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In ancient Celtic religion, Ialonus Contrebis or Ialonus or Gontrebis was a god (or perhaps two related gods) worshipped in what are now Lancashire and Provence. Ialonus is thought to be the god of clearings and/or meadows.

Name

The name Ialonus, which may have designated a god of clearing, derives from the Celtic stem ialo(n)- ('cleared place, clearing'; cf. Middle Welsh ial 'clearing', an-ial 'wasteland'). The stem ialon- also had the meaning 'village' in Gaulish. In the words of Xavier Delamarre, "In forest-covered Gaul, a village was essentially established by clearing a wood."

The name Contrebis is based on the prefix con- ('with, together') attached to the root -treb- ('settlement'; cf. Old Irish treb, Middle Welsh tref, Old Breton treff 'town, dwelling-place'). It can be compared with the Celtiberian place name Contrebia, meaning 'conurbation'.

Cult

He is known from three dedicatory inscriptions. One, at Lancaster, was dedicated (in the dative) to Deo Ialono Contre Sanctissimo ("to the holiest god Ialonus Contre"); another, at Overborough or Over Burrow near Kirkby Lonsdale, to Deo San Gontrebi ("to the holy god Gontrebis"). In the third inscription, found at Nîmes in Provence, Ialonus was invoked in conjunction with the goddess Fortune.

References

1. ^ Delamarre 2003, p. 186.
2. Matasović 2009, s.v. *yalo-.
3. Delamarre 2003, p. 301.
4. Matasović 2009, p. 388.
5. RIB 600
6. RIB 610
7. L'Arbre Celtique. Ialonus

Bibliography

• Delamarre, Xavier (2003). Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise: Une approche linguistique du vieux-celtique continental. Errance. ISBN 9782877723695.
• Matasović, Ranko (2009). Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic. Brill. ISBN 9789004173361.
• Miranda Green (1997). Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend. Thames and Hudson Ltd, London.

v t e Celtic mythology series
Ancient deities of Gaul, Britain and Gallaecia by region
Supra-regional	Alaunus Alisanos Andarta Anextiomarus Artio Aveta Belenus Belisama Borvo Brigantia Camulus Cernunnos Cicolluis Cissonius Condatis Damona Dis Pater Divona Epona Erecura Esus Genii Cucullati Grannus Ialonus Contrebis Lenus Litavis Loucetios Lugus Maponos Matres Matrona Mogons Nantosuelta Ogmios Ritona Rosmerta Segomo Sirona Sucellus Suleviae Taranis Telesphorus Toutatis Virotutis Visucius
Britannia	Abandinus Alaisiagae Ancasta Andraste Apollo Cunomaglus Arnemetia Belatucadros Britannia Clota Cocidius Coventina Iouga Latis Nodens Ocelus Ricagambeda Satiada Senuna Sulis Vinotonus Verbeia Veteris
Gallia Aquitania	Abellio Baco Fagus Sexarbores
Gallia Belgica	Abnoba Ancamna Arduinna Arvernus Icovellauna Inciona Intarabus Iovantucarus Veraudunus Vindonnus Vosegus Xulsigiae
Gallia Celtica	Acionna Anvallus Atepomarus Bricta Gobannus Icaunis Luxovius Nemetona Moccus Moritasgus Mullo Naria Robor Sequana Souconna Smertrios Telo
Gallia Cisalpina	Ambisagrus
Gallia Narbonensis	Albiorix Artaius Buxenus Cathubodua Lero et Lerina Nemausus Rudianos
Germania Inferior	Matronae Aufaniae Gebrinius Nehalennia
Gallaecia	Bandua Endovelicus Nabia Reue

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