The concept of the Pagan horned god has its roots in various ancient civilizations, including the Celtic, Greek, and Roman cultures. This deity is often associated with the wild and untamed aspects of nature, fertility, and the cycle of life and death. In Celtic mythology, the horned god is known as Cernunnos. He is depicted as a man with antlers, symbolizing his connection to the animal kingdom and the natural world. Cernunnos is often shown holding a torc, a Celtic neck ornament, and surrounded by animals, representing his role as a guardian of the wild. In Greek mythology, the horned god is often associated with the god Pan.
The Horned God is always portrayed with horns or antlers, which are of course his distinguishing feature. The God's horns are considered symbols of male potency, strength and protection. Sometimes they are seen in a sense as phallic symbols. The horn has been a religious symbol for thousands of years. An altar made entirely of stag horns was built in the temple of Apollo at Delos, and temples to the Goddess Diana usually contained horns as well. The horn is also seen as a symbol of fruitfulness and bounty, as in the Horn of Plenty.
It is worth noting that the wizard Merlin was also sometimes associted with the Horned God, perhaps due to an older origin before the two developed their eventual and individual identities. Where Frazer saw modern folklore and folk customs as the echoes of forgotten agricultural rituals, authors such as Murray and other members of the Folklore Society saw an esoteric fertility cult, a secret tradition driven underground and suppressed by Christianity.
In Greek mythology, the horned god is often associated with the god Pan. Pan is depicted as a half-human, half-goat creature with horns and goat legs. He is the god of shepherds, fertility, and rustic music.
Pagan horned god
Who is this wild God who roams the forests, and who loves and protects the Goddess and all her children? He is called the God of the Wicca, Cernunnos, Pan, Herne, Dionysus and many other names. He is the ancient God of fertility: the God of the forest, flock and field and also of the hunt. He is Lord of Life and He gives life, He is also Lord of Death and Resurrection. He is the hunter and the hunted, he is the light and the darkness.
The first known representation of a Horned Deity is in the Caverne des Trois Freres in Ariege created during the Paleolithic period. The wall painting depicts a man wearing animal skin with stag antlers on his head. The figure is thought to represent God incarnate performing a sacred dance of sympathetic magick to increase the number of animals for the tribe to hunt.
Representations of a Horned God were common in Mesopotamia, Babylonia and Egypt. The greatest Egyptian Horned God is Osiris , the giver of all fertility who was often depicted with the horns of a bull. Osiris was believed to be incarnate, in a succession of sacred bulls, and worshipped in that form as the God Apis. This was yet another form and manifestation of Osiris as the God of Fertility and also of Death and Resurrection. And Osiris bears the marks of a lunar, rather than a solar God, for Set tears the body of Osiris into fourteen pieces, the number of days of the waning moon; and then Isis, the Great Mother, gathers those pieces together and restores Osiris to life again.
Pan is the most well known Greek Horned God who has the body of a man and the head of a goat. Pan, the bearded goat foot God leads a procession of dancing of satyrs and nymphs while he plays the pipes that bear his name. His worship was so hated by the church that his image was used to describe the "Devil" and they called him the Lord of all Evil.
Dionysus another Horned God of Greece, is a creature of mystery, his very essence an enigma. His realm is shadowy, and his followers flirt with madness, drunkenness, and death. He is the patron deity of the Bacchantes, those wild women who were said to tear living animals apart in their trance of divine possession. He is the god of wine and intoxication that merges the drinker with the deity. He is also a "Slain God", that is a God who dies and is reborn. For a Greek God to die was unthinkable, how can an immortal die? Through the death and rebirth of the God, the Cult of Dionysus, like that of the Goddess Demeter brought forth the mystery of rebirth to their followers.
The Greatest God of western Europe was Cernunnos whose name simply means "the horned". Cernunnos is depicted as a mature bearded man with stag antlers wearing a torc. A torc implies nobility in the Celtic culture. Cernunnos often carries or wears other torcs in his hands or on his antlers and also carries a purse of coins. He is usually portrayed seated and cross-legged, in a meditative or shamanic position.
Cernunnos is nearly always depicted with animals and is sometimes called the "Lord of the Animals", the "Lord of Wild Things" or "Lord of the Hunt". He also associates with an animal that is unique to him, a serpent with the horns of a ram. The serpent's symbolism is transformation and the horns symbolize fertility and strength.
The earliest known probable depiction of Cernunnos was found at Val Camonica in Italy, dating from the 4th century BCE, while the best-known depiction is on the Gundestrup Cauldron found on Jutland, dating to the 1st century BCE.
On an altar found under the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris is a large image of Cernunnos dating from 14 CE. This site was so sacred that the cathedral was built over it to entice worship of the new religion.
In Britain, the first recorded instance of the continued worship of the Horned God was in 1303 when the Bishop of Coventry was accused of paying homage to the Horned God. In the late 1300's King Richard II employed a hunter in Windsor forest named Herne who saved the King's life when he was attacked by a white hart (deer). Herne was mortally wounded but was brought back to life by a wizard who tied the dying hart's antlers to his head. In exchange for his life Herne was made to give up his hunting skills and was defamed by his fellow hunters. He then lost favor with the King and hanged himself from an Oak tree. His ghost is said to haunt Windsor forest to this day.
Sometimes a keeper here in Windsor Forest,
Doth all the winter-time, at still midnight,
Walk round about an oak, with great ragg'd horns;
And there he blasts the tree, and takes the cattle,
And makes milch-kine yield blood, and shakes a chain
In a most hideous and dreadful manner.
You have heard of such a spirit, and well you know
The superstitious idle-headed eld
Receiv'd, and did deliver to our age,
This tale of Herne the Hunter for a truth.
— William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor
CHARGE OF THE GREAT HORNED GOD
I am the summer winds that rustle through your spirit
and stir the whispering leaves of your soul.
I am the wild and darksome stag
that raises horn and hoof within your wildest places.
I am the oaken-mossed caress that softens you
with velvet fronds of green.
I am the guardian at the gates to the underworld –
Open your heart to me.
I am the Great and Horned One
with whom your earth and stream do dance their days
I am the Wise One, carved with timeless gems of radiance inspired.
I am the one that strikes the lightning tree
And paints the sky with storm and sun.
I am the woodland warrior cloaked in frankincense –
Open your heart to me.
I am the ripening light that warms your fruits and seeds
Lush colours sweetened deep upon the bough.
I quench my thirst on Urth’s morning dew
I dance upon my Lady’s mantle green
whose snaking paths I find and tread so free.
I am the dragon’s treasure in your breast –
Open your heart to me.
Sally Morningstar
The Horned One is not static, which is why they have manifested in a number of ways to a variety of Witches. This means Horn Head has grown as we have. Today's Horned God is a god of consent and acceptance. When we treat others with respect, we honor the Horned One.
Pan is known for his mischievous nature and his association with the wild and untamed wilderness. In Roman mythology, the horned god is often equated with the god Faunus. Faunus is depicted as a horned woodland deity, similar to Pan. He is associated with fertility, agriculture, and the protection of herds. Faunus is often portrayed as a gentle and benevolent god, protecting nature and ensuring a bountiful harvest. The horned god is also connected to the cycle of life and death. He represents the changing seasons, the ebb and flow of nature, and the balance between life and decay. As a symbol of fertility, he is often invoked in rituals and celebrations related to harvest, abundance, and the renewal of life. In modern Pagan and Wiccan traditions, the horned god is often worshipped as a central deity. He is seen as a symbol of masculine energy, vitality, and the power of the natural world. Followers of these traditions may incorporate rituals, prayers, and symbols associated with the horned god in their spiritual practices. Overall, the concept of the Pagan horned god is a complex and multi-faceted representation of the wild, untamed aspects of nature, fertility, and the cycle of life and death. From the ancient civilizations to modern Pagan traditions, the horned god continues to be revered and celebrated as a powerful force in the natural world..
Reviews for "The Pagan Horned God and His Presence in Different Cultures and Traditions"
1. Emily - 2/5
I had high hopes for "Pagan Horned God" after reading the rave reviews, but it just didn't live up to the hype for me. The plot was scattered and hard to follow, with a multitude of characters and subplots that didn't seem to connect. The writing style was also a bit convoluted and overdescriptive, making it difficult to stay engaged in the story. Overall, it felt like a mishmash of ideas without a cohesive direction. I was quite disappointed.
2. David - 2/5
I found "Pagan Horned God" to be quite dull and uninspiring. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard to connect with any of them. The pacing was also extremely slow, with long-winded descriptions and unnecessary tangents that did little to move the story forward. I kept waiting for something exciting or unexpected to happen, but it just never did. The concept had potential, but the execution fell flat for me.
3. Sarah - 3/5
I had mixed feelings about "Pagan Horned God." While the concept was intriguing and the world-building was well done, the story itself felt disjointed and disjointed. There were too many unanswered questions and loose ends, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unrealistic at times, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the narrative. While there were aspects that I enjoyed, overall, I found it to be a mediocre read.
4. Michael - 2/5
I struggled to get through "Pagan Horned God." The pacing was agonizingly slow, and the plot lacked any sort of cohesive structure. It felt like the author was trying to be overly philosophical, but it came across as pretentious and self-indulgent. The characters were forgettable, and I didn't feel invested in their journey at all. The writing style was also quite dry and lacked any sense of creativity. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.