Cernunnos Deep Dive
This was a requested deep dive on Hermes, you can request a deep dive on my ko-fi for $5!
Unfortunately not much is known historically about Cernunnos. Scholars seem certain, however, that he was an ancient Gaulish deity.
Let’s get to know this elusive deity!
Parents and Siblings
No attested parents or siblings
Lovers or Partners
No attested partners
Children
No attested children
Epithets
As far as we know, no ancient or historical epithets of Cernunnos have made it through the passage of time. That said, we have some epithets given to him from more modern times.
Lord of Beasts (Anne Ross)
Patron of Prosperity (Anne Ross)
Lord of Animals (Proinsias MacCana)
Lord of Living Beings (David Rankin)
Lord of Beasts and Fecundity (Miranda Green)
The Horned God*
More potential epithets listed in Jess South’s text referenced below.
Keeper of riches
God under the earth
Antlered serpent, Horned serpent
Clearer of paths
Sitter-at-the-crossroads
Sitter-between
Liminal one
God undying
Notes
*In depictions of Cernunnos, his head is notably adorbed with antlers, not horns. This epithet is also the name of the two primary deities of traditional Wicca. It is also shared among many other deities who are depicted with horns.
The name Cernunnos has appeared only once throughout history—on the Pillar of the Boatmen.
Though he is sometimes known as a god of animals or beast, Ceisiwr Serith (or David Fickett-Wilbar) makes the case that although he is depicted on the Gundestrup Cauldron surrounded by animals, only two are looking at Cernunnos, the stag and the dog. Plus there are other deities present on the cauldron.
Cernunnos’ depiction as a “Lord of the Wild” likely comes from his imagery, a man often sitting cross legged and with antlers on his head. This may denote a more spiritual, natural theme for Cernunnos. However, he is not depicted with vegetation or plants
Often depicted wearing a torc, Cernunnos is sometimes considered a god of wealth or fortune. Torcs were known to be a sign of wealth.
He is also seen as a cthonic deity or a psychopomp. Jo Forest makes the case that due to his imagery with snakes—creatures often associated with the underworld—and his relation to the ram due to the ram's horn. Rams were often sacrifices in ancient Indo-European practices.
Cernunnos is likely not a fertility god. This idea may come from his conflation with the Wiccan Horned God, as mentioned earlier.
Cernunnos has been considered to be related to masculinity, but this is also likely due to the conflation with Wicca’s Horned God.
Depictions of Cernunnos with domesticated and prey animals may suggest him being a god of hunting or hunters.
Jess South makes the case further for Cernunnos’ associations with liminality. Between man and animal; hunter and hunted; life and death.
This also points to him possibly being a god of balance or dualities. See Jess South’s “Liminality and Dualities, or “Paired Opposites”’ portion in the text referenced below for more.
Modern Deity Work
Not much is known about Cernunnos or how he was worshipped in the past, but any of the more historically-attested correspondences will have an explanation with them!
Correspondences
Rocks/Stone/Crystals
Gold, silver, copper, iron, and bronze (torcs were made of these metals)
Herbs/Plants
Ferns
Oak
Mushrooms
Mosses
The following plants are associated with liminality, trancework, or hedge-crossing which is why I have included them. Do not consume a plant that you’re unfamiliar with, and be careful touching them. Keep them out of reach of children and pets.
Foxglove
Mugwort
Nightshades
Animals
Stag (depicted looking at him on the Gundestrup cauldron and the silver bowl from Lyons, also he is often depicted with antlers like a stag)
Dog (depicted looking at him on the Gundestrup cauldron and the silver bowl from Lyons)
Ram-horned snake (often depicted holding a snake)
Symbols
Torc (often depicted wearing and holding torcs)
Snake
Antlers
Offerings
Torcs
Imagery of the animals associated with him
Wine
Beer
Antlers
Food
Bones
Feathers
Coins
Acts of Devotion
Explore liminality--what this means is up to you!
Take time to appreciate the balance between man and nature, see how you can participate.
Go hunting--this isn't required but if you're up for it, go for it! Just make sure to do so in an ethical way.
Meditate in the forest, or forest bathe, or just hang out in a woodsy /natural area
Quite frankly, since he is a god heavily associated with liminality, it may be a good idea to test the waters with gender expression!
Read up on him, the following section has a lot of really interesting takes and history on Cernunnos!
Get into cthonic magic
Consider learning more about hedge witchery
References and Further Reading
Cernunnos; An In-Depth Look by Jo Forest
Cernunnos: Origin and Transformation of a Celtic Divinity
Cernunnos: Looking a Different Way by David Fickett-Wilbar
Not Your Mother’s Horned God: The Cernunnos Primer by Jess South (“thebloodybones”)
Britannica
Wikipedia
Mythopedia
ΚΑΡΝΟΝΟΥ: to CARNONOS
