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This is a myth which has perpetuated all across the versus debating community, from Spacebattles to Comicvine to Google+ to everywhere
This is a complete mythology. A complete fabrication to what Lovecraft and the whole original circle.
In April 27, 1937, Lovecraft's assorted letter 4.617 gives this family tree. See that Azathoth "predates" Yog-Sothoth and his progenitor? Well, this letter is obviouly a joke first off because Lovecraft is literally part of the tree too, but furthermore he contradicts it with yet another quote.
This is obviously a joke too, but it proves a point that Lovecraft shouldn't be trusted in his letters and will always contradict himself because he had a weird sense of humor. This family tree is also why Shub Niggurath is claimed to be the strongest outer god, but that is a bunch of bull. The Outer Gods are beyond classical hierarchy and trying to use this family tree to claim Shub's status is ridiculous, especially given people then go on to claim that Nya is the weakest outer god out of nowhere.
However, there is one major myth I must dispell. That Azathoth's awakening will destroy all of the cosmology for all of it is a dream. This is taken from an interpretation of Fungi from Yuggoth, but Fungi from Yuggoth is a poem with metaphor inherently riddled through it and the quote itself is vague for even Lovecraft standards. Does it mean Azathoth dreams of the reality he is subsiding in and is shamblingly asleep and babbling like a sedentary sultan, or is he literally dreaming up the whole reality? The first one is more in line with common descriptions of how he is. Furthermore, the notion that when he wakes up, reality is destroyed, is not from him, but a being written by Lord Dunsay called Mana-Yood-Sushai, the creator god of existence:
And yet it's not even the master of all in its own cosmology:
The notion of the world ending by Azathoth's awakening had nothing to do with Lovecraft's Azathoth, but Dunsay's Mana-Yood-Sushai:
and later on:
And none of this stuff was claimed for Azathoth, but a different character all together. And we don't know why Azathoth was lulled to sleep, rather we do not know based on Lovecraft's works. According to August Derleth, Azathoth was defeated by the combinded forces of the Outer Gods and forced to sleep. The only connection that could be made is that in the Cthulhu RPG game, MANA YOOD SUSHAI is an avatar of Azathoth, but guess what? It's not canon! So... MANA YOOD SUSHAI =/= Azzy.
In fact, if what I hear is true, the notion that Azathoth + wake up = bye bye reality is actually from Demonbane. So if you really want pedobane do dictate the powers of Azathoth, go on with it.
So Lovecraft gives us no real discernable information on Azathoth as to explain his slumber, and using Derleth's fanciful addendums to the Mythos adds characterization contradictory to his position. As such,, there is no proof he is as ineffiably transcendant among his kin as compared to The Creator from Umineko or Gan from The Dark Tower.
I might continue onto why Yog Sothoth is the true supreme being of the Cthulhu Mythos, and how it is supposed to represent the Neoplatonic Subsistence "The One," but here is the main thing.
| '' All of existence is part of its dream, and will be destroyed when it truly awakens. This existence includes beings such as Yog-Sothoth |
In April 27, 1937, Lovecraft's assorted letter 4.617 gives this family tree. See that Azathoth "predates" Yog-Sothoth and his progenitor? Well, this letter is obviouly a joke first off because Lovecraft is literally part of the tree too, but furthermore he contradicts it with yet another quote.
| Has Yog-Sothoth a pedigree? No. He has always existed. Since he has no parents, I've never met 'em. He isn't housebroken, so I generally try to chain him outside. When he sends forth a pseudopodic tentacle (which can pass through the most solid walls) and begins to grope around inside the house, I usually call his attention to something going on in another galaxy——just to get his mind off local things. Yog doesn't always have long, ropy arms, since he assumes a variety of shapes——solid, liquid, and gaseous——at will. Possibly, though, he's fondest of the form which does have 'em. I've never encouraged him to scratch my back, since those whom Yog-Sothoth touches are never seen again...at least, in any recognizable shape. | ||
~ Lovecraft himself |
However, there is one major myth I must dispell. That Azathoth's awakening will destroy all of the cosmology for all of it is a dream. This is taken from an interpretation of Fungi from Yuggoth, but Fungi from Yuggoth is a poem with metaphor inherently riddled through it and the quote itself is vague for even Lovecraft standards. Does it mean Azathoth dreams of the reality he is subsiding in and is shamblingly asleep and babbling like a sedentary sultan, or is he literally dreaming up the whole reality? The first one is more in line with common descriptions of how he is. Furthermore, the notion that when he wakes up, reality is destroyed, is not from him, but a being written by Lord Dunsay called Mana-Yood-Sushai, the creator god of existence:
| Before there stood gods upon Olympus, or ever Allah was Allah, had wrought and rested MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI. | ||
~ Gods of Pegana |
And yet it's not even the master of all in its own cosmology:
| In the mists before THE BEGINNING, Fate and Chance cast lots to decide whose the Game should be; and he that won strode through the mists to MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI and said: "Now make gods for Me, for I have won the cast and the Game is to be Mine." Who it was that won the cast, and whether it was Fate or whether Chance that went through the mists before THE BEGINNING to MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI—none knoweth | ||
~ Gods of Pegana |
| But, when at the last the arm of Skarl shall cease to beat his drum, silence shall startle Pegana like thunder in a cave, and MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI shall cease to rest. Then shall Skarl put his drum upon his back and walk forth into the void beyond the worlds, because it is THE END, and the work of Skarl is over. There may arise some other god whom Skarl may serve, or it may be that he shall perish; but to Skarl it shall matter not, for he shall have done the work of Skarl. | ||
~ Gods of Pegana |
| Whether the season be winter or whether it be summer, whether it be morning among the worlds or whether it be night, Skarl still beateth his drum, for the purposes of the gods are not yet fulfilled. Sometimes the arm of Skarl grows weary; but still he beateth his drum, that the gods may do the work of the gods, and the worlds go on, for if he cease for an instant then MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI will start awake, and there will be worlds nor gods no more. | ||
~ Gods of Pegana |
In fact, if what I hear is true, the notion that Azathoth + wake up = bye bye reality is actually from Demonbane. So if you really want pedobane do dictate the powers of Azathoth, go on with it.
So Lovecraft gives us no real discernable information on Azathoth as to explain his slumber, and using Derleth's fanciful addendums to the Mythos adds characterization contradictory to his position. As such,, there is no proof he is as ineffiably transcendant among his kin as compared to The Creator from Umineko or Gan from The Dark Tower.
I might continue onto why Yog Sothoth is the true supreme being of the Cthulhu Mythos, and how it is supposed to represent the Neoplatonic Subsistence "The One," but here is the main thing.
