(no subject)

[gwynhefar]

Ok, this is driving me nuts, and hopefully one of you can help.

One of the leaders of the Wild Hunt has been traditionally depicted as antlered, with owl's eyes set in a human face. This figure has shown up, unnamed, in several novels, but I can't for the life of me remember which figure it was originally modeled after. Anyone know?

EDIT: Herne seems to be a common consensus. I think the first time I heard the description it was Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising series and her description of Herne. The other novels I've come across that mention the same description were all written after Cooper's so I have to wonder if perhaps she began that specific description. I couldn't find any authoritative sources mentioning Herne with owl's eyes, although several mention his antlers and a few mention that he carries an owl on his shoulder. Perhaps I'll never know exactly where it comes from.

Comments

[danorsong.livejournal.com]

I always thought of him as the horned king or Hern. blame the dark is rising series.

[danorsong.livejournal.com]

Make that Kerne...

Although Herne is seen as an aspect of Cernunnos, the Horned God

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's one of them, but that's not the only one. And Herne traditionally carries an owl on his shoulder, but doesn't have the owl eyes. I think it's someone else. Maybe Arawn? I'm just not sure.

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

Very interesting. Of course the Shaman is also a much more composite figure, while the figure I"m talking about has antlers and owl eyes, but is otherwise very human-looking. Still, the Shaman could easily be a source for the image.

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

Hm. Herne? Gwynn ap Nudd?

[angelus-dolorum.livejournal.com]

Perchta?

[deza.livejournal.com]

Another vote for Herne the Hunter. Many of the old Celtic stone carvings depict him with large eyes.

[fmh.livejournal.com]

Sounds like Herne.

[cissa.livejournal.com]

For me, Herne is antlered but doesn't have owl eyes such that I've noticed. But I may not notice particularly because cats' eyes map as normal to me.

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

The owl eyes are very noticeable :) But then I know I was influenced by Susan Cooper, where I first read the description, so who knows.

I was really hoping to track down a traditional source, so far I've seen it in several different fantasy novels, but nothing official.