The name Taranis derives from the Celtic (or Indo-European) root taran meaning thunderer or thunder. The above bronze figurine was found in Le Chatelet, France and is dated to the 1st to 2nd century BCE. It shows a wise, patriarchal being holding a lightening bolt and a solar wheel. As one who grew up in the Western traditions, this figure is almost instantly recognizable as Jupiter, only the solar wheel giving away the fact that this is a Celtic and not a Roman figure. The oldest known coherent account of the Celtic pantheon is Caesars, who lists their major deities, defining their respective functions briefly though clearly. Unfortunately, Caesar does not give their Gaulish names, only their Roman equivalents. The first to be mentioned is Mercury, the most highly revered among the Gauls and presumably corresponding to Lugh, the supreme lord. Then comes Apollo, said to drive away disease, then Minerva, who transmits the principles of arts and crafts, then Jupiter, who rules over the skies, and finally Mars, who oversees war. Scholars agree that these deities correspond to the three main functions of the Indo-European system: the sacred (Jupiter), war (Mars), and productivity (Apollo and Minerva). (Kruta et al., p. 132) The association of Taranis with Fire is clear from the above figure and Caesars words., the fire of the skies, the Sun, and the fire of the air, lightening and its voice thunder, giving the God his name, Taranis. Elsewhere we find Jove complete with wheel, thought to represent the Celtic god of thunder, Taranis, who, hurling his wheel through the clouds, unleashed the terrible din. He turns up in classical styles which must surely be official. A link is thus established from the little ritual wheels of the Bronze and Iron Ages to the Gundestrup cauldron, and to representations of the Empires. theapricity/forum/showthread.php?783-Taranis-God-of-Thunder
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 02:54:31 +0000
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