Origins | Ancient pantheistic and polytheistic belief systems worldwide |
Subject | The Old Ones |
Influence | Involvement in rise and fall of advanced ancient cultures • Breakthroughs in science, technology, and the occult |
Attributes | Alien-like beings with vast, godlike abilities |
Description | Enigmatic, powerful entities that have profoundly influenced human civilization |
Current Status | Dismissed as myth by some, actively worshipped by secret societies and cults |
The "Old Ones" is a term used to describe a pantheon of enigmatic, powerful entities that are believed to have profoundly influenced the course of human civilization for millennia. Originating from ancient pantheistic and polytheistic belief systems around the world, the Old Ones are described as alien-like beings of vast, godlike abilities who have directly interacted with and manipulated humanity through various means.
The true nature and origins of the Old Ones remain deeply mysterious and widely debated. However, based on ancient texts, archaeological evidence, and modern investigation, a few key characteristics are generally accepted:
The Old Ones are not traditional deities or gods, but rather highly advanced, non-human entities of immense power and intelligence. Some describe them as "cosmic beings" or "transdimensional entities."
They are believed to originate from outside the known physical universe, perhaps from parallel dimensions or alternate planes of existence. Their realm is often referred to as the "Outer Realms."
The Old Ones possess abilities that far surpass human limitations, including complete shapeshifting, mind control, and the manipulation of physical and metaphysical phenomena.
They are driven by an utterly alien agenda and psychology that is fundamentally incomprehensible to the human mind. Their motives and loyalties, if any, remain deeply uncertain.
Numerous Old Ones are described in ancient texts, each with distinct characteristics and domains of influence. Among the most widely referenced are Cthulhu, Yog-Sothoth, Azathoth, Shub-Niggurath, and Nyarlathotep.
Across the world, ancient civilizations from the Sumerians to the Mayans have left behind evidence of the Old Ones' enduring influence on human history. This includes:
Additionally, numerous researchers have uncovered tantalizing evidence suggesting the Old Ones may have played a role in shaping key technological and scientific breakthroughs throughout history, from the sudden advancement of ancient astronomy to the emergence of radical new philosophical movements.
Despite being dismissed as mere myth by many in the modern era, the Old Ones remain the subject of intense fascination and speculation. Numerous secret societies, occult groups, and cults around the world are believed to actively worship and attempt to summon these enigmatic entities, driven by their own inscrutable agendas.
Chief among these organizations is the notorious Black Brotherhood, a global network of esoteric practitioners dedicated to serving Nyarlathotep, the so-called "Crawling Chaos." Other prominent Old Ones cults include the Sons of Yog-Sothoth, the Esoteric Order of Dagon, and the Brotherhood of the Beast.
The rituals, sacrifices, and other abhorrent practices of these cults have often been linked to seemingly inexplicable disasters, disappearances, and supernatural phenomena throughout history. The full scope of their influence and the Old Ones' ongoing impact on the modern world remains a deeply unsettling mystery.
As unsettling phenomena continues to be documented around the world, the need to unravel the true nature and origins of the Old Ones becomes increasingly pressing for researchers and the public alike. Their role in shaping human civilization, for better or worse, may be far more extensive and consequential than previously imagined.