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LUGUS | LUGH | LLEW | APOLLO | MERCURIUS
For some people, Lugus and Cernunnos are the oldest identifiable Celtic deities. One of Gaul's famous cities is named after Lugus: Lugdunum (current-day Lyon).
But our evidencse is problematic! Unlike for other deities, like Epona or Sucellos, our testimonies consist of rather imprecise manifestation which are widely dispersed across Europe during the pre-Roman and Roman period. If Lugus was really such an important, ancient deity, the question arises why there is not more concrete evidence for his existence! |
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Is there a connection between Lugus and Apollo...?
There are several arguments in favour of this interpretation:
First, there is of course LUGDUNUM (Lyon), founded by Romans and embellished under the emperor Augustus who made Lyon the centre for the imperial cult of the Tres Galliae, with the altar to Roma and Augustus (PECS). Since Augustus' patron deity is Apollo, it is possible that the Romans identified him with Lug/Lugus. The main festival for Lug is the 1st August (see Coligny Calendar) (see Lughnasadh, “Festival of Lugh”). |
In the Middle Ages, we get a similar 'deity' in Irish and Welsh mythology: Lugh and Llew. As always, we need to take care to make comparisons between medieval and ancient testimonies, but the medieval accounts can provide food for thought for our interpretation of the 'original' Celtic god.
Bibliography on Lugus/Lug
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