The Celtic Stag

The Stag (fully-grown male deer), along with the boar is one of the Celtic symbols par excellence. Indeed, one of the basic Celtic deities, Cernunnos is always represented as a stag-antlered deity. Stags were symbols of the seasons (representing the light half of the year as antlers were grown in Spring and shed in Winter). They were also held sacred for their sexual ability, as exemplified by the rut. Indeed, the modern Welsh word for 'Autumn' is Hydref, deriving from hydd and bref (literally the season of the bellowing of stags). Representation of stags continus through most of Celtic history, with the first representations known from the seventh century BCE and continuing with bronze statues and coins of the pre-Roman and Roman periods to the later representations in Christian illuminated manuscripts (on which the image, left, is based).

In the Roman period there is some evidence that the god Dis Pater was a Celtic god and the Brythonic deity Cocidius was accompanied by a stag.

In both later Irish and Cymric (Welsh) traditions the stag is viewed as a creature of the netherworld where Fionn mac Cumhaill hunts and enchanted stag (the matamorphosed form of the god Donn). In the Mabinogi of Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed Pwyll hunts a magical white-bodied red-eared stag who is really the quarry of Arawn, ruler of Annwfn. In the fourth branch of the Mabinogi, the Mabinogi of Math mab Mathonwy the enchanter transforms Gilvaethwy into a stag and Gwydion into a hind that they may beget the son, Hyddwn (noble stag). In the later Mabinogion of Owein or Iarlles y Ffynon where Cynon ap Clydno relates to Arthur and his kinsmen of an adventure that befell him. Where a man from whom he had recently received the boon of hospitality tells him: in the clearing you will see a black man who is taller than two men of your mortal world. He has but one foot and one eye at the centre of his forehead. In his hand he holds a club of iron; a club so heavy that it would take two men to lift. Though he is ugly of aspect he is not ugly of spirit and he is the keeper of his forest realm with a thousand animals grazing about him. Cynon went to the clearing and there he encountered a black figure even larger and more monstrous than had been described to him. A man who would not speak civilly to him. Provoked, Cynon asked him what power he had over animals. 'I will show thee little man' the giant replied. Taking his club in his hand the dark figure struck a nearby stag a mighty blow. The stag bellowed and in answer to this sound wild animals came forth until they were more numerous than all the stars in the heavens. He bade them all graze and they bowed their heads in obeisance to him and began to graze. Here it seens we have a very late representation of the god, Cernunnos who is clearly associated with stags and wild animals.

In the Mabinogi of Culhwch ac Olwen the speaking stag of Rhedynfre is named amongst the oldest animals of the world and helps Culhwch in his pursuit of the Twrch Trwyth.

In Irish tradition stags can also be associated with women, in that Flidais, goddess of wild things, is the mistress of stags. In addition, the war goddess Mórrigan can transform herself into the form of a stag. In the tale of Tuan mac Cairill, sole survivor of the Partholon, has his first metamorphosis as a stag.

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