Brennus

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The Celtic Helmet from Satu Mare, Romania (northern Dacia), an Iron Age raven totem helmet, dated around 4th century BC. A similar helmet is depicted on the Gundestrup cauldron, being worn by one of the mounted warriors (detail tagged here). See also an illustration of Brennus wearing a similar helmet. Celtic Helmet from Satu Mare, Romania.jpg
The Celtic Helmet from Satu Mare, Romania (northern Dacia), an Iron Age raven totem helmet, dated around 4th century BC. A similar helmet is depicted on the Gundestrup cauldron, being worn by one of the mounted warriors (detail tagged here). See also an illustration of Brennus wearing a similar helmet.

Brennus or Brennos is the name of two Gaulish chieftains, famous in ancient history:

Contents

The linguistic origins of the name are unclear, despite two theories linking it to Welsh words. Despite suggestions by scholars as early as the 12th century AD, including one by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae , Brennus is not likely to share a common origin with the Welsh personal name Bran (or Brân) meaning "crow"; the similarity of the names is deemed to be superficial. Recurrence of the name Brennus makes it possible that it was a title rather than a proper name. However, despite assertions by some 19th-century scholars, Brennus and the modern Welsh word for "king", brenin (earlier breenhin) are not related. [1] Brenin is instead derived from the Celtic *brigantinos, meaning "(someone) pre-eminent, outstanding". [2]

Similar names

Variants and adaptations of the name may include:

Allusions

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References

Notes

  1. Edwin Guest: Origines Celticae (1883).
  2. Raimund Karl: Thoughts on the Evolution of Celtic Societies. University of Wales, 2007, Brennus.
  3. Thomas Healy, Times Literary Supplement, 24 June 2005, p. 25; reviewing Philip Schwyzer, Literature, Nationalism, and Memory in Early Modern England and Wales, Cambridge University Press, 2005.

General references