A very moving collection of stories of encounters with Cernunnos, together with an analysis of what is known about him from history and archaeology. I’m glad people are willing to share such deep personal experiences, as it gives such a depth to books like this.

Intriguingly, if you piece together everything that is known about Cernunnos from historical sources, he is the Lord of Animals, a liminal figure between life and death, and a semi-aquatic figure (hence the boy on the dolphin on the Gundestrup Cauldron).

We were lucky enough to see the Gundestrup Cauldron when it was in the British Museum exhibition about the Celts. It was a very powerful experience, as Jason Mankey mentions in his introductory piece in the book.

Image of Cernunnos on the Gundestrup Cauldron
The Gundestrup Cauldron - By Rosemania - http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosemania/4121249312, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9404289
Gundestrup, Denmark. 150-0 BC This cauldron is made from 13 silver plates. The hammered and gilded plates weigh almost 9 kg. On the outside, large deities are accompanied by small humans, animals and mythical creatures in pairs. Interior shows scenes populated with many figures, both human and animals. One of them shows a parade of warriors carrying a carnyx, a Celtic trumpet. Art of the Celts, Historic Museum of Bern. Photo by Rosemaniahttp://www.flickr.com/photos/rosemania/4121249312, CC BY 2.0.

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