Celtic Gods: The Gaulish and Brythonic God, Graius (God of Corn or God of Warmth)

Grannus
A Gaulish God, also nown as Granus, Grannos: God of Corn or God of Warmth

Grannus (Granus, Grannos) is a Gaulish and Brythonic god known from over 29 inscriptions found in Britain, Germany, Austria, Italy, Romanias, Ftance, the Netherlands and Spain. He is always associated with healing sprimgs and may be a god of the warmth of these springs.



Synonyms: Granus, Grannos
Gaul, Bryth: God of Corn or God of Warmth

Grannus is a deity known from inscriptions across the Brythonic world, though very little is actually known about him and his cult. Inscriptions to Grannus have been found in Germany (14 sites), Spain (1 site), France (4 sites), Hungary (1 site), Italy (1 site), Romania (1 site), Spain (1 site) and Sweden (1 site). As Granus he is known from Austria, Romania and Britain. In Britain Grannus/Granus is known from inscriptions found at Thetford in Norfolk, Inveresk in Midlothian and Musselburgh where he is invoked as Grannos. However, insular representations may represent a Gaulish import of his Cult.

The centre of the Grannus cult seem to lie in modern Germany. More specifically, it was centred around the Aquae Granni (now Aachen). Indeed, all the temples and sited dedicated to Grannus are associated with healing springs. Which may explain the equation of Grannus with Apollo by interpretato Romana. Grannus' consort is often Sirona, herself a goddess of healing springs.

The god is still remembered in a chant sung round bonfires in Auvergne. A sheaf of corn is set on fire, and called "Granno mio," while the people sing, "Granno, my friend; Granno, my father; Granno, my mother." Etymologically the name Grannos may be related to the proto-Celtic root grƒno- (grain) or *gwrensƒ- (heat). For a deity of healing or thermal springs a neame meaning heat would make sense, however, a meaning derived from grain cannot be entirely excluded as Celtic agricultural deities were often syncretized with Apollo by interpretato Romana. Of course the two etymologies need not be entirely incompatible in that the heat of the summer sun is needed to ripen corn.



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