Alaunus

Name

The Gaulish theonym Alaunos stems from a Proto-Celtic form reconstructed as *Alamnos, which is also attested in the plural form in the ethnonym Alauni (Αλαυνοί) from Noricum.

The etymology remains uncertain. It has been traditionally derived from the root *al- ('feed, raise, nurture'). On this basis, *Alamnos could be translated as 'the Nourishing One', and would be comparable to the Latin alumnus ('nursling') and, with a different suffix, to river names such as Almus (*Almos) in Moesia and Yealm (*Almā) in England. Alternatively, Xavier Delamarre has proposed deriving the name from the root alǝ- ('to wander'), which he argues would suit both river and ethnic names. In this view, *Alamnos may be compared with the Celtic stem *alamo- ('herd'), and the Alauni understood as the 'errants' or 'nomads', in contrast to the ethnonym Anauni ('the Staying Ones').

The name Alaunos is at the origin of many place-names and hydronyms across Europe, including Aln in Northumberland, Alun (*alounos) in Wales and Allamps in Meurthe. A feminine form Alauna (from an earlier *Alamnā) can also be found in Alleaume (Manche) and several Allonnes (Eure-et-Loir, Maine-et-Loire, Sarthe).

Attestations

Near modern Lurs, an ancient sanctuary dedicated to Alaunius is thought to have existed at the mansio of Alaunium (today Chapel of Notre Dame des Anges), as suggested by a reused inscription found in its north wall. According to Guy Barruol and Pierre Martel, the original cult site may have been located on the nearby height of the Pied d'Aulun, before being transferred closer to a major road as this route gained importance under Augustus. This interpretation is supported by the theonym Genius Mercurii Alauni (CIL XIII 6425) from Mannheim in Germany, which links Alaunius with the Roman Mercury, a god associated with roads.

The divinities Alounae are also attested near Salzburg.

References

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