The word “chthonic” hails from Greek terminology meaning “of the earth”. It can also be literally translated into subterranean.
Taken literally, this could pertain to anything that is living under the earth, in dark, often unchartered territory. Creatures that live in caves and in the underground could be classified as chthonic.
In common folklore and even in Greek mythology, symbolic chthonic meaning pertains to spirits, gods, goddesses, deities, and other nonhuman creatures that are typically thought to dwell underground.
This may vary from culture to culture. When talking about Greek gods, there are some that are a common theme when talking about chthonic dwellers.
Examples of Chthonic Creatures
There are some animals that are staple in chthonic definitions. You can often find that they are the ones that dwell in dark, dank, and not so pleasant places. Here are some of them.
Bats
Bats are often thought to be nocturnal creatures, and just with this, darkness is already taken as a main part of their character. They are most active and come out at night.
They dwell in moist caves, and are often just hanging around until someone disturbs them.They are quite comfortable in the dark, and they find this to be home to them.
People get freaked out when bats suddenly register their presence, but this is just their natural sanctuary. At night, they can more freely roam around, communicate with each other, and even make noise when they need or want to.
Snakes
The slithering, slimy, stylish temptress from biblical to mythical folklore cannot be missed. Snakes have an elegance and grace that just lets them fit in the dark, scary, untraversed places.
This also adds to their mystery and allure. You often see them wreaking havoc in myth or even in real life – but the snake’s magic, as it sets you free from humanly or earthly concerns and lets you be reborn into soul or spirit, is where its power and pertinence truly lies.
This carries a lot of symbolisms about chthonic meaning – renewal and rebirth, and aptly fits the snake’s identity and connotative meaning.
Snakes are also the creatures closest to the earth, always maneuvering themselves on the ground as they move about from place to place.
The earth, the ground, and the snake are inseparable in folklore, and that is why this creature holds a powerful symbolism in the chthonic meanings.
Rats
Rats are also one of the common nocturnal creatures, and typically only come out at night. They don’t like being seen or moving about in broad daylight.
They have a special connection to the ground, to darkness, to all that it connotes – mystery, havoc, dirt, evil, and the unknown.
This doesn’t mean that they are necessarily bad creatures – but they are always in the midst of the ground, the earth and its meanings, and therefore embody most of its spirit as well.
Chthonic Deities or Gods and Goddesses
Chthonic meanings and connotation originally came from Greek mythology. There are two gods that are often associated with this, and they are also known as a couple – Hades and Persephone. They also represent chthonic meaning and symbolism.
Hades
Hades is known as the god of the underworld. This can be the counterpart of hell in Greek mythology. Here, the spirits of those who have died congregate and serve Hades.
In traditional folklore, Hades rules over a literal underworld – it is underground, with earthy or even darker colors; it is damp, musky, hidden, and hard to find and access; and usually, it is the damned that commonly inhabit.
Persephone
By virtue of being married to Zeus, Persephone also had chthonic qualities, in that she was queen of the underworld. Her lore, however, also included a fertility aspect.
A lot of the symbolism of chthonic meanings and myth also related to fertility. This is because the womb is considered the darkness, and the movement into life – the birth of a being – symbolizes emergence and purpose that is properly lived out. This is also why Persephone is considered deity of fertility.
This fertility doesn’t solely refer to human fertility and pregnancy. In a lot of cultures, Persephone’s fertility also refers to the fertility of the ground, where plants and nourishment for all creatures come about.
This greenness in agriculture symbolizes richness and fulfillment – which are more positive and progressive aspects of the chthonic symbolism and interpretations.
While there are many other gods and goddesses that take on chthonic symbolism and meaning, Hades and Persephone are probably the most popular.
Their relatives, such as Demeter as Persephone’s mother, and Zeus as Hades’ brother, also have chthonic aspects in their personalities.
They do not embody the darkness and the underworld as much as Hades and Persephone do, but they also have chthonic aspects that cannot be denied, and are present in a lot of other stories.
Other Chthonic Symbolisms
The typical connotation when one says the word “chthonic” is that of darkness, fear, and loss of hope.
However, it has many other symbolisms that go deeper and are more restorative that these darker themes. Here are some of the typical chthonic symbolisms.
Conclusion
The darkness symbolizes unrest, discomfort, lack of familiarity, and confusion. Chthonic symbolism is very strong in these definitions – since its meaning is said to be of the earth or subterranean, there is a huge part of it that really connotes all of these typically scarier meanings.
It doesn’t have to be as scary as you think it should, though. You may get lost in the darkness in the beginning, but finding your way amidst the chaos also has a very redemptive aspect to it.
It can be quite fulfilling to know that you have found your way amidst the madness. This is what the darker sides of chthonic symbolism are initially for – to provide the starting point from where you find yourself and define more strongly who you are and what is good in you and in the world.
Rebirth
Rebirth can be purgatory. It connotes the initial aspect of pain, the agony of going from one plane to the next, and the stinging reminder that you are a novice at it all.
You have to learn everything from the beginning, and humble yourself to those who know more, can do better, and are much stronger than you. It is an ultimate nakedness, a fresh start.
However, there are also very redemptive aspects to rebirth. This symbolizes another day, another chance at life, a great starting point for positive momentum, a new direction, an erasure of any previous mistakes, regrets, or guilt and baggage.
You have been through the darkness and you have left it all there. It is time for you to begin a new life and claim the best one yet for yourself.
Renewal
The positivity continues to roll out from here. After your darkness and rebirth into the light, you have the opportunity to bathe and renew yourself every day.
Once you get the hang of it, it will be so much easier for you to continue journeying towards your best personification – reaching for your dreams, for your ultimate self.
In a lot of ways, you continue to experience this every day – your death, your rebirth, and your renewal into a new perspective, which redirects you to a new life.
Every day, you get to refine what you want, how you get there, and how you get to think of the world from the starting point you find yourself in.
Abundance
This also relates to the theme of fertility. Since the chthonic symbolism is of the earth – this is where all new life springs forth.
It may not be as pleasing to the eyes to see mud, darkness, and dirt – but this is the way that nature nurtures all creatures and gives the life that it intends to give so generously. Bathing in this spells abundance, prosperity, and wealth.
Conclusion
Though initial connotation of chthonic creatures as well as symbolisms may actually be a bit creepy, it gets more redemptive as you understand it and live it out more.
It also is an embodiment of the duality we all live – sort of how there is more appreciation for beauty when you see the ugly; or you get to embrace the light so much when you have been trapped in the dark.
It is a way to embrace contrast and differing concepts so that you are able to make peace with even the darkness of your soul and the darkness of the personalities around you.
So the next time chthonic beings and creatures pop up in your presence, or even when you feel eerily grounded as if chthonic spirits are registering their presence – you don’t have to fear. Know that they are guiding you in your life, and that they serve their own unique purpose.
Let this serve as conduits to your abundance, to your deeper appreciation for light, enlightenment, and wisdom, and your tolerance for contrasting events and circumstances in your life.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article !