The Celtic "horned god", while well attested in iconography, cannot be identified in description of Celtic religion in Roman ethnography and does not appear to have been given any interpretatio romana, perhaps due to being too distinctive to be translatable into the Roman pantheon. [29]

Most Celtic gods, therefore, were clearly equated with a Roman deity. Inscriptions call them by Roman names with local epithets, Roman writers mention local names for their gods, or images combine their symbols.Luxembourg is a country with a rich history of Celtic and Germanic cultures, and it is therefore a significant location for understanding the mythology of Cernunnos. In Luxembourg, Cernunnos is often depicted as a horned god with a torc and a bag of coins, similar to his depictions in ancient Celtic and Gallo-Roman religion. He is also associated with nature, fertility, and the cycle of life and death. Cernunnos and Ritual Practices Given the ambiguous scope of the Horned God in Celtic mythology, there are no recorded myths and ancient literary sources that directly pertain to the figure of Cernunnos. However, the imagery of horns and serpents do play their part in some mythical narratives of ancient Europe. For example, in the 8th-century Irish tale Táin Bó Fraích, the warrior-hero Conall Cernach bypasses a fort to confront a mighty serpent that is guarding the stronghold’s treasure. Cernunnos is a deity from Celtic mythology, known for his association with fertility, animals, wealth, and the underworld. The name Cernunnos is derived from the Gaulish word “karnon,” which means “horn” or “antler.” The word “karnon” is cognate with Latin “cornu” and Germanic “*hurnaz,” ultimately from Proto-Indo-European “*k̑r̥no-.” The etymon “karn-” appears in both Gaulish and Galatian branches of Continental Celtic. So… yeah, it really depends on an individual’s system of belief. Just know that originally, the god Cernunnos was a fairly benevolent dude that played a central role in the lives of ancient peoples across the British Isles. There’s even a belief that Cernunnos sings to the souls of the dead, which – on top of everything else we know – makes it difficult to cast this Celtic horned god in a villainous light. What is Cernunnos’ Role in the Celtic Pantheon? Some historians have suggested that this is because Cernunnos was so foreign to the Romans that they could see no similarities. This idea is challenged, however, by the fact that the Romans had no such issues with claiming other unique gods in Europe, Egypt, and the Near East.

Cernunnos was a powerful and archaic deity in Celtic religion. His attributes were generally consistent across different parts of the Celtic world. Cernunnos worship was wide and he was worshipped as the “lord of wild things.” The following sub-sections explore some of the associations and symbolic meanings of Cernunnos. Nature and Animals The Pillar of the Boatmen, like many monuments from Roman Gaul, honors both native and Roman gods. Cernunnos appears alongside other Gallic deities like Esus and Smertrios as well as familiar Roman deities such as Jove (Jupiter), Fortuna, and Vulcan. An artifact from the ancient Indian city of Mohenjo-Daro depicted a character with striking similarities to Cernunnos, a horned bearded figure surrounded by animals. The image, which appears on the Pashupati seal, may have depicted the god Shiva or Rudra; alternatively, it may have simply been an archetypical Middle Eastern god of the wild that bore similarities to Cernunnos. Pop Culture Saint Ciaran of Saighir is said to be the first saint born in Ireland and is one of the island’s Twelve Apostles. In addition to having a similar name, Ciaranus in Latin, the saint is also closely associated with the forest. Symbol of the Hunter and the Hunted. Modern Druidry, which derives from Celtic culture, honors Cernunnos in his ancient Celto-European form as the guardian of the forests, the defender of the animal tuatha (tribes), the source of the deep forest wisdom, and the masculine half of creative energy. His restorative work in the cycle of the year is particularly celebrated at Beltaine, and is often paired with one or another of the female deities in her maiden aspect. Druids may call upon him in reference to vital, non-violent masculine divinity.

Ancient Horn Dance That Has Survived Until Now

This may be why the shipmakers of Paris included Cernunnos on their pillar. Their ships allowed for the trade that brought gold and other valuables to Gaul from around the known world, making the god of wealth one of their most important deities. A Possible Irish Link Green, Miranda (1992). Animals in Celtic Life and Myth. Routledge. pp.227–8. https://ceisiwrserith.com/therest/Cernunnos/cernunnospaper.htm Damage to the pillar left the lower part of the god’s body missing, but based on the size and position of his head, it is usually assumed he was seated. This is in keeping with many other images found throughout the region. Cernunnos was a pretty powerful god. As suggested by his realms, Cernunnos had complete influence over fertility, death, and the natural world. He could give life as much as he could take it away. Since he had a specific power over male animals, it wouldn’t be too far off to say he had a role in animal husbandry as well. Is Cernunnos a Good God?

Phyllis Fray Bober, "Cernunnos: Origin and Transformation of a Celtic Divinity," American Journal of Archaeology 55 (1951), p. 15ff.The exact details of how Cernunnos was worshipped in ancient times are not well-known, as much of the original mythos surrounding him has been lost. However, it is believed that he was worshipped as a mediator between man and nature, and that he was associated with the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. What is the role of Cernunnos in modern pagan traditions? While no myths of Cernunnos survive, some historians believe that he influenced more well-known legends of later cultures. A possible earlier example of this is from an elaborate silver cauldron found near Gundestrup, Denmark. Usually dated to the 1st century BC, it shows a seated figure with antlers holding a torc and a snake, surrounded by deer, bulls, and canines.