Nodens (Cthulhu Mythos)
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Nodens (nickname: Lord of the Great Abyss, Nuada of the Silver Hand) is a fictional character, one of the Elder Gods from the pantheon of H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. His physical form is that of an elderly human male, gray-bearded and hoary, but still vital and strong, with white hair; he's often riding in a chariot formed from a huge sea shell pulled by some great beast. As a hunter, he will chase down evil creatures in the Dreamlands such as Shantaks. He prefers the servants of the Great Old Ones or Nyarlathotep because they offer the best sport and often are very intelligent, not necessarily because he wants to help humans being attacked by them.
- And upon dolphins' backs was balanced a vast crenelate shell wherein rode the grey and awful form of primal Nodens, Lord of the Great Abyss... Then hoary Nodens reached forth a wizened hand and helped Olney and his host into the vast shell.
Nodens is served by the Nightgaunts.
Lovecraft had been inspired by one of his favourite writers, Arthur Machen. In the novel The Great God Pan Machen described a fictitious late Roman inscription, hinting that Nodens is actually identical with the titular Great God Pan.
- On the side of the Pillar was an inscription, of which I took a note. Some of the letters had been defaced, but I do not think there can be any doubt as to those which I supply. The inscription reads as follows:
DEMOMNODENi PLAvISSENILSPOSSVit PROPERNVPtias quasVIDITSVBVMBra
- "To the great good Nodens (the god of the Great Deep or abyss) Flavius Senilis has erected this pillar on account of the marriage which he saw beneath the shade"
Machen probably was inspired by findings at Lydney Park, in Glouchestershire, where was found an extensive temple complex dedicated to Nodens.
Nodens also makes an appearance in the PlayStation Game Persona 2: Eternal Punishment as a summoned creature.
Nodens was also a Celtic deity worshipped in Britain.
External links
- The Great God Nodens (http://www.cafes.net/ditch/nodens.htm) Description of Machen's Nodens