Brythonic god of healing?

[nellie]

I was wondering if there are any indications that there may have ever been a Brythonic equivilant to Dian Cecht?
I know Maponus has healing connections but it is my feeling that He is very different to a Dian Cecht type of figure, and wonder if there was likely to have been a god who was more primarily concerned with maybe medicine?

[Lee]

there was a major healing centre in Lydney - Romanobritish - dedicated to Nodens. that is probably a safe bet also, on a more local level, Sulis.

[nellie]

Hmm. Currently think of Sulis as maybe a local name for Briganti or a similar figure.

In broader terms though, does a healing sactuary denote a straight up god of healing? As far as I'm aware there are lots of gods that seem to have been approached for healing but had the shrines/temples not been discovered the other information available wouldn't lead us to think of them as healing deities.

I hadn't properly considered Nodens though. How much sway do you give to the Irish myths? Obviously in those Nodens is healed rather than healer, divine patient rather than divine doctor From that angle the connection to healing to Nodens doesn't look straight forward.

[Lee]

maybe not, but the complex at Lydney with murals, lots of offerings - dogs seem to feature a lot - does suggest a link between the two, perhaps because of water associations. In all likelihood there probably wasnt a 'god of healing' ore like local gods associated with springs who were called upon for this purpose.

[nellie]

Lee are there any books (with pictures ) that you recommend concerning Lydney?

I have no connection to Nodens at all, and it would be an interesting way to approach Him.

[Lee]

none that i know of Mighty Google might come up with some good stuff.

I did look into visiting there a year or two ago but it is in private grounds and only open from may to june in any given year.