Ghatanothoa

Ghatanothoa the Dark God appears in H. P. Lovecraft and 's story "Out of the Aeons". It is a huge, misshapen monster whose form is so hideous that merely seeing it transforms the viewer into a petrified body with leathery skin and preserved organs. The victim's brain remains alive, going mad from its confinement.

Ghatanothoa lived in the mountains of Mu when that continent existed. It was worshipped by a hundred priests, who possessed great privileges. The job of these priests was to appease the monster so that it would not emerge from its secret lair, endangering the people.

T'yog, a priest of Shub-Niggurath, attempted to save mankind from Ghatanothoa. He obtained a magical scroll to protect him from Ghatanothoa's petrifying power, but the priests of Ghatanothoa replaced it secretly with a powerless imitation.