Donn Harper
LUGUS, LUGH, LLEW, The Three Faced God.
By the middle of the third century BCE, the Celts had reached the zenith of their power, influence and expanse.
From the Atlantic fringe along the North West of Europe, through central Europe, northern Italy ( cisalpine Gaul) the Balkans and central Anatolia.
For centuries the Celts had traded with Carthage, through Iberia, with the Greeks through the trade city/ Greek colony of Masallia on the Mediterranean coast of Gaul. Celtic warriors had also become popular as mercenaries throughout the Mediterranean world.
In Iberia the Celts adopted Tartessian script, modified from the Phoenician/Carthaginian alphabet, Cisalpine Gaul saw the use of Lepontic, adopted from the Etruscan alphabet. Ireland and Great Britain had Ogham script. By no means were the Celts unlettered barbarians as depicted in popular culture.
The reality is that the Celts left many inscriptions and examples such as the coligny tablet, statues, altars, dedications, lead and copper and silver tablets with prayers, blessings, curses recovered from sacred sites.
Throughout the extensive Celtic hegemony, at crossroads throughout the Celtic tribal realms, a popular pan-Celtic God was honored.
Lugus, the Three faced God.
known and worshipped across the Celtic world, Lugus was the singular most popular God.
He was known by many epithets, examples such as :
Andes(us): “Great Lord” or “Very Sacred” (Mercurius, varia: esu-).
Armogios: “the Very Mighty” (Mars, varia: mogio-).
Esus: “the Lord” or “the Divine” (Mars/Mercurius: esu-).
Esum[aros]: “?Great? Lord” or “?Great? in Divinity” (Mercurius, varia: esu-).
Iovantucaros: “Friend of Youth” (Mars/Mercurius).
Latobios: “Striker of Warriors” or “Warrior-like Striker” (Mars).
Mageniacos, Mogenios: “the Youth” or “of the Plain” (Mars/Mer.).
Marmogios: “the Great and Mighty” (Mars, varia: mogio ).
Medocios: “who Renders Judgement” (Mars; varia: medo ).
Medurinis: “who Renders Judgment”.
Mogetios: “the Mighty” (Mars, varia: mogio-).
*Mogios (Magios): “the Mighty” (Mars: mogio-).
Ocelos: “the Seer” or “of the Eye” (Mars).
Ri(g)ocalatis: “the Protector of Kings” or “Sovereign Protector” (Mars).
Segomo: “the Victory Giver” (Mars).
Sinatis: “Torque Holder” (Mars).
Toutatis, Toutenos: “(Protector of) Tribe” (Mars/Mercurius).
Vellaunos: “the Seer” (Mars and Mercurius).
Vernostonos: “Wounds with Thunder” or “Shields from Thunder”.
Visucios, Vo(s)ucos: “the Worthy” (Mercurius.
And:
Andovellicos: “the Great Seer”.
Anvallos, Anvallonnacos: “the Strong”.
Atesmerios, Adsmerios: “the Highly Foresighted” (Mercurius).
Belatucadros: “Mighty in Destruction” (Mars).
Beladonnis: “the Noble Destroyer” (Mars).
[C]ern[u]nnos: “(Protector of) Horned (Beasts)”.
Cimi(n)acinos: “the Strider” or “God of Roads” (Mercurius).
Degovexis, Vectirix: “the Good Fighter”, “King of Fighters”.
Dunatis: “(Protector) of the Fortified Town” (Mars).
Excingiorigiatos: “He who Rules through Striding” or “King of Warriors” (Mercurius).
Lanovalos: “the Completely Strong”.
Loucetios: “(Hurler) of Lightening” (Mars).
Naissatis: “Who Satisfies Warriors” (Mercurius).
Rigisamos: “the Most Sovereign” (Mars, varia: rigo-).
Rigonemetis: “with Kingly Sanctity” (Mars, varia: rigo-).
Smertatios, Smertrios: “the Foresighted” (Mars).
From the epigraphic evidence we can see a God of singular, central importance.
Lugus, Oath giver, Far Striker, Champion, King and Trickster.
The name, Lugus, Lugh, Llew, is derived from the Proto-Indoeuropean root, Leuwk, meaning Bright, flash of lightning, a candle/torch, a campfire.
There is also, Leug, meaning to decieve.
The Greek, Luke and Logos, derives from the same source. The Norse Loki, also derives from this root.
A common misconception, (caused simply due to the mistranslation/ confusion, of the old Gaelic word for bright, with sun. The Celtic Sun deity is Belenos/Beli ) was that Lugh, was a solar deity. This is not correct. From the list of epithets we find His attributes to be in line with a storm God. More akin to Jupiter, or Odin. The Romans associated Lugus with Mercury, due to the connection to roads, cross roads, trade, and being a psychopomp. Mercury like Lugus, is also a Psychopomp, associated with roads and trade as well. Lugus was also associated with Mercury, due to the connection to roads, cross roads, trade, and being a psychopomp. Mercury like Lugus, is also a Psychopomp, associated with roads and trade as well.
The Romans like wise, depicted Woden, the same way for the same shared attributes. Considering the more than One thousand year history of the Celts in Central Europe, it is likely that the Celtic Lugus, heavily influenced the Germanic Woden. Notice the shared epithets above.
Lugus, known as the three faced God, due to the depictions on altars found throughout the Celtic world, of a man with three faces, is composed of a composite of the deities, Esus, Tuetates, Taranis. One can also notice these names in the list of common epithets.
While the mythology and traditions of the Mainland Celts have been lost to us, leaving only the Altars, and epithets as evidence. We do have two shinning examples of the Myth of Lugh/Lugus/Llew.
The first, from the Irish, the Lebor Gebala Erenn, and the Tain bo Cuailgne.
The book of invasions and The cattle raid of cooley.
The second source is from the Welsh, Mabinogian, a collection of eleven tales taken from the medieval Welsh Llyfyr Gwyn Rhydferch, the White Book of Rhydderch and the Llyfyr Coch O Hergest, the red book of Hergest.
Both myths share some common themes. There are major differences as well. Both myths deal with the conception, miraculous birth, fosterage, and coming of age, in the life of Lugh/Llew.
The Irish account, has Lugh born one of a set of twins, of the Daughter of Balor, King of the evil Formor and Cian, a hero of the Tuatha de Danu. Balor, forewarned that his grandson would destroy him, had the twins hurled into the sea. One drowned, while Lugh was rescued. ( This element is reflected in the Mabinogian, Arhianrhod, gives birth to twins, Dylan and Llew. Dylan escapes into the sea, Llew is taken by his uncle, to raise.)and raised in fosterage.
When Lugh comes of age, he travels to the High King of the De Danu's court. there he demands entry , but is repeatedly refused, until he finally asked, " Go ask the King if he has a champion, that is master of all the arts?" at which point he is admitted.
Lugh proves to be truly heroic, master of all arts, becoming the Champion of the de Danu when Nuada loses his hand. Lugh is made High king. Lugh leads the battle against the Fomor, killing Balor with his lightning spear, piercing Balors single evil eye. Later, Lugh kidnaps Dectire, takes her to Brugh na Boyne, where King Conchobar of Ulster and his champions find her. She has given birth to Setante, called CuChullain, the son of Lugh. That is in very brief summary. The Welsh myth, includes the marriage, and death , with resurection, of Llew.
So far, we have the image of a storm God, that, is sacrificed/slain, resurrected, a God associated with Sovereignty, war, the arts, oaths, judgement, inspiration, storms-lightning, healing, vengeance, the list goes on, he is Master of all arts.
We know how Lugus is depicted. We know of the birth and childhood, we know that Lugh is the most beloved God of the Celts.
The impact of the three faced God, is felt far outside of the Celtic world to this day. The Christian concept of the Holy Trinity, can be traced back to the Celtic Lugus thanks to the Roman emperor Constantine. Three who are one, one sacrified, hung upon a tree, resurrection, salvation of the people. All elements of the far older Celtic mythos, elements placed wholesale into Christianity.
Esus-Teutates-Taranis, Odin-Thor-Loki, Lugus-Llew-Lugh. Jupiter-Mercury-Mars, Zeus-Hermes-Ares. The divine Christos, the anointed stone at the crossroads.
From the common symbolisms, root names and epithets, it is clear that Lugus, devoloped from older IndoEuropean sources. A God with an history stretching into the stone age.
Popular, multifaceted, known throughout the ancient world. A God who's impact is still present today.
Lugus continues to influence our cultural icons today.
Consider Star Wars.
No, George Lucas did not deliberately borrow elements of Celtic mythology. Nothing I have ever read or heard suggests he was even aware of the ancien Irish story of Lugh. George Lucas simply took common, iconic mythic elements, tropes and combined them into a tale in a galaxy far far away.
Luke Skywalker, Luke-Luek-Lugh-Llew-Lugus. all derive from the same proto indoeuropean root.
Skywalker, Lugh, the Storm God.
Light sabers, Fragarach, the shining magic sword of Lugh. The lighting spear that never misses. ( that iconic shot by skywalker destroying the death star)
We can see the shared symbolism of Balor and Darth Vader.
We have the prophesied savior child descended from the evil over lord ( Balor- Dart Vader) hidden away and raised in secret.
We have the story of an enslaved people rising in rebellion against an evil empire.
We have the Jedi order, which resembles the Celtic Druids.
Essentially, we have the tale of Lugh retold and set in a galaxy far far away.
Look at the cultural impact and popularity of Star Wars, which is very similar to the influence that the Lebor Gebala Eren had upon the ancient Irish.
Clearly the God Lugus continues to influence our civilization today.