<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Chthonic (UK: / ˈkθɒnɪk /, US: / ˈθɒnɪk / from Ancient Greek: χθόνιος, translit . khthonios (khthónios), "in, under, or beneath the earth", from χθών khthōn "earth") literally means "subterranean", but the word in English describes deities or spirits of the underworld, especially in Ancient Greek religion . The Greek word khthon is one of several for "earth"; it typically refers to that which is under the earth, rather than the living surface of the land (as Gaia or Ge does), or the land as territory (as khora χώρα does). </P> <P> Chthonic, a form of khthonie and khthonios, has a precise meaning in Greek; it refers primarily to the manner and method of offering sacrifices to a specific deity or deities, generally referred to as chthonic or chthonian deities . These include, but are perhaps not strictly limited to, Persephone and Hades in classical mythology . </P> <P> Nocturnal ritual sacrifice was a common practice in many chthonic cults . When the sacrifice was a living creature, the animal was placed in a bothros (βόθρος, "pit") or megaron (μέγαρον, "sunken chamber"). In some Greek chthonic cults, the animal was sacrificed on a raised bomos (βωμός, "altar"). Offerings were usually burned whole or buried rather than being cooked and shared among the worshippers . </P>

Who were the gods and goddesses who were considered the chthonic gods