Cthulhu is a fictional cosmic entity created by author H.P. Lovecraft. It first appeared in the short story "The Call of Cthulhu." Cthulhu is often described as a monstrous, ancient being with a humanoid shape, but possessing tentacles on its face. It lies dormant beneath the ocean in the sunken city of R'lyeh, awaiting its eventual return to wreak havoc on humanity. Cthulhu is a central figure in Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, representing cosmic horror and the insignificance of humanity in the face of incomprehensible cosmic forces. The character has become an iconic symbol of horror in popular culture.