Celtic deities associated with boars and pigs: Arduinna and Moccus
Arduinna is a captivating figure in Celtic mythology, deeply tied to the natural world and specifically associated with boars. As a Gaulish goddess, she embodies the wild, protective spirit of the Ardennes Forest, and her connection to boars highlights her role as a huntress and guardian of the wilderness.
Key Points
Who is Arduinna? She’s a Celtic goddess of the Ardennes Forest in what’s now Belgium, Luxembourg, and northern France, known as a protector of the wild and its creatures.
Boar Connection: Arduinna is often depicted riding a boar, symbolizing her mastery over nature and her role as a huntress.
Pigs or Boars? Her primary link is to boars—wild, fierce animals tied to hunting and war—rather than domesticated pigs, though both share cultural significance in Celtic lore.
Personality: Think of her as a fierce, independent deity, blending nurturing protection with the untamed energy of the forest.
Overview
Arduinna’s name itself hints at her essence—it’s linked to the Gaulish word arduo, meaning "height" or "high," reflecting her dominion over the rugged, forested highlands of the Ardennes. She’s most famously known through Roman interpretations, where she’s equated with Diana, the huntress goddess, suggesting a strong, sovereign figure who commands the wild. Her relationship with boars is central to her identity, painting her as both a companion to these animals and a symbol of their untamed power.
Boars in Arduinna’s World
The boar was a big deal in Celtic culture—think strength, courage, and a bit of ferocity. Arduinna riding a boar (as depicted in a bronze statuette from the region) isn’t just a cool image; it shows her as a goddess who harnesses that wild energy. She likely protected hunters who pursued boars in her forest, ensuring they respected her domain. Unlike Moccus, who’s tied to both pigs and boars with a focus on fertility and abundance, Arduinna’s link is more about the hunt and the raw, natural order. Boars, with their bristly hides and warrior vibes, fit her perfectly—no tame pigs here, just the wild cousins.
Cultural Role
Arduinna was worshipped by the local Gaulish tribes, like the Treveri, who saw her as a guardian of the Ardennes’ bounty—its game, woods, and rivers. Offerings to her might’ve included boar-related items (tusks, hides) or even small sacrifices to keep her favor. Her Roman connection to Diana adds a layer of prestige, suggesting her cult had staying power even as Gaul became Romanized.
Why Boars, Not Pigs?
While pigs were sacred in Celtic mythology (think magical swine from the Other World), Arduinna’s focus on boars aligns with her wild, forested realm. Boars were hunted for food and prestige, their pursuit a test of skill and bravery—qualities Arduinna embodies. Pigs, more tied to settled life and abundance, don’t quite match her untamed vibe, though the broader pig/boar family ties her to Celtic animal reverence.
Detailed Exploration: Arduinna and Her Boar Connection
Historical and Mythological Identity
Arduinna is a Gaulish goddess named after the Ardennes Forest (Arduenna Silva in Latin), a vast woodland spanning modern-day Belgium, Luxembourg, and parts of France. Her name likely stems from arduo ("height"), tying her to the elevated, rugged terrain she ruled (Wikipedia: Arduinna). Roman writers equated her with Diana, the goddess of the hunt, moon, and wilderness, as seen in interpretatio romana—the practice of syncing local deities with Roman ones (Mythology.net: Arduinna). This suggests Arduinna was a significant figure, revered for her sovereignty over nature.
A key artifact is a bronze statuette from the Ardennes, showing a female figure—presumed to be Arduinna—riding a boar (Wikipedia: Arduinna). This image encapsulates her as a huntress and protector, astride a creature synonymous with the wild.
Boars: Symbolism and Role
In Celtic culture, the boar was a powerhouse symbol:
War and Courage: Boar motifs adorned helmets, shields, and standards (e.g., the Gundestrup cauldron), marking it as a warrior’s emblem (Mythology.net: Arduinna).
The Hunt: Boar hunting was a prestigious, dangerous pursuit, often featured in myths like the tales of Arthur or Fionn mac Cumhaill chasing magical boars (Deity Spotlight: Arduinna).
Nature’s Might: As a forest dweller, the boar embodied the untamed strength Arduinna championed.
Arduinna’s boar-riding imagery suggests she didn’t just oversee these animals—she partnered with them. She might’ve guided hunters, ensuring they honored her forest’s balance, or protected the boars themselves as sacred denizens of her realm.
Pigs: A Lesser Connection?
Unlike Moccus, whose domain includes both pigs and boars with ties to fertility, Arduinna’s focus is narrower. Domestic pigs, linked to abundance and Otherworldly gifts in Celtic tales (e.g., swine from Annwn), don’t appear in her iconography or lore. Her wilderness setting favors the boar’s wildness over the pig’s domesticity, though both animals share a cultural thread of reverence in Gaulish spirituality.
Cult and Worship
Arduinna was likely venerated by tribes like the Treveri, who lived near the Ardennes. Her worship might’ve involved:
Offerings: Boar tusks, hides, or meat left at forest shrines.
Rituals: Hunts dedicated to her, with hunters seeking her blessing for success and safety.
Sites: Natural spots like groves or springs, though no specific temples are confirmed (Old World Gods: Arduinna).
A Roman tale claims Emperor Vespasian’s troops cut down parts of her forest, angering Arduinna—a story that reinforces her as a fierce defender of her domain (Mythology.net: Arduinna).
Comparison to Moccus
While Moccus and Arduinna both connect to boars, their roles diverge:
Moccus: Male, tied to pigs/boars, fertility, and protection; possibly linked to feasts and prosperity.
Arduinna: Female, boar-focused, emphasizing hunting and wilderness; less about abundance, more about nature’s raw power.
This contrast highlights the diversity of Celtic animal deities—Moccus nurtures, Arduinna guards.
Moccus appears to be a male deity. The name itself, derived from the Celtic word for "pig" or "boar," does not inherently indicate gender, but the linguistic and cultural context suggests a masculine identity. Additionally, Moccus was syncretized with the Roman god Mercury, who was male, further reinforcing this interpretation.
However, despite being male, Moccus embodies traits that are often associated with fertility and abundance, which are frequently linked to goddesses in many traditions. This could be why some people might wonder if Moccus had a more fluid or ambiguous divine role. In Celtic religion, gender roles in deities were not always rigid—many gods and goddesses shared overlapping domains, and boars and pigs were linked to both male warriors (as symbols of strength) and female deities (as symbols of fertility and provision).
Despite the suppression of her cult, Arduinna’s memory endures through various forms. Today, one can find a beer named after her, which pays homage to her association with the forests and nature.
Furthermore, an asteroid bears her name, reflecting her celestial presence. Additionally, Arduinna’s existence sheds light on the existence of other lesser-known Celtic goddesses who embodied the spirit of the woodlands and were revered alongside Arduinna by ancient Gaulish communities.
Key Citations
Wikipedia: Arduinna, Gaulish goddess of the Ardennes
Mythology.net: Arduinna, goddess of forest and hunt
Old World Gods: Arduinna, Celtic wilderness deity
Deity Spotlight: Arduinna, Tumblr post
