Chthonic - Revision history

Squashua at 22:30, 2 February 2006

2006-02-02T22:30:35Z

Squashua at 20:41, 31 January 2006

2006-01-31T20:41:11Z

PoC at 12:05, 11 January 2006

2006-01-11T12:05:08Z

New page

:''For other uses of the term "chthon", see [[chthon]].''
----
In [[mythology]] '''chthonic''' (from [[Greek language|Greek]] χθονιο&sigmaf;-pertaining to the [[earth]]; earthy) designates, or pertains to, [[deity|gods]] or [[spirit]]s of the [[underworld]], especially in [[Greek mythology]].

Greek ''khthon'' is one of several words for "earth"; it typically refers to the interior of the [[soil]], rather than the living surface of the land (as does ''[[gaia (mythology)|gaia]]'' or ''ge'') or the land as territory (as does ''khora''). It evokes at once abundance and the grave.
{{Greek myth (earth)}}
Its pronunciation is somewhat awkward for [[English language|English]]-speakers — for this reason, many [[American English|American]] [[dictionary|dictionaries]] recommend that the initial "ch" should be [[silent letter|silent]]. However, most other dictionaries, such as the [[Oxford English Dictionary|OED]], state that the first two letters should be pronounced "k".

==Corinthian and Olympian==
While terms like "Earth deity" have rather sweeping implications in English, the words ''khthonie'' and ''khthonios'' had a more precise and technical meaning in Greek, referring primarily to the manner of offering sacrifices to the god in question.

In the typical chthonic cult, the animal victim was slaughtered into a ''bothros'' "pit" or ''megaron'' "sunken chamber". In the cult of the [[Twelve Olympians|Olympian gods]], by contrast, the victim was sacrificed onto a raised ''bomos'' "[[altar]]". Chthonic deities also tended to favor black victims over white ones, and their offerings were usually burned whole or buried rather than being cooked and shared among the worshippers.

Horror author [[Brian Lumley]] applied the term "[[Chthonian]]" for a [[list of fictional species|fictional species]] in his contributions to [[H. P. Lovecraft]]'s [[Cthulhu mythos]].

==Cult type versus function==
While chthonic gods and goddesses had a general association with [[fertility]], they did not have a [[monopoly]] on it, nor were Olympian gods wholly unconcerned from the earth's prosperity. Thus [[Demeter]] and [[Persephone]] both watched over aspects of the fertility of land, yet Demeter had a typically Olympian cult while Persephone had a chthonic one.

Even more confusingly, Demeter was worshipped alongside of Persephone with identical [[rite]]s, and yet was occasionally classified as an "Olympian" in poetry and myth.

==In between==
The categories Olympian and Chthonic were not, however, hard and fast. Some Olympian gods, like [[Hermes]] and [[Zeus]], also received chthonic sacrifices and tithes in certain locations. The deified heroes [[Heracles]] and [[Asclepius]] might be worshipped as gods or chthonic heroes, depending on the site.

Moreover, a few deities are not easily classifiable under these terms. [[Hecate]], for instance, was typically offered [[dog|puppies]] at [[crossroads]] — not an Olympian sacrifice, to be sure, but not a typical offering to Persephone or the heroes, either. But because of her underworld functions, Hecate is generally classed as chthonic.

[[Category:Greek mythology]]

Original Wiki source: [http://en.wikipedia.org/ Wikipedia]

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 Moreover, a few deities are not easily classifiable under these terms. [[Hecate]], for instance, was typically offered [[dog|puppies]] at [[crossroads]] &mdash; not an Olympian sacrifice, to be sure, but not a typical offering to Persephone or the heroes, either. But because of her underworld functions, Hecate is generally classed as chthonic.
-[[Category:Mythos Vade Mecum]]
+[[Category:Cthulhu Mythos]]
 Original Wiki source: [http://en.wikipedia.org/ Wikipedia]

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 Moreover, a few deities are not easily classifiable under these terms. [[Hecate]], for instance, was typically offered [[dog|puppies]] at [[crossroads]] &mdash; not an Olympian sacrifice, to be sure, but not a typical offering to Persephone or the heroes, either. But because of her underworld functions, Hecate is generally classed as chthonic.
-[[Category:Greek mythology]]
+[[Category:Mythos Vade Mecum]]
 Original Wiki source: [http://en.wikipedia.org/ Wikipedia]