Could the choice of HP Lovecraft's fictional villains be inspired by the Bible

[Sanity Check]

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

Is there an organism with anatomical symmetry closer to that of seraphim angels described in the bible.

 

Than the octopus.

 

Could the choice of an octopus representing cthulhu have been biblically inspired.

 

 

Edited September 27 by Sanity Check

[Nungali]

Since an octopus does not have  6 wings , encased in fire  ( 'saraph' - to burn ) , do not go around singing  ''  "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory". 

 

And since a Seraphim does not live in the sea , eat crabs, have 8 arms covered in suckers , two eyes and a beak .....

 

I would say , no . 

 

I would also ask what the inspiration was in selecting that particular example of a Seraphim ( which in no way represents the Biblical description ! )  in your post - considering the options available .   I like this one better ; 

 

 

'Not like an octopus ' . 

 

And Cthulu was not considered to be just an octopus either  -     Kraken + dragon + 'anthropomorphic form '  .

 

Also, there are things you can do with an octopus you can not do with a seraphic angel 

 

 

Edited September 27 by Nungali

[Sanity Check]

Anyways, if it might be said some depictions of angelic anatomy are a central area with multiple limbs extending outwards like spokes.

 

If our goal was to identify species on earth with a similar anatomy in an effort to have some idea of how angel anatomy might function.

 

And some authors were inclined to define such species as being loose variant or antithesis to angels. "If angel anatomy looks like this, maybe an octopus could resemble some type of fallen angel? Cross that with a dragon to make cthulhu."

 

Are there species with this anatomical symmetry aside from octopus and starfish?

 

 

Edited September 28 by Sanity Check

[Sanity Check]

Also there is a species of octopus known to revert back to sexual immaturity after having reaching it.

 

Biologists claim it might be considered "immortal" as this process can continue indefinitely in theory.

 

Quote

Turritopsis dohrnii, also known as the immortal jellyfish, is a species of small, biologically immortal jellyfish^[2][3] found worldwide in temperate to tropic waters. It is one of the few known cases of animals capable of completely reverting to a sexually immature, colonial stage after having reached sexual maturity as a solitary individual.

 

Theoretically, this process can go on indefinitely, effectively rendering the jellyfish biologically immortal,^[3][6] although in practice individuals can still die. In nature, most Turritopsis dohrnii are likely to succumb to predation or disease in the medusa stage without reverting to the polyp form.^[7]

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turritopsis_dohrnii

Edited September 28 by Sanity Check

[Nungali]

2 hours ago, Sanity Check said:

Anyways, if it might be said some depictions of angelic anatomy are a central area with multiple limbs extending outwards like spokes.

 

If our goal was to identify species on earth with a similar anatomy in an effort to have some idea of how angel anatomy might function.

 

And some authors were inclined to define such species as being loose variant or antithesis to angels. "If angel anatomy looks like this, maybe an octopus could resemble some type of fallen angel? Cross that with a dragon to make cthulhu."

 

Are there species with this anatomical symmetry aside from octopus and starfish?

 

 

 

 

 

[Nungali]

2 hours ago, Sanity Check said:

Also there is a species of octopus known to revert back to sexual immaturity after having reaching it.

 

Biologists claim it might be considered "immortal" as this process can continue indefinitely in theory.

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turritopsis_dohrnii

 

What species of octopus might that be ?  

 

Turritopsis dohrnii is a jelly fish .  

 

 

[Nungali]

It might be clearer if you cite the Bible passage description of Seraphim you are referring to .

 

All I know of is in Isiah 6 ; 2. 

 

'' 

² Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 

 

ie;

 

 

 

How did you get to this monstrosity ?  ;

 

 

 

 

Even 'the creatures' (not called Seraphim ) in Revelations  might  be part inspiration ...  this is highly selective 'interpretation ' ; it does say they are  ''covered in eyes front and back ''   ( Rev 4 : 7  ) does not describe  a disc or a single central eye   but does say , '' The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. ⁸ Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings.''

 

If I was going to pick a sea creature that looked like a Seraphim it would be a nudibranc ;

 

 

 

 

[Lala Nila]

 

 

Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn...

 

Lovecraft in a way mimicked, or even mocks the hierarchy of entities and concepts written in the Bible or Greek pantheons. So, yes I think that your intuition is correct in a sense. Cthulhu could be equated with angelic forms-or more likely fallen angels. Cthulhu is immensely powerful and very ancient, but is still a created being and not the source of reality. The Old Ones (Cthulhu and his kin) can be seen as messengers in the same sense that biblical angels are messengers. Cthulhu communicates with humans through dreams and visions, but with a dark and ominous overtones.  Cthulhu is more like an inter-dimensional alien though.

 

Cthulhu is chained and imprisoned beneath the deep sea at R'lyeh, lying not dead, but dreaming, waiting for "when the stars are right" to return. This also mimics the idea of fallen angels Lucifer/satan, who are imprisoned in hell waiting for The Day of Judgement. In the book of Each and else where fallen angels often have their own cults of worship created around them and are viewed as gods. It's similar with Cthulhu mythos, where humans create cults to worship and venerate this entity, this is evident in the story The Horror of Red Hook, where Cthulhu is worshiped and invoked along side other entities such as Nyarlatholep, Beelzebub, Astarte, etc. 

 

In terms of his physical appearance I don't think there are any biblical references similar to how Cthulhu is depicted:

 

"Above these apparent hieroglyphics was a figure of evidently pictorial intent, though its impressionistic execution forbade a very clear idea of its nature. 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; but it was the general outline of the whole which made it most shockingly frightful. Behind the figure was a vague suggestion of a Cyclopean architectural background."

https://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/cc.aspx

 

However, in my own experiences/practices I have seen entities that look very similar to cephalopods. Even in dreamscape I was hounded by what I think was likely Cthulhu. There is another entity that has the appearance of a mass of oil slick type tentacles that was revealed to me some during occult work, but I doubt you'd like the answer on who or what that was.

 

Wayne June is a formidable narrator, I suggest this recording to set the tone of your inquiry. Have fun and keep your wits about you! I find that Cthulhu, though a work of fiction has quite the egregore now. 

 

 

 

Edited September 28 by Lala Nila

[Sanity Check]

21 hours ago, Nungali said:

It might be clearer if you cite the Bible passage description of Seraphim you are referring to .

 

All I know of is in Isiah 6 ; 2. 

 

 

 

There is no need as it is an old thing:

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Wind_in_the_Door

 

This book was 1st published in 1973.

 

These books & images have been in christian bookshops for 50 years.

 

 

[Sanity Check]

12 hours ago, Lala Nila said:

 

 

Cthulhu is chained and imprisoned beneath the deep sea at R'lyeh, lying not dead, but dreaming, waiting for "when the stars are right" to return. This also mimics the idea of fallen angels Lucifer/satan, who are imprisoned in hell waiting for The Day of Judgement. In the book of Each and else where fallen angels often have their own cults of worship created around them and are viewed as gods. It's similar with Cthulhu mythos, where humans create cults to worship and venerate this entity, this is evident in the story The Horror of Red Hook, where Cthulhu is worshiped and invoked along side other entities such as Nyarlatholep, Beelzebub, Astarte, etc. 

 

 

 

4th Narnia book which was written in 1953:

 

"That is old Father Time, who was once a King in Overland. Now he has sunk down into the Deep Realm and lies dreaming of all the things that are done in the upper world. Many sink down and few return to the sunlit lands. They say he will wake at the end of the world."

―Mullugutherum^[src]

 

I was thinking there might be references to this in the book of revelation.

 

 Since the giant wakes in a later book and if I remember correctly blows a trumpet. 

 

Of which there are multiple trumpets blown in revelation.

 

 

Quote

 

However, in my own experiences/practices I have seen entities that look very similar to cephalopods. Even in dreamscape I was hounded by what I think was likely Cthulhu. There is another entity that has the appearance of a mass of oil slick type tentacles that was revealed to me some during occult work, but I doubt you'd like the answer on who or what that was.

 

Wayne June is a formidable narrator, I suggest this recording to set the tone of your inquiry. Have fun and keep your wits about you! I find that Cthulhu, though a work of fiction has quite the egregore now. 

 

 

 

 

 

I never read much HP Lovecraft.

 

But what I did read gave me the impression if I read long enough I might see something unusual.

 

Occult work? Haha. I wouldn't know anything about that.

Edited September 29 by Sanity Check

[Nungali]

3 hours ago, Sanity Check said:

 

 

There is no need as it is an old thing:

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Wind_in_the_Door

 

This book was 1st published in 1973.

 

These books & images have been in christian bookshops for 50 years.

 

 

 

I see, so you are not now going off the Bible at all ? 

 

- even though you said you were in the first line of your first  post .  

 

 

 

[Sanity Check]

29 minutes ago, Nungali said:

 

I see, so you are not now going off the Bible at all ? 

 

- even though you said you were in the first line of your first  post .  

 

 

 

 

 

The biblical description of angels is left open to interpretation.

 

There is no exact consensus & hasn't been in forever.

 

Ezekiel contains descriptions which are even more controversial.

[Nungali]

So what is this thread supposed to be about then ? 

[Lala Nila]

19 hours ago, Sanity Check said:

"That is old Father Time, who was once a King in Overland. Now he has sunk down into the Deep Realm and lies dreaming of all the things that are done in the upper world. Many sink down and few return to the sunlit lands. They say he will wake at the end of the world."

―Mullugutherum^[src]

 

Yeah it's a similar concept. I haven't read the Narnia chronicles so I can't say anything of value regarding that.

 

Quote

I never read much HP Lovecraft.

 

But what I did read gave me the impression if I read long enough I might see something unusual.

 

Occult work? Haha. I wouldn't know anything about that.

 

I would suggest reading Cult of Cthulhu, The horror of Red Hook, The Dunwich Horror, The Hound (and many others)- they will provide supporting evidence for your thesis or refute your claims entirely, or maybe help bridge ideas for another theory. Either way the stories are awesome and yes, many people report "high strangeness" after entering the realms of Lovecraft. But more so if you're actively delving into the elements of "Necronmicon" as an esoteric practice, which is entire style of magick, fictional grimoires, Neo grimoires (Kenneth Grant as an example) and egregores associated with his work. There is a ton of fan fiction available as well. 

 

Yeah, I don't know anything about you, so maybe you're into the occult or not, it doesn't matter much to me either way  For me personally, it's the style of writing and the cosmic horror sub genre in general that really appeals to me. Lovecraft gets a lot of flack for being "politically incorrect," but I can look past that and just enjoy great literature.

 

To be honest this thread inspired me to re-read some of Lovecraft's work, so thanks for that! Honestly, if you don't feel like reading, listen to the 2 audiobooks I listed above. There is just something magical in the cadence and tone of Wayne June and his narration style.

 

>> Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn <<

[Lairg]

On 9/28/2025 at 12:51 AM, Sanity Check said:

Could the choice of an octopus representing cthulhu have been biblically inspired.

 

I often observe parasitic entities with tendrils into parts of the target humans.  Rather than refer to a "parasitic entity with tendrils into energy vortices .." it is easier to call it an octopus.

 

Usually people find it easy to match what they sense with the offered paradigm.

 

I once observed a friend visiting her parents.  She was immediately ill - with various parasitic entities attached.  Normally I would tell her to get rid of them using heart light - but on this occasion I could see an armada of octopuses waiting to take the place of those dislodged.

 

My friend recovered quickly when she finished her stay with her parents.

 

 

I suspect that Lovecraft wrote about what he saw.  

  

Edited September 30 by Lairg

[Sanity Check]

Today I stumbled across a biblical reference which may have inspired some to write their own versions of things.

 

Quote

 

The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”  And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.

 

Revelation 9:13-15