god of apple trees and the sun
worshipped in the Garonne valley
depicted with: horse; wheel (which may indicate that he was believed to pull the sun through the sky on a horse-drawn chariot)
his name may refer to either 'white'/ 'grey' (-> the sun) or 'strong'/ 'powerful', it may also have connections to the psychoactive plant henbane
often (but not always) equated with Apollo
worshipped from Italy to Britain (but mainly on the Adriatic coast) alongside the goddess Belisma
see also: Grannus, Maponos
goddess of healing and (healthy) water
associated with boiling springs (her name means 'boiling')
worshipped and southern and eastern France
associated with boiling springs (his name means 'hot spring'/ 'warm source')
sometimes equated with Apollo
worshipped in (south- to north-eastern) France, as well as in the Netherlands, Portugal and Germany
goddess of healing, wisdom, poetry, smithcraft and domesticated animals
her name means 'the exalted one'
worship of her is now mostly associated with the British Isles
god of healing (especially healing minerals)
associated with hot springs and the sun
sometimes connected to Sirona
probably equated with Apollo
worshipped in i.e., Germany (Aachen) and France (Auvergne, Limoges)
her name means 'good fountain'
the healing spring of Sablon at Metz (France) and the Altbachtal temple in Trier (Germany) are connected to her
patron god of Nîmes where a healing spring associated with him exists
the Nemausicae or Matres Nemausicae were also worhsipped there; they are fertility and healing goddesses
goddess of healing and fertility
associated with hot springs and the sky (her name means 'star'. 'astral')
depicted with a snake and eggs
sometimes equated with Diana, at times worshipped in conjunction with Grannus
worshipped in the Moselle Valley in particular
see also: Belenus, Damona, Lenus, Sequena
potentially the companion of Belenus as their names are derived from the same root
worshipped in France (Provence, Ariège) and possibly also in Britain
goddess of springs and wells
sometimes compared to the Norse goddess Sága
worshipped in the Pyrenees region
goddess (or spirit) of wells and rivers
often depicted as her lower body being that of a serpent or fish
There are many legends about her in France, the Benelux countries, Germany and Britain connecting her to Avalon and describing her as a shapeshifter who can turn into a dragon, serpent or mermaid
worshipped in France, the Benelux countries
sea goddess of trading, shipping, and possibly horticulture and fertility
disputed origin and unclear meaning of her name
her name has been interpreted as meaning 'close', 'to lead' or 'salt'/ 'sea'/ 'she who is at the sea'
often depicted as a seated young woman, with marine objects (i.e., ship parts), benign-looking dogs, a basket of apples, sacrificial loaves of bread
worshipped in Zeeland (in the Netherlands), Germany (Cologne)
Her name is generally thought to mean 'that of the ford'. But sometimes it is also interpreted as 'that of the course'/ 'crossing the river' (-> ferrymen) which may be linked to the importance of divine assistance/ protection when crossing water.
goddess of healing: effigies of the affected body part were thrown into the river of quick recovery
she rides a duck/ duck-shaped boat on the river Seine
see also: Bormana, Nantosuelta
worshipped in Germany (Trier), Luxembourg, the Moselle region
his name may mean 'champion'
worshipped in north-eastern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Britain
'battle crow', or 'fighting'/ 'victory'
related to Irish goddess Badb Catha (who foresees the fate of warriors before they go into battle), as well as potentially Nike (Greek) and Sigyn (Norse)
worshipped in eastern France, Austria, Slovenia
Some sources speak of a charm that was used to evoke Esus to cure throat troubles.
depicted as cutting branches from a tree with an axe, at times alongside Tarvos Trigaranus (the 'bull with three cranes') which may indicate that he was also a god of vegetation; The tree may symbolise the tree of life symbolising destruction, death in winter and rebirth in spring.
Possibly, human sacrifices were made to Esus by tying someone to a tree and flogging them to death.
potentially forms a triad with Teutates and Taranis
compared to Odin and Mars
local god of the Ardennes (France)
Not much is known about Intarabus, but it is suggested that he is a war god.
war god (protector in battle)
healing god (providing good health and general good fortune)
associated with Mars (defender of the lands and even against diseases)
worshipped in Germany, south-western Britain
name interpreted as 'black', 'to break' or 'to swear an oath'
depicted with birds (especially raven and rooster), horses, tree of life, dogs, wolves, a caduceus (staff with wings and two snakes winding around it carried by Hermes), mistletoe, shoes, bags of money; often armed with a spear and accompanied by Rosmerta
connected to Lugh: warrior, king, craftsman and saviour associated with oaths, truth and the law in Irish mythology
worshipped in France (Lyon which used to be called Lugdunum meaning 'fort of Lugus', Nîmes, Auvergne), Spain, Switzerland, Britain
name means 'most royal'/ 'king of kings'
worshipped in France, Britain
depicted with a wheel and often with a beard; The (chariot) wheel (with six or eight spokes) is an important Celtic symbol often associated with a specific wheel god (a sky, sun or thunder god). Also, archaeologists found many four-spokes wheel pendants which are also known as 'sun crosses'.
His name refers to 'thunder'.
(Human) sacrifices were made to him by drowning or burning.
worshipped in France, Iberian peninsula, Britain, Ireland, Germany, the Danube region
tribal protector; his name means 'people' or 'tribe'
sacrifices were made to him by plunging the victims head-first into some kind of liquid
equated with Mercury (sometimes Mars)
worshipped in France, Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, Britain, northern Italy
goddess of the hunt, the moon and wildlife
Her name means 'river' or 'water'.
equated with Diana/ Artemis
worshipped in Switzerland, Germany (especially the Black Forest region)
goddess of forests and hunting
depicted as riding a wild boar
possibly equated with Diana/ Artemis
worshipped in France (particularly the Ardennes region), as well as Belgium, Luxembourg and possibly Germany and Italy
bear god (his name means 'bear')
equated with Mercury, possible link to King Arthur/ Gwydion
depicted as seated, a bowl of fruit in her lap, facing a bear
possibly equated with Diana/ Artemis
worshipped in France, Switzerland, Germany
god of nature, animals and fruitfulness
His name means 'horn' or antler'
associated with deer, forests, stags, horned serpents, dogs, bulls and rats
often depicted cross-legged, with antlers, wearing or holding a torque, sometimes holding a bag of coins or grains and a cornucopia
He guides the diseased into the afterlife. He is the god of travel, commerce and bi-directionality (mediator between opposites).
associated with Herne the Hunter
worshipped in France, Luxembourg, Britain
goddess of animals, fertility, healing and abundance
Her name has been interpreted as 'divine crow'.
depicted with a crown of stalks of grain and a snake curling around her hand
worshipped in France (especially Burgundy)
Her name is translated as 'Great Mare'.
also interpreted as fertility goddess due to her depiction with a patera, cornucopia, ears of grain and foals
depicted sitting on a horse, some say she is the horse
possibly a guide for souls on their journey to the afterlife
worshipped in the eastern Alpes region, Germany, Italy, Iberian peninsula, Britain, Luxembourg, France
god of youth and the hunt, possible also fertility and light
depicted as harper standing opposite a Celtic Diana-huntress figure
equated with Apollo and Mabon
worshipped in France, Britain
goddess of nature (earth, fire, water), fertility, home and hearth, abundance, the Otherworld and the dead
Her name is interpreted either as 'she of the winding river' or as 'she of the sun-drenched valley'.
depicted with a bird's house/ a small house (or temple) on a staff, bees and bee hives, apples, a raven, sometimes together with Sucellus
comapared to The Morrígan
worshipped in the Rhine and Moselle regions
god of hunting and forestation
depicted with a bow and shield, sometimes accompanied by a dog; occasionally associated with nuts, acorns, pine cones
his name is a combination of 'sub'/ 'under' and 'force'/ 'victory'
worshipped around Mont Donon (the highest peak of the northern Vosges in eastern France)
see also: Brigindo, Esus, Sucellus
mother goddess, goddess of birth and midwifery
depicted with infants, small dogs and a fruit basket
associated with a freshwater spring at Trier (Germany)
worshipped in Germany, France, Switzerland
triple goddess depicted as three women holding baskets of fruit and flowers, a cornucopia, or nursing infants
protector of children, animals, hearth and home
compared to the Welsh goddess Modron (mother of the god Mabon), equated with Terra Mater
worshipped throughout continental Europe (especially Rhine region)
goddess of wealth, business and success as well as fertility
Her name means 'the Great Provider'
depicted with a cornucopia, purse, patera, basket of fruit
god of good fortune, the woodland and agriculture (fertility), and possibly the underworld
known as 'the good striker' referring to his hammer; When someone is dying, he can put them out of their misery. When he uses his hammer to hit the ground, it creates prosperity.
depicted with his hammer, but also with a large pot filled with food (likely potatoes) and sometimes alcohol, sometimes depicted alongside Nantosuelta
associated with Silvanus and the Irish god Dagda
triple goddesses of fertility with connections to solar and mother aspects
possibly connected to water/springs or the home
worshipped in Germany (Trier)
see also: Aericura, Cernunnos, Damona, Epona, Maponos, Nantosuelta, Nehalennia, Sirona
goddess of the underworld, fertility, earth
Her name may mean 'she who cares about the copper' or 'protector in battle'
depicted with a basket of apples, a cornucopia, occasionally depicted with Ogmios or accompanied by a wolf or dog
equated to Prosperina and Hecate
worshipped in Germany, Slovenia, Italy, Britain, France
mountain god of earth and underworld
His name means 'rock'/ 'boulder' or 'whitebeam'/ 'alder'
worshipped in France (Burgundy, Aix-en-Provence)
god of communication, eloquence, persuasion, runes
His name is translated as 'sharp', 'stone', 'vault' or 'path'/ 'guide' referring to him leading souls to the afterlife
depicted as wearing a lion skin and wearing a bow or club; He has long chains (of gold or amber) in his smiling mouth that pierce his tongue and are attached on the other end to the ears of a group of men who follow him happily which indicates that he is a binding god.
compared to Heracles and Oghma, the Irish god of eloquence and poetry
worshipped in France, Austria
see also: Nantosuelta, Sucellus
Genius cucullatus (genii cucullati)
protective hooded spirits
Their religious significance is not entirely clear. They may be fertility spirits as sometimes they carry shapes that may be eggs (symbolising life and rebirth). They may also be connected to some kind of warrior cult carrying swords or daggers.
depicted as cloaked figures, usually in triple deity form
worshipped in Germany, Britain
Not much is known about this god. Only one single inscription was linked to him, found on a bronze figurine of a prancing horse. His name may refer to the colour red.
A lot of knowledge we have about Gaul deities stems from the Romans and their equation of them with Roman deities. The list below is a (by no means comprehensive) list of Gaulish deities some of which were worshipped only in one particular place or region while others were worshipped from the Iberian peninsula to the north of Britain. (Therefore, some of the deities can be found both in Gaulish and other Celtic culture. Also, many Roman gods - who are not listed her - were later on integrated into the Gaulish pantheon.)
As there was no single Gaulish nation but many different tribes, these deities were not worshipped by all Gauls, and some of them "overlap" - that is, you will find several sun/war/fertility deities.
Some sources suggest that the Celts' (including the Celts of Gaul) religion/ faith was centred around forces or aspects of nature rather than deities resembling humans. It was only with Romanisation that a shift from animism to anthropomorphic polytheism occurred. Thus, this list is not a complete illustration of Gaulish faith but rather a brief overview of some deities without further explanation of their context.
