Stag of Cernunnos Torc Extra Heavy Weight

This Torc features two stag heads inspired by the stags that accompanied the Celtic god Cernunnos on the Gundestrup Cauldron. This silver cauldron featuring a stag dates to circa 150 – 1 BCE. Cernunnos sits in the center of one of the panels and holds a torc in one hand. 

• Handcrafted in the USA
• Extra Heavy Braid of Wire
• Approx. 5/8″ (16 mm) Thick
• Available in Bronze or Silver
• Strong and Flexible
• Ancient Celtic Necklace
• Stag of Cernunnos Terminals

Custom-made just for you. Please allow 6-16 weeks for delivery. Please click for important information about custom-order items.

The Stag in Ancient Celtic Culture

Deer originate on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. Stags appear in art and stories across the ancient world. Several cultures use deer antlers to symbolize powerful masculinity and spiritual concepts.

First, the way in which antlers take root in the skull and reach into the sky evokes a connection between earthly concerns and the divine. A Mesopotamian legend describes a great stag who crosses the sky bearing the sun on its antlers. In this way, Mesopotamian people interpreted antlers as a radiation of heavenly light.

In contrast, the antlers of the Celtic god Cernunnos sprout from his head like branches and equate to branches on the Celtic Tree of Life. Cernunnos’ antlers teemed with birds and other animals. Therefore, his antlers tie to fertility and wildlife. This also calls to mind a particularly well-preserved Scythian tattoo depicting a stag with curved antlers that transform into bird heads.

Finally, since deer antlers shed and re-grow every year, they can also symbolize rebirth and reincarnation. Celtic myth does this with the story of the stag as Hern or the Horned God of the Hunt. Here, the stag is hunted and ultimately slain by a powerful hunter in the depths of winter, thereby freeing the sun and ushering in a new spring.

This stag torc is constructed with an extra heavy braid of wire, and is approximately 5/8 inch (16 mm) thick. Available in bronze or silver.