Robin Hood?

[Chessman]

My wife, (bless her), wants to know about Hearne, not sure if its the right spelling, she says she thinks he  is a forest god, about the time of Robin Hood, can anyone explain please.

[Zen]

Herne is English form of the Horned God known also as Cernunnos and Cernein Celtic lands. Herne is associated with the Wild Hunt, just as the GodGwynn ap Nudd is in Welsh mythology. While certainly some stories havecaptitalised on the Pagan elements of the story of Robin of Locksley,it is not that improbable that some form of Paganism or at least Paganelements remained in the thirteenth century. Occasionally throughoutthe Middle Ages the Church and States throughout Europe found it necessaryto issue warnings about making sacrifices, dancing at Pagan festivals, etc.

More at http://www.kernunnos.com/deities/cernunnos/texts.html

[woofgang]

if you do a google on herne the hunter there is loads of stuff. Here's another site http://www.lugodoc.demon.co.uk/HERNE.HTM

[smudge]

Here are some interesting pic's:

http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=herne+the+hunter&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images

[Pinotage]

The Robin of Sherwood series was quite mystical and had the character of Herne the Hunter who appeared to Robin and inspired him to become "the hooded man" and frequently came at times of trouble. There was  an episode where Robin was said to be the 'son of Herne', i.e. an incarnation of the god given earthly powers to protect the forest and the oppressed. That's probably the link your wife is thinking of.

Herne is referred to in the names of several places.

[Chessman]

Thanks to everyone who has answered, she is quite chuffed.