The god labelled Cernunnos on the Pillar of the Boatmen is
depicted with stag's antlers in their early stage of annual growth.
Both antlers have torcs hanging from them. The lower part of the
relief is lost, but the dimensions suggest that the god was sitting
in the "Buddha position", providing a direct parallel to the
antlered figure on the Gundestrup cauldron.
This "Cernunnos" type in Celtic iconography is often portrayed
with animals, in particular the stag, and also frequently
associated with a the ram-horned serpent, besides association with
other beasts with less frequency, including bulls (at Rheims),
dogs, and rats. Because of his frequent association with creatures,
scholars often describe Cernunnos as the "Lord of the Animals" or
the "Lord of Wild Things". Experts describe him as a "peaceful god
of nature and fruitfulness".
The Pilier des nautes links him with sailors and with commerce,
suggesting that he was also associated with material wealth as does
the coin pouch from the Cernunnos of Rheims (Marne, Champagne,
France)—in antiquity, Durocortorum, the civitas capital of
the Remi tribe—and the stag vomiting coins from
Niedercorn-Turbelslach (Luxembourg) in the lands of the Treveri.
The god may have symbolised the fecundity of the stag-inhabited
forest.
Among the Celtiberians, horned or antlered figures of the
Cernunnos type include a "Janus-like" god from Candelario
(Salamanca) with two faces and two small horns; a horned god from
the hills of Ríotinto (Huelva); and a possible representation of
the deity Vestius Aloniecus near his altars in Lourizán
(Pontevedra). The horns are taken to represent "aggressive power,
genetic vigor and fecundity."
Disclaimer:
Do not approach this series lightly. If this were only a 500'
bushwhack, I would call it hellish. The roots will trip you, the
branches will shred you and poke your eyes, and the insects will
consume you. But it's not 500'. It's over 12 bloody miles! I highly
recommend you bring snake boots, lots of water, long pants, long
sleeve shirt, lots of water, good hat, pokey stick, lots of water,
spare everything, bug spray, lots of water, writing utensils, cell
phone, lots of water.
Did I mention bring lots of water?
You may find a laminated clue slip in this cache. If you do, you
might want to solve the riddle. This will help you locate the Gaia
puzzle cache nearby. Please leave clue slips in the caches you find
them in.
