Belenus
/bəˈliːnəs/noun
A Celtic deity associated in Roman sources with healing, light, and sometimes the sun.
Did you know?Belenus is attested in Roman-era inscriptions and was often identified with Apollo, showing how conquering empires translated local gods into their own divine language.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Celtic
PCelt
*Belenos
“A deity name probably connected with brightness or shining”
Roman Era
Latin
Belenus
“The name of a Celtic god recorded by Roman writers and inscriptions”
Classical Latin
Latin
Apollo Belenus
“An interpretatio romana identification of Belenus with Apollo”
Modern English
English
Belenus
“A scholarly form of the ancient Celtic god’s name”