He was invoked at
Saint-Andéol-en-Quint and
Rochefort-Samson (
Drôme), and at
Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne. The name "Rudianos" means 'red', reflecting the warlike nature of the god. At Saint-Michel-de-Valbonne there was also found a
prehistoric image of a mounted war-god, dating to the 6th Century BC, who could perhaps be Rudianos himself. The
menhir-shaped stone depicts a roughly incised figure of a horseman, with an enormous head, riding down five severed heads. The iconography is evocative of the head-hunting exploits of the
Celts, who hung the heads of their battle victims from their saddles, according to classical writers. == References ==