Belenus

Belenus, Latinized form of Benelos, Belinos, was a Celtic god who was equated by the interpretatio romana with the Roman god Apollo. After Epona he is the most mentioned by ancient authors Celtic deity. Because of the spread of the dedications is believed that Belenus counts for Urbestand the Celtic religion.

Etymology and Mythology

For the interpretation of Belenus as a healing deity speaks the etymology as "Source God " ( Celtic * Guelenos to Indo-European * - guelH, also compare low- high German " sources "). The earlier research conducted its name from the root * bhel - ( " light ", " lights " ) from. It is however also a derivation from the Celtic word for the hallucinogen Henbane belenuntia, bellinuncium, bellenium. For the connection to the Henbane is also suggested that this in Latin apollinaris herba ( " Apollo herb" ) is called. The inferred root * belenio - is still in the Spanish and Portuguese Beleño velenho (both means " henbane " ) to find. The composite name Cunobelinus and Lugobelinos ( welsh Cynfelyn or Llywelyn ) is the first part of word in each case a metaphor for " Warrior ", the second can mean the henbane as a drug to increase the pugnacity, the former may also be called " dog Belinus ".

The early Christian writer Tertullian wrote ( at 200) that each province had its own deity, in Noricum this was Belenus. This is also an inscription in Virunum was found. Most dedicated to Belenus inscriptions are from the Eastern Alps, Northern Italy and Southern Gaul. From the northern Italian region of Venetia, especially around the city of Aquileia, several inscriptions have survived. Each one of these inscriptions instigated the emperor Diocletian ( 284-305 ) and Maximian ( 286-305 ) the Belenus ( Beleno ). When Emperor Maximinus Thrax ( 235-238 ) in 238 besieged the city of Aquileia, to have seen his soldiers as Belenus ( Βέλεν ) seemed to defend the city from the air. Six other inscriptions from northern Italy were found in Iulium Carnicum, Iulia Concordia and Altinum.

In southern Gaul is on a gem from Nîmes ( Nemausis, Gallia Narbonensis province ) in Greek characters, and on a stone from Narbonne ( Narbo also Gallia Narbonensis ) each to find in Latin writing a dedication. The poet Ausonius ( 4th Century ) also reported from a temple of Belenus in Burdigala (now Bordeaux). However, modern research suggested that he had chosen the name of the God only of poetic reasons. More answers are on a Gallic inscription in Greek letters from Saint- Chamas ( RIG I G -28), and probably on two partially destroyed boards from Marseille ( Massilia ) ( RIG I * G -24) and Saint- Rémy -de- Provence ( glanum ) ( RIG - I G 63).

Relationships with other Celtic deities and heroes like the Gallic goddess Belisama, the Cymric Beli Mawr and the Irish Bile are suspected but can not be proven. The term Bel- fire at the Beltane ceremonies could refer to Belenus and Beli Mawr.

Belenus were probably several villages the name, so the lying in Aquileia Beligna and possibly also the Swiss Biel / Bienne ( a.1142: Belna * Belena ).

It is discussed whether Belenus is directly related to the three Bölchen. Perhaps these three mountains and Anhöhungen observation points were at the course of the winter and summer solstice, as well as the day and night are equal. This is not scientifically proven.