Along with the powerful attributes of abundance, prosperity and virility, the stag is known for its untamable nature. Take a leap on the wild side with the Stag Torc! Design Details The Medium Stag Torc is constructed with a medium braid of wire, and is approximately 5/16 inch (8 mm) thick. It is available in bronze and sterling silver. Which Torc Is Right For You? We offer two versions of the Stag Torc: medium and heavy. We also offer the Stags of Cernunnos Torc in the extra-heavy braid, both plain and jeweled. Historical Inspiration Deer, which are indigenous to every continent except Antarctica and Australia, frequently appear in art and stories from cross the ancient world, and are one of the very first animals depicted by man. Before agriculture or animal husbandry, venison was a staple food. Early hunters would paint deer on the walls of caves, or carve then in antler or bone in hopes of invoking a successful hunt. In Celtic mythology, deer were often thought to magical creatures. Sometimes they were shape-shifting heroes or villains who could take the from of a stag or fawn. Other times, a deer might appear to lead a hero to an entrance to the Otherworld (which is the origin of the white stag in C. S. Lewis' book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) Stag antlers also have symbolic meaning. They can symbolize rebirth and reincarnation because of their ability to be shed and regrown each year. The way in which antlers are rooted in the skull and reach into the sky evokes a connection between earthly concerns and the divine. There is Mesopotamian legend that describes a great stag who crosses the sky every day, bearing the sun on its antlers. Similarly, there is a Celtic myth that tells the story of the Horned God of the Hunt. In this story the stag is hunted and ultimately slain by a powerful hunter in the depths of winter, thereby freeing the sun and ushering in a new spring.
