Ialonus Contrebis facts for kids
In the old Celtic religion, Ialonus Contrebis was a god, or perhaps two related gods, that people worshipped. He was important in areas that are now Lancashire in England and Provence in France. People believed Ialonus was the god of clearings and meadows, which are open grassy areas.
The Meaning of His Name
The name Ialonus comes from an old Celtic word, ialo(n). This word meant a 'cleared place' or a 'meadow'. It also meant 'village' in the ancient Gaulish language. Imagine a time when most of Gaul (ancient France) was covered in forests. A village would often be built by clearing a space in the woods.
The name Contrebis comes from two parts. The first part, con-, means 'with' or 'together'. The second part, -treb-, means 'settlement' or 'dwelling-place'. So, Contrebis is like saying 'a place where people settle together'. This is similar to the old Celtiberian word Contrebia, which meant a 'large town' or 'city'.
Where He Was Worshipped
We know about Ialonus Contrebis from three special stone carvings called inscriptions. These inscriptions were made by people who worshipped him.
- One inscription was found at Lancaster in England. It was dedicated to "the holiest god Ialonus Contrebis."
- Another inscription was found at Overborough near Kirkby Lonsdale, also in England. This one was dedicated to "the holy god Gontrebis," which is another way of saying Contrebis.
- The third inscription was found in Nîmes, a city in Provence, France. In this carving, Ialonus was worshipped alongside the goddess Fortune.
These inscriptions show that Ialonus Contrebis was important to people in different parts of the ancient Celtic world.
