Hyperborean cycle
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The Hyperborean cycle is a series of short stories by Clark Ashton Smith that take place in the fictional prehistoric setting of Hyperborea (present-day Greenland). Various elements in Smith's cycle have been borrowed by H.P. Lovecraft, most notably the "toad-god" TsathogguaLovecraft wrote to Smith in a letter dated 3 December 1929: "I must not delay in expressing my well-nigh delirious delight at The Tale of Satampra Zeiros [Smith's short story]... [W]hat an atmosphere! I can see & feel & smell the jungle around immemorial Commoriom, which I am sure must lie buried today in glacial ice near Olathoe, in the Land of Lomar!" (Cf. Selected Letters III, pp. 87–8, Sauk City, WI: Arkham House, 1998. ISBN 0-870-54032-7.) Soon afterward, Lovecraft included Smith's Tsathoggua (which originally appeared in "The Tale of Satampra Zeiros") in the story "The Mound", ghostwritten for Zelia Reed (Zelia Bishop) in December of 1929. Lovecraft also mentioned Tsathoggua in "The Whisperer in Darkness", which he began on February 24, 1930. (Schultz, "Notes Toward a History of the Cthulhu Mythos", pp. 16–17, note #6.). Because Smith in turn borrowed numerous Lovecraftian elements, the cycle itself may be regarded as a branch of the Cthulhu MythosIn a letter to August Derleth dated 26 July 1944, Smith wrote: "In common with other weird tales writers, I have ... made a few passing references (often under slightly altered names, such as Iog-Sotot for Yog-Sothoth and Kthulhut for Cthulhu) to some of the Lovecraftian deities. My Hyperborean tales, it seems to me, with their primordial, prehuman and sometimes premundane background and figures, are the closest to the Cthulhu Mythos, but most of them are written in a vein of grotesque humor that differentiates them vastly. However, such a tale as The Coming of the White Worm might be regarded as a direct contribution to the Mythos." (Schultz, "Notes Toward a History of the Cthulhu Mythos", p. 29, note #46)..
The Hyperborean cycle mixes cosmic horror with an Iron age-style setting. Adding to the peril is the rapidly approaching ice age, which threatens to wipe out all life on the Hyperborean continent. Azathoth is the supreme deity of the cycle, followed by Cxaxukluth, Azathoth's spawn. A host of other deities, many of whom are related to Azathoth, play important roles in the cycle; foremost is the toad-god Tsathoggua, who dwells in Mount Voormithadreth.
Hyperborea
Hyperborea is a legendary continent in the Arctic. Before it was overwhelmed by the advancing ice sheets of the Pleistocene age, Hyperborea was warm and fertile with lush jungles inhabited by the last remnants of the dinosaurs. A race of yeti-like bipeds known as the Voormi once populated Hyperborea, but were wiped out by the pre-human settlers that migrated here from the south. These pre-humans built the first capital of Hyperborea at Commoriom. Later they moved to Uzuldaroum when prophesies foretold of Commoriom's doom.
Gods
Tsathoggua
The early settlers of Hyperborea at first worshipped the toad-god Tsathoggua, the patron deity of the Voormi. Later, they turned to more conventional deities — primarily, Yhoundeh, the elk-goddess.
Yhoundeh
Yhoundeh (the elk-goddess) is the name of the deity worshipped in the waning days of Hyperborea. Yhoundeh's priests also banned Tsathoggua's cult, and her inquisitors punished any heretics. As the Hyperborean civilization drew to a close, Yhoundeh's priests fell out of favor and the people returned to the worship of Tsathoggua.
Yhoundeh is said to be the fissal spawn of the elk-spirit Zyhumé, who dwells beneath Voormithadreth in the Cavern of Archetypes.[[Citing sources citation needed]] According to the Parchments of Pnom, Yhoundeh is the wife of Nyarlathotep, avatar of the Outer Gods.Clark Ashton Smith letter to Robert H. Barlow dated September 19, 1934 (Will Murray, "The Book of Hyperborea Introduction").
Cities
Commoriom
Commoriom was the first seat of power in Hyperborea, established by the pre-human migrants from the south. In its heydey, Commoriom was a grand city, built of marble and granite and marked by a skyline of altitudinous spires.
Legend has it that the populace fled Commoriom when the White Sybil of Polarion foretold of its destruction. However, Athammaus, headsman of Commoriom, disputes this claim and attributes the abandonment to the increasingly loathsome depredations of the horrid outlaw Knygathin Zhaum.
Uzuldaroum
Uzuldaroum became the capital of Hyperborea after the populace left Commoriom. The city lies a day's journey from the former capital. It was the last population center in Hyperborea before glaciers overwhelmed the continent.
Geographical locations
Eiglophian mountains
The Eiglophian mountains are a terrifying range of ebon peaks, said to be "glassy-walled", and are believed to be honeycombed with hidden tunnels. The Eiglophian mountains cross the middle of the Hyperborean continent, with one range stretching to the south and another to the east.
Mount Voormithadreth
Mount Voormithadreth is a four-coned extinct volcano and is the tallest peak in the Eiglophian mountains. It is the dwelling place of various horrors, including the toad-god Tsathoggua and the spider-god Atlach-Nacha (his colossal web is here, too).
Y'quaa
The gray-litten cavern of Y'quaa is the dwelling place of Abhoth, the Source of Uncleanliness. It is indirectly connected with the Cavern of Archetypes. Atlach-Nacha originated here. Y'quaa might be the true home of the enigmatic Ubbo-Sathla.
Cavern of Archetypes
The cavern of the Archetypes is a vast cavern inhabited by the spectral archetypes of all life on this earth. Nug and Yeb reside here. This bizarre place may have been the original dwelling-place of Yig and Mappo no Ryûjin[[Citing sources citation needed]]. The archetypes are most likely the spawn of Ubbo-Sathla[[Citing sources citation needed]].
Notable denizens
Voormi
The Voormi are the bestial humanoids that once occupied Hyperborea. After most were wiped out by pre-human settlers, the most savage Voormi became restricted to caves in the upper slopes of the Eiglophian mountains. Before Hyperborea's fall, the remaining Voormi were hunted for sport.
The Voormi may be the sentient creations of the people of K'n-yan, but that is highly debatable.
Citizens
Athammaus
Athammaus was the headsman of Commoriom before its fall. He was also one of the last to leave the city when the population fled to Uzuldaroum. Afterwards, he recorded a chilling testament of Commoriom's final days.
Athammaus was descended from a long line of headsman. A consummate professional, Athammaus always took great pride in his skill and never shirked his official duty. His career came to an abrupt end when he faced the task of executing the outlaw Knygathin Zhaum. (Moreover, it is likely that Athammaus became an unwitting pawn in Knygathin Zhaum's sinister designs.)
Eibon
Eibon was a sorcerer and priest of Zhothaqquah (Tsathoggua). He holds renown as the writer of the Book of Eibon, a tome that, among other things, chronicles Eibon's life, and includes his magical formulae and rites of Zhothaqquah. He lived in a five-story, five-sided tower made of black gneiss that stood beside the sea on Mhu Thulan. Eibon disappeared shortly after Yhoundeh's premier inquisitor, Morghi, came to his black tower with a writ for his arrest.
When the inquisition came knocking, Eibon fled to Cykranosh (the planet Saturn) through a magic panel given to him by Zhothaqquah. Eibon was never again seen on Earth after that. (When Morghi vanished close on the heels of Eibon, many believed that he was in league with the sorcerer all along and so is largely responsible for the decline in the worship of Yhoundeh.)
Satampra Zeiros
Satampra Zeiros was the master thief of Uzuldaroum. His exploits are legendary. He lost his right hand during a failed venture to loot the deserted city of Commoriom (though his companion Tirouv Ompallios suffered a worse fate).
See also
References
Primary sources
Bibliography
The following short stories are considered part of Smith's Hyperborean cycle:
- Coming of the White Worm, The (1941)
- Door to Saturn, The (1932)
- House of Haon-Dor, The (1933) [story fragment]
- Ice-Demon, The (1933)
- Seven Geases, The (1934)
- Tale of Satampra Zeiros, The (1931)
- Testament of Athammaus, The (1932)
- Theft of the Thirty-Nine Girdles, The (1958)
- Ubbo-Sathla (1933)
- Weird of Avoosl Wuthoqquan, The (1932)
- White Sybil, The (1935)
Books
Secondary sources
Books
Journals
- West Warwick, RI: Necronomicon Press.
Web sites
- (Online version of the "Introduction" to The Book of Hyperborea ISBN 0-9408-8487-9.)
Notes
External links
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