Shub-Niggurath

A deity worshipped by an ecstatic fertility cult, and often revered together with other eldritch deities.

Shub-Niggurath was spouse of Yog-Sothoth and mother of Nug and Yeb [HPL Family (online text)].

While traveling in K'n-yan, Zamacona encountered a shrine of Shub-Niggurath, the All-Mother and wife of the Not-to-Be-Named One. The Mound (online text) narrator compares Shub-Niggurath to a "sophisticated Astarte." Astarte was an ancient Semitic goddess; the comparison suggests a cult of fertility, which is consistent with the epithet "All-Mother." Zamacona, a pious Catholic, found the rites of Shub-Niggurath to be repulsive, most especially the emotional sounds uttered by the celebrants. [HPL Mound (online text)]

According to Von Junzt's Nameless Cults, Shub-Niggurath was worshipped in ancient Mu as the Mother Goddess and the Goat with a Thousand Young. A copper temple was dedicated to her. T'yog, the High Priest of Shub-Niggurath, regarded her as one of the gods friendly to humanity, and felt inspired by her to try to vanquish the malignant cult of Ghatanothoa. T'yog also counted on the help of Shub-Niggurath's sons; these might perhaps be the deities Nug and Yeb, whom T'yog also regarded as friendly to man. [HPL Aeons (online text)]

During a May-Eve ritual recorded outside a Vermont cave, a human and an Outer One voiced praises to several deities, including Shub-Niggurath. The fragmentary text includes references to Shub-Niggurath as the Black Goat of the Woods and the Goat with a Thousand Young. There are also references to the Lord of the Woods; the reference to Woods might imply that the Lord of the Woods is a male aspect or paramour of Shub-Niggurath [Whisperer (online text)].

On Walpurgis-Eve, Alonzo Typer saw worshippers within a cromlech chanting "Iä! Shub-Niggurath! The Goat with a Thousand Young!" [Diary (online text)].

Devotees of arcane cults tend to call out to Shub-Niggurath whenever they get excited. There is a startling lack of continuity to these interjections, which often pop up in conversations or writings that otherwise seem unrelated to Shub-Niggurath. It is almost as if the phrase implies devotion and awe for all the elder deities, rather than merely Shub-Niggurath. Thus,

In the midst of a Necronomicon passage describing Yog-Sothoth and the Old Ones (2), Alhazred wrote "Iä! Shub-Niggurath!" [Dunwich (online text)].
In his diary, Daniel Morris wrote the exclamation "Iä! Shub-Niggurath!" [Man (online text)]. Morris had a copy of the Book of Eibon, so perhaps he had read of Shub-Niggurath in that book.
While mourning the death of Marceline Bedard, the Zulu witch-woman Sophonisba shouted the name of Shub-Niggurath [Medusa (online text)]. She also appealed to Cthulhu, which suggests that one can be devoted to both deities.
While speaking of Rhan-Tegoth, George Rogers blurted "Iä! Shub-Niggurath! The Goat with a Thousand Young!". Later, when promising a sacrifice to Rhan-Tegoth, Rogers called out the same phrase. [Museum (online text)]
Dr. Alfred Clarendon burst out "Iä! Shub-Niggurath!" while arguing with Surama [Test (online text)].
In one of his interdimensional dream travels, Walter Gilman heard or exclaimed the phrase "Iä! Shub-Niggurath! The Goat with a Thousand Young!" [WitchHouse (online text)].

Even the victims of the eldritch cults sometimes blurt out the same invocation, as if expressing fear or awe, or perhaps unconsciously verbalizing things they had witnessed and could not forget:

While speaking of his trip to the pit of the shoggoths, Edward Pickman Derby exclaimed "Iä! Shub-Niggurath!" Again when he felt that Asenath Waite trying to pull his soul from his body, he called the name and epithet of Shub-Niggurath. [Doorstep (online text)]
Heaton exclaimed "Iä! Shub-Niggurath!" in his ravings after returning from K'n-yan [Mound (online text)].

Shub-Niggurath in Derleth Stories

Of the Great Old Ones

Shub-Niggurath, the black goat of the woods with a thousand young, is one of the Great Old Ones (3) or Ancient Ones (2) or Old Ones (5), who rebelled against the Elder Gods (1) [AWD Gable (online text), Seal (online text), Survivor (online text), Valley (online text), Witches].

Fertility Deity

Shub-Niggurath is a fertility deity or symbol [Keeper, Island, Lurker, Seal (online text)].

Mixed Gender

Shub-Niggurath is sometimes regarded as a male god or a being of indeterminate gender. Thus, Seneca Lapham referred to Shub-Niggurath as a "god or goddess" of fertility. [Lurker]

One passage from the Necronomicon is variously translated as saying that Shub-Niggurath shall spawn "its" thousand young [Keeper] or "his" thousand young [Curwen]. A similar passage from the R'lyeh Text refers to "his" thousand young [Sky].

Another Necronomicon passage refers to "his" hideousness [Lurker].

Earth Elemental

Shub-Niggurath is one of the earth beings [Dweller, Island] and dwells within the earth [Curwen].

Offspring

Shub-Niggurath has hideous offspring that also dwell within the earth. [Curwen]

And Nyarlathotep

Upton Gardner speculated whether the Dweller in Darkness manifesting in the Wood of N'gai might be Shub-Niggurath; but it later became clear that this being was actually Nyarlathotep [Dweller]. Gardner's confusion may have arisen from the fact that Shub-Niggurath and Nyarlathotep are both earth beings.

A similar confusion occurred when Marius Phillips interpreted Sylvan's notes as saying that Shub-Niggurath is the Messenger of the Gods [Seal (online text)]. We can assume that this was a mistake, since elsewhere the term "Messenger of the Gods" always refers to Nyarlathotep.

Rivalries

The amorphous spawn who serve Nyarlathotep and Shub-Niggurath have a bitter rivalry with the Flame Creatures of Cthugha [Curwen]. This might result from their being associated with different elements (earth versus fire).

Shub-Niggurath's Return

The R'lyeh Text predicts that when the Great Old Ones (3) return, Shub-Niggurath shall spawn his thousand young [Sky].

The Necronomicon says that Shub-Niggurath shall return and multiply in his hideousness [Lurker]; also, that Shub-Niggurath shall spawn its thousand young, and they shall spawn in turn and take dominion over all nymphs, satyrs, leprechauns, and the Little People [Curwen, Keeper, Lurker].

Cult

Asaph Gilman said that the cult of Shub-Niggurath is less wide-spread than the cult of Cthulhu [Gorge].

Wilbur Akeley saw an alien planet where a circle of worshippers around a stone tower cried Iä! Shub-Niggurath! [Gable (online text)].

Other Mentions

Wilbur Akeley worried that Shub-Niggurath might be able to come through the interdimensional gable window [Gable (online text)].

Letters hailed Septimus Bishop in the name of Shub-Niggurath [Middle].

Ambrose Dewart called the name of Shub-Niggurath while walking in his sleep [Lurker].

Dan Harrop heard the name Shub-Niggurath in his mind [Whippoorwills].

Sylvan Phillips wrote of Shub-Niggurath in his notes [Seal (online text)].

Ward Phillips (1) wrote of Shub-Niggurath in his fictions [Lamp (online text)].

A worshipper in the Wood of N'gai called out to Shub-Niggurath [Dweller].

Other Sources

Simon Maglore asked old farmers if they had heard of Shub-Niggurath [RB Mannikin].

Willie Osborne heard a buzzing voice chanting to "shub nigger" [RB Notebook (online text)].

Albert Keith dreamed of creatures worshipping Shub-Niggurath. Reverend Nye spoke of Shub-Niggurath to his congregation [RB Strange].

A cursed amulet caused a man to exclaim the name of Shub-Niggurath. [FBL Awakening].

A new obelisk was erected in Old Dethshill Cemetery with a drawing of a horrendous goat. Boys heard "Shub Niggurath" chanted from beneath Elmer Harrod's house and later from a tunnel that lead from that house [JVS Dead].

Aka: All-Mother; Black Goat of the Woods; Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young; Goat with a Thousand Young; Lord of the Woods; Mother Goddess.

Compare with: Niguratl-Yig.

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