Also called Nodons, Mars Nodens, Nudd.
Their story
Nodens is known from a late Roman temple at Lydney Park above the River Severn, with a guest house, baths and a long building that may have been used for healing sleep. Many small dogs were found there, along with a mosaic of sea creatures. A curse tablet from the site asks Nodens to punish the thief of Silvianus's ring. His name has been compared to the Irish Nuada and the Welsh Nudd, father of Gwyn.
Best times to give to them
- Calan Mai
- Calan Gaeaf
- when someone is ill
What they like being given
- clean water
- bread
- kindness to dogs
- a quiet night of rest and dream journalling
How to honour them
- Rest and sleep well as an offering; his temple seems to have had a place for healing sleep.
- Visit Lydney Park in Gloucestershire on its open days, if you can.
- Keep a dream journal while you ask him for healing.
How they can help you
- healing
- dreams and rest
- finding lost things
- dogs
Symbols
- the dog
- the fish
- the sea-god in a chariot
- the ring
He is known only from inscriptions and finds; J. R. R. Tolkien wrote a note on his name for the 1932 excavation report.
Sources
- RIB 305, 306, 307 (Lydney Park)
- Wheeler and Wheeler, Report on the Excavation at Lydney Park (1932)
- Green, Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend
More Celtic gods
- The Dagda The good god, father of all
- Lugh Master of all the arts
- Cernunnos The antlered one of the wild
- Manannán mac Lir Lord of the sea and the Otherworld
- Aengus The young god of love
- Nuada The king with the silver hand
- Dian Cécht Physician of the Tuatha Dé Danann
- Goibniu Smith of the gods and brewer of the feast