The ancient Celtic people believed that their animals were protected by the god Cernunnos, also known as the Lord of the Beasts. Cernunnos was a powerful and mysterious deity associated with fertility, wilderness, and animals. He was often depicted with antlers or horns and surrounded by wild creatures such as stags, boars, and serpents. The Celts believed that Cernunnos could grant protection and prosperity to their livestock, as well as bless their hunts and harvests. They also saw him as a symbol of the cyclical nature of life and death, which was reflected in the changing seasons and the growth and decline of the natural world. Today, Cernunnos is still revered by some modern pagan and neo-Druidic traditions as a patron of animals, wilderness, and male fertility.