The Name 'Nodens'

From Tolkien Gateway

"The Name 'Nodens'" is the title of an essay by J.R.R. Tolkien, first published in July 1932 as Appendix I to Report on the Excavation of the Prehistoric, Roman, and Post-Roman Site in Lydney Park, Gloucestershire.[1][2]

In his essay, Tolkien discusses the word Nodens, which appears in three inscriptions found at the excavations in Lydney Park. Nodens appears to be the name of an otherwise unrecorded god. Tolkien links the name to the Old Irish Núadu and Welsh Nudd. Núadu was the King of the Túatha dé Danann, the one time rulers of Ireland. Tolkien goes on to trace the name in other ancient languages and finally comes to the conclusion that the name means either "the catcher", "the snarer", or "the hunter".[1]

In 2007, the essay was reprinted in Tolkien Studies, volume 4.

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