Celtic Gods: The Gaish and Basque god, Ilunus (The Dark One)

Ilunnus
A Gaulish and Basque God: The Dark One

Ilunnus is a Gaulish and Basque god known from nine inscriptions found in south-western France. In one of these vinscriptions he is equated with Roman Hercules and may be an aspect of Ogmios, the dark god of war and eloquence.



Synonyms:
Gaul, Basque: The Dark One

Ilunnus is a god known from several inscriptions found in the region of south-western France. Three insciptions to Ilunni deo [CIL XIII 11013a, ILTG 115 and AE 1927,152] are known from Montauban-de-Luchon, Haute-Garonne, France. Two further inscirptions to Iluni [CIL XIII 00371 and 00374] are known from Cadéac, Hautes-Pyrénées, France. Further inscriptions to Ilunni are known from Bagnère-de-Luchon [ILTG 120] and Juzet-de-Luchon [ILTG 119] as well as a further inscription to di Ilunni at Haut-Comminges [CIL XIII 00027], all from the Haute-Garonne, France. However, the most interesting inscription comes from Narbonne in the Aude, France which invokes Herculi llunno Andose [CIL XII 4316] thus linking Ilunnus with both the Roman Hercules by Interpretato Romana and with the god Andosus.

Many have suggested that this deity, may be of Iberian/Basque origin, the name being derived from ilhuno (night, darkness). The interesting thing is that there is no equivalent root in Indo-European, yet there are cognates in both modern and middle Cymric: ulw (ashes, cinders) and ulwyn (carbon) both derived from a root such as *ilw- which represents the remains after a fire and could represent darkness. This could be one of those rare examples of the survival of a non Indo-European root in an Indo-European language and muddies the water somewhat as to the possible origins of Ilunus. He could represent the survival of a native Iberian deity into later Romano-Celtic times, with similarities in meaning between the two languages ensuring the continuation of worship.

The association of Ilunus with Roman Hercules is interesting also. For, in the Gaulish context Hercules can be considered as an aspect of the Gaulish god, Ogmoios whio was considered to be a powerful wise old man whose skin was darkened (almost black) by the sun. Could the dark one, Ilunus be an aspect of Ogmios? This would make him a warrior as well as a god of eloquence.



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