Etymology The
theonym Grannus is a latinized form of Gaulish
Grannos. The same stem appears in the personal names
Grania,
Grannia,
Grannicus, and
Grannica, as well as in the place names
Grignols (from an earlier *
Granno-ialon 'Grannus' clearing'),
Aquae Granni (>
Aachen), and
Granéjouls. Its etymology remains debated. The name could be connected to
Proto-Celtic *
grand-
/grend-, meaning 'beard' (cf. Middle Irish
grend, Middle Welsh
grann 'chin, beard, cheek', Middle Breton
grann 'eyebrow'), although some scholars have pointed that the god is never actually portrayed with a beard. Old French
grenon ('small beard'), Old Spanish
greñon ('beard') and Occitan
gren ('moustache') are derived from an earlier *
grennos, that is supposed to be Gaulish, but the vocalism is difficult to reconcile with the other forms. An alternative etymology connects the name to a reconstructed form *
gra-snó- (whr-snó
-), which could be related to Proto-Celtic *gwrīns-
/gwrens-'', meaning 'heat' (cf. Middle Irish
grīs 'heat, glow, embers', Middle Welsh
gwres 'heat [of the sun, fire], passion, lust'). Scholar Jürgen Zeidler contends that this would be a "probable reference to the sun's heat and its healing properties". In early twentieth century scholarship, the theonym was often compared with the Old Irish
grían ('sun'), which, according to linguist
Ranko Matasović, should be derived from Proto-Celtic *
gwrensā (>
Primitive Irish *gwrēnā).
Epithets At
Monthelon, Grannus is called
Deus Apollo Grannus Amarcolitanus ("The one with a piercing or far-reaching look"), and at
Horbourg-Wihr Apollo Grannus Mogounus. In all of his centres of worship where he is assimilated to a
Roman god, Grannus was
identified with
Apollo, ==Centres of worship==