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Cernunnos

mythology series #4

By Ravena Published 3 years ago 3 min read
2
Cernunnos
Photo by Geran de Klerk on Unsplash

Cernunnos was a Gaelic horned god of the wild, beast, fertility, and prosperity. He is a very mysterious god, with not too many details known about him. His original mythology has been lost. He is originally found in ancient Gaul many gods are very similar to him including Pan from ancient Greece.

Cernunnos translated to "horned one" and isn't used solely for the Gaelic god. Cernunnos is also used for horned gods whose stories are also lost.

He often looked like a bearded man with antlers and is associated with the white stag. he is usually seen holding a horned snake which is why he has been believed to be a god of fertility.

His name has only appeared once in Paris but no stories of him have survived. The most famous image of him, which may not even be him, was found on the Danish Gundestrup Cauldron both are from about 1 century BCE. The god on the cauldron looked similar to many Celtic horned gods found in ancient Celtic artifacts.

In neo-paganism, he has become very popular, most often known as Kernunnos. He has been very popular to a point where the Christian church gave satan his look and said they were one and the same because if that he is still associated with satanism even know the world has become more religiously tolerant.

Its also been said that he is a god of sailors and of the seas but I have only heard that once.

In Wicca, he is a very popular god and is seen as the nature god who is in a sacred marriage with the goddess, in this marriage he makes love to the goddess on the summer solstice, dies on the autumn equinox, and is reborn in the winter equinox then grows and marries the Goddess on the spring equinox.

He is the oldest of horned gods and is seen as the protector of nature and of animals. He is the inspiration for Herne the Hunter with is seen in Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor. It's believed Herne the Hunter is a ghost from Briton mythology but I haven't found proof of that.

in my personal view, I see him as a very male and masculine god and also a kind and compassionate god. I often think that anyone who loves animals is a kind and compassionate person and he is the god of the animals. I see him as a fertility god as well because he is so masculine and is surrounded by many masculine and phallic symbols. I see him as a God of abundance and prosperity, now for this, I don't have a reason to see him as a prosperity god it just seems to fit for me.

In my research about deities, Cernunnos is by far the hardest because he doesn't actually have any legends or myths because they have been lost in history. I have nothing to follow on him except what's believed about him now and what resonates with me.

I find it so so sad that everything about him has been lost but in a way, he is a story of resurrection and rebirth because he is this god that no one can find anything about, and yet he is now so popular in current neopaganism so he's made a complete comeback to modern-day worship. but of course, I do completely wonder if it's correct or if were are wrong on who he really is and what's believed of him. look at pan he's mischievous so Cernunnos may not be a mature nature god that is often believed. Maybe after all he is a sea god we don't know but we do know he is a very special god to make the come back he's made.

religion
2

About the Creator

Ravena

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