God research: 1. Cernunnos

Hey, Jess here!

I am afraid this first one won't be as exciting as I was hoping it would be. Unfortunately there is barely any information to be found about this god. But I will do with what I have found.

I wanted to start with Cernunnos, because I play him a lot in Smite at the moment, so to me it seemed like a good idea.

Cernunnos as depicted on he Gundestrup cauldron, on display
in the National Musuem of Denmark

As I said his name is Cernunnos and he is a Celtic god. But his name is only found written once, in the 'Pillar of the Boatmen' which is written in the first century. Though his name is only attested here, he can be found a lot. Mostly it's only a depiction of him. In these depictions he is quite often seen in a cross-legged sitting position. Not only that, but you can always find him with the antlers of a stag, which gave him the name the 'Horned God". Sometimes he's also seen carrying a purse that's filled with coins and often he is wearing or holding torcs.

Cernunnos is quite often associated with wild animals, but he was also seen as wild hunter, a warrior, and a poet. Furthermore he was a god of nature who protects the trees, the plants and the animals. Also, according to the Irish legends, Cernunnos takes to the battlefield without uncertainty. he controls plants, trees and their roots to battle his foes. But Cernunnos is in fact a gently creature too. When an enemy dies at his hand, he will play music to show respect for them. But the fact  that he shows respect, does not mean he shows mercy.

Below you can find Cernunnos' lore as it is written by the creators of Smite.

Standing upon the edge of the wooded realm of Cernunnos, one can feel the invitation and the threat. "Come and feast," it calls. "Nature provides an abundance of crops and wild game." Yet, the same voice turns dark. "Treat everything with due respect," it warns. "This is not your home." And, should one peer intently enough through the shadowed branches, a figure can be seen, horned as a stag, clothed in moss and leaves, eyes burning like untended embers. Cernunnos is master here, and although he has much to offer, he will not tolerate greed.

Time turns on the Sacred Wheel, Spring to Summer, Summer to Autumn and Autumn at last to Winter. Cernunnos was there at the shaping of the wheel, born of the womb of the All Mother before Gods were Gods and the land was shapeless. This wheel is not of his making. He is both master of it and slave to it, transforming with the seasons like the world beneath his feet. He bears a heaving metal torc around his neck as a permanent pledge of loyalty to this cycle of life and death that only he can drive.

Once, it was said, there was no break between his realm and this world. They were the same. Perhaps a time will come when the world shall once again be his. Then, all can walk among the whispering leaves. So long as they remain humble. For the arrogant, Cernunnos hunts. What are these other Gods? Guest or prey?

To be continued...