title: Introduction to Mythology: Contemporary Approaches to Classical and World Myths
author: Eva M. Thury
description: <br />"<em>Introduction to Mythology</em> is a first-class textbook. I have looked around at many other texts and there are very few with the breadth and depth of this book."--Marjorie Berman, <em>Red Rocks Community College</em>
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The Mythology of Hastur
  
  Carcosa
  
  I sense, on crystal winter evenings
  
  When constellations gleam through black-branched trees, A night-dark star no
  earthly gazer sees
  
  To which some dread malevolently clings.
  
  No star-chart shows it—no—yet slumber brings Its vision from the clustered
  Hyades— Black waters over which a leaden breeze
  
  Wafts the sad song that dead Cassilda sings.
  
  No darker vision greets the sleeper than
  
  That lake, from which the coiling cloud-waves pour To break upon the long
  basaltic shore
  
  Beneath the rays of red Aldebaran—
  
  The lake whence dreamers flee in nameless dread As Hastur rises from his slimy
  bed.
  
  —Richard L. Tierney
  
  HAD August W. Derleth, coiner of the famous term “the Cthulhu Mythos”,
  followed his first inspiration, we might be speaking today of “the Mythology
  of Hastur.” This bit of nomenclature young Augie suggested to H. P. Lovecraft,
  whose bemused response (Hastur hardly figured in any of the stories!)
  punctured the disciple’s balloo