Celtic Gods: The Brythonic god, Ialanus (God of the Glade)

Ialonus
A Gaulish and Brythonic God: God of the Glade

Ialonus is a Gaulish god known from two inscriptions found at Nîmes, France and Lancaster, England where he is equated with Contrebis. He seems to have been a god of clearings and settlements and the genius locus of the Calunum fortress where the inscription to him was found.



Synonyms:
Bryth: God of the Glade

Ialonus is known from two inscriptions, the first found at Nîmes in France (CIL XII 3057), where his companion is the goddess Fortuna. An altarstone to this deity has also been found at the Roman fort of Calvnivm, Lancaster, England. The inscription itself (RIB 600) reads DEO IALANO CONTRE SANCTISSIMO IVLIVS IANVARIVS EM EX DEC V S which is translated as 'To the most sacred and inimical god Ialanus Contrebis, Julius Januarius, Emeritus, former Decurion, has fulfilled his vow.'

In this inscription he is associated with the deity Contrebis though whether this is a true association of the two deities or simply an ajectival use of contrebis (he who dwells amongst us) cannot be known for certain. However, Ialonus' name contains the element Ialo- (glade or clearing) and his name can be interpreted as 'God of the Glade'. As such he may have been a pastoral deity associated with cltivated clearings. Though his associations may have been with clearings in general. Indeed, his name seems to be an element in the name of the Calunum fortress and the river Lune on whose banks it sat. Thus it may be that Ialonus was the genius locus of the place and this is why he 'dwelt amongst' the inhabitants.



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