Celtic Gods: The Brythonic God, Callirius (King of the Woods or Lord of the Hazelwood)

Callirius
A Brythonic God: King of the Woods or Lord of the Hazelwood

Callirius is a Brythonic god known from a single inscription found on a bronze plaque discovered at Colchester, England where Calirius is equated with the Roman god, Silvanus. This, along with the interpretation of the meaning of Carririus' name suggests the he was a hunter deity, particularly associated with stags.



Synonyms:
Bryth: ?King of the Woods, ?Lord of the Hazelwood

Callirius is a deity known from a single inscription found at Camulodunum, Colchester, England that occurs on a bronze plaque that was found in a pit near a rectangular shrine. The inscription reads DEO SILVANO CALLIRIO D CINTVSMVS AERARIVS VSLM (To the god Silvanus Callirius, Decimus Cintusmus, coppersmith, willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow).

Etymologically Callirius may be related to the Cymric word coll (hazel), htus making the name 'Lord of the Hazelwood' as suggested by Rachel Bromwich in Pagan Celtic Britain. An alternative origin is from the Cymric word celli (woods) which would make Callirius: 'King of the Woods'. The equating of Callirius with Silvanus a woodland and hunter deity makes this latter aetiology seem more likely and the function of Callurius would probably be very similar to Silvanus'. A postulation that is supported by the discovery of a bronze stag figurine in the same pit as the Callirius inscription, which may imply that the god was regarded as a deity who protected stags and the hunters of stags.



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