The Sarnath-Innsmouth Connection: Are the Beings of Ib Just Primordial “Deep Ones”?

(Disclaimer: this post contains afflliate links)

In my last entry, we discussed the lore of the Deep Ones of Innsmouth legend. Interestingly, there is another creature which cannot remain anonymous that is involved in even more esoteric and ancient lore written about in ‘The Doom that Came to Sarnath.’ Is it possible these Creatures of Ib are actually just the primordial denizens of Y’ha-nthlei? Are they perhaps a cousin species? Purists would say they’re distinctly different, but let’s look at the facts.

The Squamous “Family Tree”: A Physical Comparison

Feature	The Beings of Ib (from Sarnath)	The Deep Ones (from Innsmouth)
Hue	Green as the lake and the mists	Greyish-green and glossy
Eyes	Bulging and staring	Bulging, lidless, and unblinking
Mouth	Pouting, flabby lips	Wide, thin, “fish-like” lips
Limbs	Webbed paws and feet	Webbed hands and feet
Voice	Voiceless	Croaking, rasping speech

The physiological similarities and shared aquatic habitats of these two species suggest a common phylogenetic origin. The inhabitants of Ib are described as having bulging eyes and a devotion to the water-lizard Bokrug; this ‘batrachian’ description mirrors the Deep Ones’ prominent eyes and grayish-green skin. It is possible that these are not two distinct species, but rather different cultural interpretations of the same amphibious entity. While their behavior toward humanity diverges—one seeking isolation and the other seeking hybridization—their biological roots appear identical.

Interaction With Humanity

The most compelling contrast lies in how these two ancient races interact with humanity. The Deep Ones seek hybridization, infiltrating human bloodlines to create a new, subservient race in places like Innsmouth—essentially a hostile takeover from within. In contrast, the beings of Ib were largely reclusive and peaceful until the citizens of Sarnath, driven by xenophobia, slaughtered them and drove them into the lake.

It was only through a long-gestating curse that their revenge was realized. This raises a fascinating question: is the ‘rising tide’ of the Deep Ones the final coup de grâce delivered by the same forces the beings of Ib once worshipped? Perhaps a lingering primordial memory survives within the Deep Ones—a deep-seated grudge that drives them to conquer humanity before humanity can once again attempt to extinguish them.

The Primordial Link

Indeed, I would argue that the Beings of Ib represent a ‘primordial’—or perhaps even a ‘degenerated’—iteration of the Deep Ones. They are mute, confined to freshwater, and bow to the lizard-god Bokrug. The Deep Ones, by contrast, possess the power of speech, inhabit vast undersea metropolises, and serve Cthulhu through a sophisticated strategy of eugenic subversion followed by a total flood.

While Lovecraft never explicitly codified this link, the thematic architecture is undeniable. Given that much of his Dream-Cycle is mythological in nature, ‘The Doom That Came to Sarnath’ functions as a perfect antediluvian origin story. It depicts an era where this amphibious race was still localized and vulnerable, providing the historical trauma that would later fuel the Deep Ones’ global, hostile expansion.