Celtic god who protected the young

Iovantucarus

A Celtic god of the Treveri people, linked to the healer-god Lenus Mars, whose sanctuary at Trier drew many pilgrims. His name reflects his role as protector of the young.

The myth

No narrative about this god survives, so what we know comes from his name and his links to other deities. Iovantucarus appears as an epithet of Lenus Mars, a healer-god honoured at Trier.

At Tholey, also in Treveran territory, the same name was applied to Mercury, showing that one epithet could attach to different gods.

Worship and religion

At the Trier sanctuary, pilgrims often brought images of children as offerings, frequently depicted holding pet birds. These votives suggest that worship centred on the wellbeing and protection of the young, and they reveal as much about families' concerns as about the god's domain. The sources do not say whether this cult survived.