They worshipped, so they said, the Great Old Ones who…
““They worshipped, so they said, the Great Old Ones who lived ages before there were any men, and who came to the young world out of the sky. Those Old Ones were gone now, inside the earth and under the sea; but their dead bodies had told their secrets in dreams to the first men, who formed a cult which had never died. This was that cult, and the prisoners said it had always existed and always would exist, hidden in distant wastes and dark places all over the world until the time when the great priest Cthulhu, from his dark house in the mighty city of R'lyeh under the waters, should rise and bring the earth again beneath his sway.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Ancient cosmic beings influence humanity through secret cults, awaiting a cataclysmic return
In simple terms: Old gods hidden, awaiting a future rise
Key Takeaway
Be wary of unseen forces and the allure of forbidden knowledge
Themes
myth
cosmic horror
cultism
Mood
eerie
foreboding
thought‑provoking
Type
literary
mythic
When to use this quote
- historical research
- fiction writing
- psychological analysis
- gaming narratives
Key Concepts
existential dread
ancient power
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the myth say about humanity’s place in the universe?
- How do hidden histories shape present fears?
A Different Perspective
Interpretations vary; some view it as metaphorical, not literal