Ancient Secrets: Cthulhu and Islamic Urban Legends

H.P. Lovecraft’s development of cosmic horror was significantly influenced by his youth spent reading Arabian folklore and Orientalist literature, resulting in fictional works that share structural and thematic similarities with real Islamic occult texts like the Shams al-Ma'arif. Concepts such as incomprehensible, multi-faceted entities like Bahamut parallel the Cthulhu Mythos, while the Sufi idea of an intermediate realm called Barzakh reflects Lovecraft’s use of dream dimensions and the fragile veil between realities. These connections are further mirrored in contemporary Middle Eastern urban legends regarding subterranean civilizations and Yemen's "Well of Hell," illustrating a cultural fascination with ancient secrets and the terrifying nature of the unknown.