Antlered deities discovered in
Jutland,
Denmark A recurrent figure in Gaulish iconography is a deity sitting cross-legged with antlers, sometimes surrounded by animals, often wearing or holding a
torc. The name frequently now applied to this deity, Cernunnos, is attested only a few times: on the
Pillar of the Boatmen, a relief in Paris (currently reading ERNUNNOS, but an early sketch shows it as having read CERNUNNOS in the 18th century); on an inscription from
Montagnac (αλλετ[ει]νος καρνονου αλ[ι]σο[ντ]εας, "Alletinos [dedicated this] to Carnonos of Alisontea"); and on a pair of identical inscriptions from
Seinsel-Rëlent ("Deo Ceruninco"). Figured representations of this sort of deity, however, are widespread; the earliest known was found at
Val Camonica in northern Italy, while the most famous is plate A of the
Gundestrup Cauldron, a 1st-century BC vessel found in Denmark. On the Gundestrup Cauldron and sometimes elsewhere, Cernunnos, or a similar figure, is accompanied by a ram-headed serpent. At Reims, the figure is depicted with a
cornucopia overflowing with grains or coins.) is found chiefly in
southern France and
northern Italy.
Apollo Grannus, although concentrated in central and eastern Gaul, also “occurs associated with medicinal waters in Brittany [...] and far away in the Danube Basin”. Grannus's companion is frequently the goddess
Sirona. Another important Celtic deity of healing is
Bormo or
Borvo, particularly associated with thermal springs such as
Bourbonne-les-Bains and
Bourbon-Lancy. Such hot springs were (and often still are) believed to have therapeutic value. Green interprets the name Borvo to mean “seething, bubbling, or boiling spring water”.
Solar deities In Celtic culture, the sun is assumed to have been feminine, and several goddesses have been proposed as possibly solar in character. In
Irish, the name of the sun,
Grian, is feminine. The figure known as
Áine is generally assumed to have been either synonymous with her, or her sister, assuming the role of Summer Sun while Grian was the Winter Sun. Similarly,
Étaín has at times been considered to be another theonym associated with the sun; if this is the case, then the pan-Celtic
Epona might also have been originally solar in nature, and bears some solar traits such as association with the eye as well as epithets associated with light. The theonym
Sulevia, which is more widespread and probably unrelated to Sulis, is sometimes taken to have suggested a pan-Celtic role as a solar goddess. with the wheel and the colours gold, white, and red.
Condatis was associated with the confluences of rivers in Britain and Gaul,
Luxovius was the god of the
sacred waters of
Luxeuil and was worshipped in Gaul.
Dian Cécht was the god of healing to the Irish people. He healed with the fountain of healing, and he was indirectly the cause of the name of the
River Barrow.
Grannus was a deity associated with spas, healing thermal and mineral springs, and the sun.
Horse deities Goddesses , Nancy) The horse, an instrument of
Indo-European expansion, plays a part in all the mythologies of the various Celtic cultures. The cult of the Gaulish horse goddess
Epona was widespread and as noted above, may have solar associations. Adopted by the Roman cavalry, worship of Epona spread throughout much of Europe, even to the city of Rome itself. She seems to be the embodiment of "horse power" or horsemanship, which was likely perceived as a power vital for the success and protection of the tribe. She has insular analogues in the Welsh
Rhiannon and in the Irish
Édaín Echraidhe (echraidhe, "horse riding") and in
Macha, who outran the fastest steeds. A number of pre-conquest
Celtic coins show a female rider who may be Epona. The Irish horse goddess
Macha, perhaps a threefold goddess, is associated with battle and sovereignty. Although a goddess in her own right, she is also considered to be part of
Morrigan, the triple goddess of battle and slaughter. Other goddesses in their own right associated with the Morrígan were
Badhbh Catha and
Nemain.
God Atepomarus in Celtic Gaul was a healing god, and inscriptions were found in Mauvières (Indre). The epithet is sometimes translated as "Great Horseman" or "possessing a great horse".
Mother goddesses , city of the
Aedui in
Gaul Mother goddesses are a recurrent feature in Celtic religions. The epigraphic record reveals many dedications to the Matres or Matronae, which are particularly prolific around
Cologne in the
Rhineland. Iconographically, Celtic mother goddesses may appear singly or, quite often,
triply; they usually hold fruit,
cornucopiae, or
paterae; Lugh is said to have instituted the festival of
Lughnasadh, celebrated on 1 August, in commemoration of his foster-mother
Tailtiu.
Taranis Taranis Jupiter with wheel and thunderbolt, carrying
torcs,
Haute Marne The Gaulish
Jupiter is often depicted with a thunderbolt in one hand and a distinctive solar wheel in the other. Scholars frequently identify this wheel/sky god with
Taranis, who is mentioned by
Lucan. The name Taranis may be cognate with those of
Taran, a minor figure in
Welsh mythology, and
Turenn, the father of the '
three gods of Dana' in
Irish mythology. Wheel
amulets are found in Celtic areas from before the conquest.
Toutatis Teutates, also spelled Toutatis (Celtic: "Him of the tribe"), was one of three Celtic gods mentioned by the Roman poet
Lucan in the 1st century, the other two being
Esus ("lord") and
Taranis ("thunderer"). According to later commentators, victims sacrificed to Teutates were killed by being plunged headfirst into a vat filled with an unspecified liquid. Present-day scholars frequently speak of ‘the
toutates’ as plural, referring respectively to the patrons of the several tribes.
The divine bull Another prominent
zoomorphic deity type is the divine bull.
Tarvos Trigaranus ("bull with three cranes") is pictured on reliefs from the cathedral at
Trier,
Germany, and at
Notre-Dame de
Paris. In
Irish literature, the
Donn Cuailnge ("Brown Bull of Cooley") plays a central role in the epic
Táin Bó Cuailnge ("The
Cattle-Raid of Cooley").
The ram-headed snake A distinctive ram-headed snake accompanies Gaulish gods in a number of representations, including
the antlered god from the
Gundestrup cauldron, Mercury, and Mars. ==Table==