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Iovantucarus
A Gaulish God, Iovantucarus: Lover of Youth
Iovantucarus is a Gaulish god known from Trier and Tholey in Germany where he is associated with Mercury and Mars. He seems to be a god who is the protector of youth and the young. |
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Gaul: Lover of Youth
Iovantucarus is a deity known from Tholey in Germany (CIL XIII 04256) where he is equated with Mercury and Trier in Germany (F 15; F18; AE 1924, 17 and 18; and F 19) where he is equated with Mercury (and occasionally with Mars) by interpretato Romana.
His name can be broken down into the proto-Celtic elements *jowanko- (youth) and *kar-o- (love). Thus he is the 'Lover of Youth' and many statues of children carrying fruit, animals and small boxes were found at his shrine. Thus he could be a protctor of youth which would explain his assimilation with the youthful Mercury (and with Mars in his protective aspect).
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