Belenus

Belenus (also Belenos, Belinus, Bel, Beli Mawr) is a Sun God from Celtic Mythology and, in the third century, the patron deity of the Italian city of Aquileia. Called the "Fair Shining One," (or The Shining God) he was one of the most ancient and most widely worshiped Celtic deities and is associated with the ancient fire festival and modern Sabbat Beltane. He was associated with the horse (as shown by the clay horse figurine offerings at Belenos’ Sainte-Sabine shrine in Burgundy) and also the Wheel. Perhaps like Apollo - with whom he became identified in the Augustan History - Belenos was thought to ride the Sun across the sky in a horse-drawn chariot.

Historical cult

There are 51 known inscriptions dedicated to Belenus, mainly concentrated in Cisalpine Gaul (Aquileia/Carni), Noricum and Gallia Narbonensis, but also extend far beyond into Celtic Britain and Iberia. Images of Belenus sometimes show him to be accompanied by a female, thought to be the Gaulish deity Belisama.

Tertullian writing in c. 200 AD identifies Belenus as the national god of Noricum. Inscriptions dedicated to Belenus are concentrated in the Eastern Alps and Gallia Cisalpina, but there is evidence that the popularity of the god became more widespread in the Roman period. The third-century emperors Diocletian and Maximian each dedicated an inscription to Belenus in the region of Aquileia. A further 6 votive inscriptions of Belenus were discovered at Altinum, Concordia and Iulium Carnicum. The soldiers of Maximinus Thrax, who laid siege to Aquileia in 238, reported seeing an appearance of the god defending the city from the air.

Belenos (band)

Belenos is a French black metal band from Brittany.

Biography

Belenos was brought to life as a one-man-band by Loïc Cellier in 1995. Influenced by the early black metal scene of Norway, the music of the band always was and remains a mix of black and pagan metal with Celtic choirs. The original line-up consisted of Loïc (guitars, bass, vocals, programming) and Nathalie (guitars, lyrics). After releasing 3 demo tapes (in 1996, 1998 and 1999) Belenos turned into a full band and began to play live. The first live appearance took place in Lille, October 1999 as an opening act for Marduk and Enthroned. Yann Desaulty on bass was replaced by David Foulon, as well as Raphael Fontaine left the band due to a lack of motivation. In August 2000 the band signed with Sacral Productions and released the first full album "Errances oniriques" in March 2001. After a couple live performances Belenos recorded their second album "Spicilège" with the new drummer Marc Devillers, since Denis Sokowicz had been fired. The album was released again on Sacral Productions. The same year Marc Devillers was replaced by Gilles Delecroix. In 2004 Sacral Productions released a 2-CD demo compilation "L'ancien temps". By the end of 2004 Belenos became a one-man-band and stopped all live activities.