Cernunnos/Herne The Hunter
15" x 30" Acrylic on Gallery Canvas
15" x 30" Acrylic on Gallery Canvas
Cernunnos/Herne The Hunter
15" x 30" Acrylic on Gallery Canvas
15" x 30" Acrylic on Gallery Canvas
Cernunnos was a Gaulish Horned God of the Forests. Originating in modern day France, he is a God of The Wild Things and a Lord of the Trees. -A Keeper of Wisdom and Shamanic secrets, Cernunnos is a peaceful God of Nature, and a mediator between opposites.
For me, I found I connected to the idea of a wise, hermit-like and holy figure in the wilderness, bestowing wisdom to the worthy. I saw a relationship between him and my Gaia and Green Man paintings, and determined I should include him in my series.
He is frequently depicted sitting cross legged, wearing a stag's antlers over his head, often sharing space on found artifacts with other Greek/Roman gods, including Apollo and Mercury.
It has been suggested that the sitting pose he is frequently found in, is a transmission of the Lotus Pose, in Buddhist/Indian belief systems. He is usually accompanied by either a dog or a stag, and sometimes has snakes near him as regular companions. There is little more known of this mysterious Nature god, beyond his name, his origin, his disposition, and the company of Gods he tended to be friendly with, in his time.
For me, I found I connected to the idea of a wise, hermit-like and holy figure in the wilderness, bestowing wisdom to the worthy. I saw a relationship between him and my Gaia and Green Man paintings, and determined I should include him in my series.
He is frequently depicted sitting cross legged, wearing a stag's antlers over his head, often sharing space on found artifacts with other Greek/Roman gods, including Apollo and Mercury.
It has been suggested that the sitting pose he is frequently found in, is a transmission of the Lotus Pose, in Buddhist/Indian belief systems. He is usually accompanied by either a dog or a stag, and sometimes has snakes near him as regular companions. There is little more known of this mysterious Nature god, beyond his name, his origin, his disposition, and the company of Gods he tended to be friendly with, in his time.
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Below is the Lyon Cup, found in Lyon France, depicting Cernunnos as a reclining figure with a deer and dog
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A younger-looking Cernunnos on an altar (also found in France), depicted here sitting between two genii, standing on top of serpents
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Cernunnos
on a Terracotta fragment (late 1800's) 
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In later years other, similar horned figures came to be associated with Cernunnos.
-He is connected to Hern the Hunter (first introduced in 1597, with Shakespeare's 'The Merry Wives of Windsor'), and has also been connected with leading the Wild Hunt.
In the Wild Hunt, he keeps good company with the likes of Odin and various semi-historical figures, also credited with leading this fanciful chase across the sky.
-He is connected to Hern the Hunter (first introduced in 1597, with Shakespeare's 'The Merry Wives of Windsor'), and has also been connected with leading the Wild Hunt.
In the Wild Hunt, he keeps good company with the likes of Odin and various semi-historical figures, also credited with leading this fanciful chase across the sky.
