Y'ha-nthlei: City of the Deep Ones in Art

Although R'lyeh gets most of the attention given to sunken city's in H.P. Lovecraft's universe, Y'ha-nthlei has also inspired modest fascination in art, film, and post-Lovecraft fiction. It was first described in "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," and hinted at in associated stories - a majestic hub for the Deep Ones, not far from tainted Innsmouth. As repugnant as Lovecraft makes his underwater denizens, he doesn't hesitate to give Y'ha-nthlei a brilliantly divided aura of frightful awe, drawn from his own rich appreciation for vanished civilizations in antiquity. "Many-columned" Y'ha-nthlei is said to have "...a phosphorescent palace of many terraces, with gardens of strange leprous corals and grotesque brachiate efflorescences."

"Devil Reef" by Alan M. Clark

In many ways, Y'ha-nthlei's position as an alien and degenerate Atlantis makes up for the truly weird charm it lacks, which Lovecraft applies to other places, such as R'lyeh and its irrational geometry. Discussing Y'ha-nthlei can only begin with a look at its gateway (or, at least, its chief outpost and point for human contact), the Devil Reef. This monstrous trading post, where Captain Marsh first made deals with the Deep Ones in the 19th century, should be considered an outgrowth of Y'ha-nthlei, whether it's truly connected by geography or not. Artists like Alan M. Clark have seized on Devil Reef's importance to the whole Deep One Mythos, re-created haunting scenes from Lovecraftian history on canvass.

"Y'ha-nthlei" by ZS3 (Deviantart)

Getting down to the undersea metropolis, one realizes that artists have unchained their imaginations and techniques, letting them loose in pursuit of a sincere Lovecraftian aesthetic. The intentional ambiguity regarding the city means some will see only ruins, while others imagine magnificent temples under the waves. The imposing palaces mentioned by Lovecraft are rendered in full color, or with haunting realism thanks to artful modifications to real cathedrals.

"The Deep Ones" by Chiselgrind (Deviantart)

Still art isn't the only medium to provide immortality to Y'ha-nthlei. Stuart Gordon's film, Dagon, which is a modernized re-telling of "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" set in Spain, shows us a dark stand in for Y'ha-nthlei as the movie's narrator, like Lovecraft's, gives himself over to the madness of his non-human heritage. The city, and others like it spread across the globe, have been unveiled in fiction as well. Stephen Jones' Shadows Over Innsmouth anthology collects the most sophisticated expansions to the Deep Ones and their civilization, written by talents like Ramsey Campbell, D.F. Lewis, Neil Gaiman, and many more. Not surprisingly, the Deep Ones and their underwater base have fortified their place in Lovecraftian humor as well. No where can this be seen better than in Kenneth Hite's children's book, Where the Deep Ones Are.

Despite a cult following in art and fiction, Y'ha-nthlei, barring some new treatment that goes viral among fans, will likely remain in the shadows for the near future. This, however, won't last. It's only a matter of time before many others realize the fantastic potential of further illuminating the Deep Ones' civilization, including the urban seat of their batrachian reach in the Americas.

-Grim Blogger