh.
Cultural impact
Cthulhu has become a widely recognized symbol of cosmic horror and has inspired many books, games, encyclopedic reference works, and later fictional reinterpretations. Reference books on the mythos regularly include extensive entries on Cthulhu and related figures.
Key facts
- Cthulhu originated in Lovecraft’s 1928 story "The Call of Cthulhu."
- The name became central to the broader Cthulhu Mythos, a shared fictional setting built from Lovecraft’s work and later contributions by other authors.
- Cthulhu is often described as one of the Great Old Ones, a group of ancient, powerful beings in the mythos.
- Popular descriptions portray Cthulhu as a sleeping entity beneath the ocean, associated with R'lyeh.
- The character has become a major icon of horror fiction and related games, books, and derivative works.
Cthulhu has strong relevance to Canadian readers through the broad international popularity of Lovecraftian horror in books, games, and reference works sold and discussed in Canada. Canadian horror and fantasy fandoms also frequently use Cthulhu as a cultural reference point.
Frequently asked questions
What is Cthulhu?
Is Cthulhu a god?
Where does Cthulhu appear first?
What does Cthulhu look like?
What is R'lyeh?
References
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cthulhu_MythosSupports: Cthulhu’s origin in Lovecraft’s work, the shared-universe nature of the Mythos, and the 1928 first publication of "The Call of Cthulhu."
- Wikisource — https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Portal:Cthulhu_MythosSupports: The Cthulhu Mythos as a shared fictional universe and the naming of the Mythos after Cthulhu.
- H.P. Lovecraft Wiki (Fandom) — https://lovecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Cthulhu_MythosSupports: Descriptions of the Mythos, Great Old Ones, and Cthulhu’s association with R'lyeh and the ocean.
- Amazon — https://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Cthulhiana-Lovecraftian-Cthulhu-Fiction/dp/1568821190Supports: Publication and scope of *The Encyclopedia Cthulhiana* as a guide to the Mythos and its major entities.
- Goodreads — https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1256364Supports: Description of *The Cthulhu Mythos Encyclopedia* as a broad reference work covering Cthulhu, related characters, places, and later derivative works.
- Amazon — https://www.amazon.com/Cthulhu-Mythos-Encyclopedia-Daniel-Harms/dp/1934501050Supports: Identification of the reference work as an encyclopedia about the Cthulhu Mythos.