Etymology:

The root in Callirius’ name comes from the Celtic *kalli, which comes from the root *kel- ‘to cut’ [1]. *kalli then refers to the woods, and Callirius is a God of the woods [1]. Derivations of *kalli can be seen in Calleva, the old name for Silchester, meaning ‘town in the woods’ [1]. Callirius then means ‘the One of the Trees’ [2] or ‘Woodland King/ King of the Woodland’ [3]. 

Inscriptions:

There is a single inscription to Callirius. 

“To the god Silvanus Callirius, Cintusmus, the coppersmith, willingly and deservedly fulfilled as a gift his vow.” (RIB 194)

Another inscription, found at the same site, may be dedicated to Callirius, without mention of His name.

“To the god Silvanus Hermes gladly vowed this on the fulfilment of his vow.” (RIB 195)

Iconography:

Green suggests that a stag figurine was dedicated to Callirius at Colchester [3]. The stag can be seen as the epitome of the forces of the forest, with their antlers appearing as the branches of the trees in the woods they dwell in [4]. Furthermore, stags are symbols of fertility, strength, speed and alertness, all qualities hunters and warriors seek to cultivate and can therefore be considered patrons for these ventures [4]. 

Interpretatio:

The dedication to Callirius was made by Cintusmus himself and is described as a reverse of interpretatio Romana, with Cintusmus finding a Roman God that reminds him of Callirius [5]. The interpretatio with Silvanus, whose cult was widespread over the Roman Empire, can inform us about Callirius’ cult. Silvanus was given cult by trappers, hunters, farmers, woodcutters and those who lived in and around the forests, as this was His domain [5]. Silvanus was often depicted holding a tree, usually a pine, but many trees were used throughout his wide cult range [5]. While he was associated with hunting, especially in Britain, Silvanus’ primary concern was agriculture and guarding the farm and its flocks, often depicted with farming implements and a dog, presumably a guardian and herder of flocks. 

Interpretatio Britanna:

Callirius may then be a God that protects the forest and those that dwell within it and on its edges, and as an exemplar for hunters and warriors. Callirius may be called Callirius Belyoberos, Callirius the Tree-bearer, Gallo-Brittonic epithet. It is reminiscent of the antlers of stags and a Silvanus’ epithet dendrophorus [5]. 

Bibliography:

Aldhouse-Green, M.J. (2004). Symbol and image in Celtic religious art. London: Taylor & Francis E-Library. [3]

Breeze, A., 2004. The God Silvanus Callirius and RIB 194, from Colchester. Britannia, 35, pp.228-229. [1]

Dorcey, P.F. (1992). The cult of Silvanus : a study in Roman folk religion. Leiden ; New York: E.J. Brill. [5]

Green, A.J. (1998). Animals in Celtic life and myth. London ; New York: Routledge. [4]

Häussler, R., 2012. Interpretatio indigena: re-inventing local cults in a global world. Interpretatio Indigena: Re-inventing Local Cults in a Global World, pp.143-174. [2]

RIB 194, Dedication to Silvanus Callirius, Roman Inscriptions in Britain, https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/194.

RIB 195, Dedication to Silvanus, Roman Inscriptions in Britain, https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/195.