CERNUNNOS

Real Name: Cernunnos

Occupation: God of fertility, wealth and the hunt

Legal Status: Citizen of Avalon

Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the existence of Cernunnos except as a mythological character.

Other Aliases: Apollo Cunomaglis, Mars Belatcudros, The Stag-God, "The Horned One"

Place of Birth: possibly somewhere in Gwynedd (modern Wales)

Marital Status: Single

Known Relatives: Gwydion (possible father), Arianrhod (possible step-mother), Lugh II, Dylan (possible half-brothers), The Dagda, Llyr, Amaethon (possible uncles), Badb, Bodb, Brigid, Epona, Manannan, Mider, Oenghus, Ogmios (possible cousins),

Group Affiliations: The Celtic Gods (Danaans)

Base of Operations: Avalon, formerly Mobile

First Appearance: (name) Friday The 13th: The Series, Episode: "Tree of Life," (actual) Doctor Strange III Annual 3

History: Cernunnos is a member of the Tuatha de Danaan, an other-dimensional race of beings of were worshipped by the Ancient Celts and Gaels of Western Europe. his exact location in the family tree of the Celtic gods, however, is a matter of debate. Theoretically, it is possible that he could be the son of Gwydion, Lord of the Gods of Gaul. In Ancient Wales, Gwydion's brother, Amaethon (or Gilfaethwy, possibly they are the same brother), had fallen in love with the mortal female, Goewin, from the court of Math fab Mathonwy of Gwynedd. Gwydion used mystical deceit to spirit Goewin from Math for his brother. When the gods learned of his deceit, Gwydion and Amaethon were exiled to earth in the form of deer for three years. When Gwydion regained his true form and godhood after three years, he supposedly brought a son sired from an actual deer during his time on earth. Whether this was Cernunnos is unrevealed, but as an adult, he became possibly one of the most revered and favored gods in the Celtic Pantheon. 

There is some evidence that as a god that Cernunnos was invoked as early as before written records during the Hyborian Age. Whether this is the same Cernunnos, or if this was a separate deity with the same name is unrevealed.

To his worshippers, Cernunnos was worshipped as a forest deity, but he was also a psychopompus who escorted the dead to the afterlife, a role he inherited from Ogmios, who was tired of the role. He also usurped the worships of the Roman gods Mars and Apollo left behind in Britain and Gaul. Cernunnos of such importance to the Celts that they tried to establish him as a national god rather than a local one and regulate the fragmented Celtic deities into a true pantheon. The Romans occupying Britain and Eire even made him into a god of wealth and placed his image on coins. The Christian Church, meanwhile, used him as a target of abuse, using his image as a sign of the Devil. Cernunnos's likeness was thereafter often maligned by his own worshippers, cult opponents and his revivalist supporters.

Worship of Cernunnos and the Celtic gods waned in the presence of the Christian Church in the Fifth Century AD, but he was still invoked by the Druids and their practitioners well into modern times. A warlock named Lewis Vendredi enabled one modern Druidic cult to invoke Cernunnos in favor of more malevolent intents, but this cult was shattered by Michelle Foster and Johnny Ventura seeking to destroy the evil left on earth by Vendredi after his death.

Tired of his modern maligned presence of earth, Cernunnos petitioned the other Celtic Gods for the right to find and locate a mortal on earth to serve as a representative of the Celtic gods power on earth. The Dagda and Morrigan consented with Cernunnos and they chose the mortal Kyllian the power to serve as their avatar on earth. Unable to truly understand what was happening to him, Kyllian sought help from Sorcerer Supreme Dr. Strange to understand what was happening to him. With a spell, Strange forced Morrigan, Cernunnos and the Dagda in his role as Taranis the Thunderer  to appear on earth to explain their roles in persecuting Kyllian. Cernunnos explained that they had linked with Kyllian to preserve their link to earth and Ireland in particular so that Kyllian could continue their will on Earth. However, since then, Kyllian has fallen sway under the thrall of Mordred the Mystic. How this bodes for Cernunnos's priginal intent and the rest of the Celtic gods is unrevealed.

Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 310lbs
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

Unusual Physical Features: Cernunnos has the head and hindquarters of a deer.

Strength Level: Cernunnos possibly possesses the normal human strength of a Celtic god of his size, height and build who engages in extensive regular exercises. (The typical male Celtic god can lift press about 30 tons.)

Known Superhuman Powers: Cernunnos possesses the conventional physical attributes of the Celtic gods. Like all Danaan, he is extremely long-lived, but he is not immortal like the Olympian gods. He has not aged since reaching adulthood and cannot die by any conventional means. He is immune to all Earthly diseases and is resistant to conventional injury. If he were somehow wounded, his godly life force would enable him to recover with superhuman speed. It would take an injury of such magnitude that it dispersed a major portion of his bodily molecules to cause him a physical death. Even then, it might be possible for a god of significant power, such as the Dagda, Gwydion or Llyr or for a number of Celtic gods of equal power working together to revive him. Cernunnos also possesses superhuman strength and his Danaan metabolism provides him with far greater than human endurance in all physical activities. (Danaan flesh and bone is about three times as dense as similar human tissue, contributing to the superhuman strength and weight of the Celtic gods.)

Cernunnos has limited mystical prowess in the magical arts. He has power over the fertility, growth and regeneration of forests and woodland and can command the animals of the forest, notably deer and stags. He can grant power upon mortal beings and influence the senses of those around him, allowing only those he wants to see him.

Weapons: Cernunnos uses a long wand called "The Staff of Life" to direct the proximity of some of his spells. He can also use it defend himself in combat. It is theoretical that he can use his own antlers in combat.

Comments: So far, Cernunnos has only been seen (briefly)  in Marvel Comics and in F13: The Series.

Clarifications:  Cernunnos is possibly not to be confused with:  

Last updated: 10/14/06

 

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