Celtic Gods: The Gaulish God, Giarinus (All-conquering River)

Giarinus
A Gaulish God: All-conquering River

Giarinus is a Gaulish god known from a single inscription found at St-Zacharie, France where he is equated with Roman Mars. This and the god's name indicate that he was probably a local protective deity.



Synonyms:
Gaul: Sacred Earth

Giarinus is known from a temple site dedicated to him, located on the high ground above Pourrières, in the Var region of France (St-Zacharie inscription CIL XII 0332).

The inscription found at this site equates Giarinus with Mars by means of interpretato Romana; thus he would seem to be a martial deity. The deity's name may be derived from the proto Indo-European stem *gweiə- (conquer) and the proto-Celtic *rŒno (large expanse of water). The same noun that gives rise to the name of the river Rhine, thus Gaulis rinus probably means 'river' and Giarinus' name can be interpreted as 'All-conquering River'.



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