The Esoteric Order of Dagon is a fictional cult in the Cthulhu mythos of H.P. Lovecraft. In religion and sociology, a cult is a cohesive group of people (often a relatively small and recently founded religious movement) devoted to beliefs or practices that the surrounding culture or society considers to be far outside the mainstream. ... Cthulhu Mythos is the term coined by the writer August Derleth to describe the shared elements, characters, settings, and themes in the works of H. P. Lovecraft and associated writers. ... Howard Phillips Lovecraft (August 20, 1890 – March 15, 1937) was an American author of fantasy, horror and science fiction, noted for combining these three genres within single narratives. ...

Esoteric Order of Dagon in the mythos

Esoteric Order of Dagon was the primary religion in Innsmouth after Captain Obed Marsh returned from the South Seas with the dark religion circa 1838. It quickly took root due to its promises of expensive gold artifacts and fish, which were desired by the primarily-fishing town. Innsmouth is a fictional town in the writings of H.P. Lovecraft and is also part of the Cthulhu Mythos. ...

The central beings worshipped by the Order were the Deep Ones, Father Dagon, Mother Hydra, and, to a lesser extent, Cthulhu. The Deep Ones were seen largely as intermediaries between the various gods, rather than as gods themselves. Even so, the cultists sacrificed various locals to the Deep Ones at specific times in exchange for a limitless supply of gold and fish. A Deep One is a fictional character in the Cthulhu mythos of H.P. Lovecraft. ... // The ancient god Dagon Dagon was a major northwest Semitic god, the god of grain and agriculture according to the few sources to speak of the matter, worshipped by the early Amorites, by the people of Ebla, by the people of Ugarit and a chief god (perhaps the chief god... Mother Hydra is a fictional character in the Great Old Ones pantheon of the Cthulhu Mythos derived from the writings of H. P. Lovecraft. ... Cthulhu (alternate spellings: Tulu, Cthulu, Ktulu, and many others) is a fictional character in the Cthulhu mythos of H.P. Lovecraft[1]. Cthulhu often includes the title Great or Dread. ...

The Esoteric Order of Dagon (which masqueraded as the local Masonic movement) had three oaths which members had to take. The first was an oath of secrecy, the second, an oath of loyalty, and the third, an oath to marry a Deep One and bear or sire its child. American Square & Compasses Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternal organization. ...

The Esoteric Order of Dagon was seemingly destroyed when one of Obed Marsh's lost descendants sent the U.S. Treasury Department to seize the town. As a result, the town was more or less destroyed, and the Order was thought disbanded.

Esoteric Order of Dagon in Media

• In the movie Dagon, the Esoteric Order of Dagon appears as the primary antagonist.

• The Esoteric Order is also featured in many Call of Cthulhu role-playing game supplements.

Call of Cthulhu is a horror fiction role-playing game based on the story of the same name written by H.P. Lovecraft and the so-called Cthulhu Mythos the story inspired. ...

See also

• "The Shadow over Innsmouth"

The Shadow Over Innsmouth is a novella by H.P. Lovecraft, written in 1931. ...

External links

• A group named after the Esoteric Order of Dagon