Mullo (god)

Mullo was a Gallo-Roman solar deity, primarily venerated in Britain and Gaul. Evidence for the worship of Mullo comes from dedicatory inscriptions found on altars and votive offerings. He is generally interpreted as a sun god, although the specific nature of his solar attributes and relationship to other solar deities in the Roman pantheon is subject to interpretation and scholarly debate.

The most significant find relating to Mullo is a temple dedicated to him in Allonnes (Deux-Sèvres), France. This discovery provided substantial epigraphic evidence for the god’s worship in continental Gaul. Other inscriptions, though fewer in number, have been found in Britain, suggesting a broader geographical spread of his cult.

The etymology of the name "Mullo" is uncertain, but it is often linked to Celtic roots, possibly relating to words for "mule" or concepts of kingship or sovereignty. Such interpretations are speculative, and no definitive etymological link has been universally accepted.

The iconography associated with Mullo is largely inferred from the context of the inscriptions and the general understanding of solar deities in the Gallo-Roman period. No specific artistic representations of Mullo are definitively identified. It is likely that his depiction, if any existed, would have borrowed from common Romano-Celtic artistic conventions, potentially incorporating solar symbols or attributes of kingship.

The worship of Mullo appears to have flourished during the Roman period, eventually declining with the rise of Christianity and the suppression of pagan cults. The archaeological record provides valuable insights into the religious practices of the Gallo-Roman era and offers a glimpse into the diverse pantheon of gods and goddesses worshipped in the region.