Celtic religion in pre-Christian times — John Shaqi
Celtic religion in pre-Christian timesAnwyl, E. (Edward)
Religion
Celtic religion in pre-Christian times
Anwyl, E. (Edward)
Celts -- Religion; Mythology, Celtic
A very considerable number are the deities of springs and rivers. In
Noricum, for example, we have Adsalluta, a goddess associated with Savus
(the river Save). In Britain 'the goddess' Deva (the Dee), and Belisama
(either the Ribble or the Mersey), a name meaning 'the most warlike
goddess,' are of this type. We have again Axona the goddess of the river
Aisne, Sequana, the goddess of the Seine, Ritona of the river Rieu,
numerous nymphs and many other deities of fountains. Doubtless many
other names of local deities are of this kind. Aerial phenomena appear
to have left very few clear traces on the names of Celtic deities.
Vintios, a god identified with Mars, was probably a god of the wind,
Taranucus, a god of thunder, Leucetios, a god of lightning, Sulis (of
Bath) a sun-goddess, but beyond these there are few, if any, reflections
of the phenomena of the heavens. Of the gods named on inscriptions
nearly all are identified with Mercury, Mars, or Apollo. The gods who
came to be regarded as culture-deities appear from their names to be of
various origins: some are humanised totems, others are in origin deities
of vegetation or local natural phenomena. As already indicated, it is
clear that the growth of commercial and civilised life in certain
districts had brought into prominence deities identified with Mercury and
Minerva as the patrons of civilisation. Military men, especially in
Britain, appear to have favoured deities like Belatucadros (the brilliant
in war), identified with Mars.
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