Alaunus or Alaunius (Gaulish: Alaunos) is a Gaulish god of healing and prophecy [citation needed]. His name is known from inscriptions found in Lurs, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in Southern France[1] and in Mannheim in western Germany. In the latter inscription, Alaunus is used as an epithet of Mercury.[2] The feminine form Alauna (from an earlier *Alamnā) is at the origin of many place-names and hydronyms across Europe,[3] including the Roman-era names of Valognes in Normandy, Maryport and Watercrook in Cumbria, River Alyn in North Wales, Alcester in Warwickshire, Ardoch in Perthshire, and Learchild and the River Aln in Northumberland.[citation needed]