NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Sulis

In ancient Celtic polytheism, Sul or Sulis (also found as Sulevis: see Suleviae) was the deification of spring-water, especially of thermal spring-water, conceived as a nourishing, life-giving Mother goddess. She is known especially from Bath, where she was worshipped as Sulis Minerva. Celtic polytheism refers to the religious beliefs and practices of ancient Celts until the Christianization of Celtic-speaking lands. ... In Celtic mythology, Sulis is the local goddess of the thermal springs that still feed the spa baths at Bath, which the Romans called Aquae Sulis (the waters of Sulis). Her name appears on inscriptions at Bath, but nowhere else. ... A Cucuteni culture statuette, 4th millennium BC. A mother goddess is a goddess, often portrayed as the Earth Mother, who serves as a general fertility deity, the bountiful embodiment of the earth. ... , Bath is a small city in Somerset, England most famous for its historic baths fed by three hot springs. ... Head of Minerva by Elihu Vedder, 1896 For other uses, see Minerva (disambiguation). ...

The cult of Sulis at Bath

Sulis was the local goddess of the thermal springs that still feed the spa baths at Bath, which the Romans called Aquae Sulis ("the waters of Sulis"). Her name appears on inscriptions at Bath, but nowhere else. This should not be disappointing. Celtic deities often preserved their archaic localisation. They remained to the end associated with a specific place, often a cleft in the earth, a spring, pool or well. The Greeks referred to the similarly local pre-Hellenic deities in the local epithets that they assigned, associated with the cult of their Olympian pantheon at certain places (Zeus Molossos only at Dodona, for example). The Romans tended to lose sight of these specific locations, except in a few Etruscan cult inheritances and ideas like the genius loci, the guardian spirit of a place. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1188x972, 263 KB) Roman Baths, Bath. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1188x972, 263 KB) Roman Baths, Bath. ... In Roman mythology a genius loci was the protective spirit of a place. ... Thermal bath has different meanings in various contexts. ... , Bath is a small city in Somerset, England most famous for its historic baths fed by three hot springs. ... Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... For alternate meanings see Bath (disambiguation) Palladian Pulteney Bridge and the weir at Bath Bath is a city in south-west England, most famous for its baths fed by three hot springs. ... The gods and goddesses of Celtic mythology are known from a variety of sources. ... For other uses, see Dodona (disambiguation). ... This article does not discuss cult in its original meaning. ... In Roman mythology a genius loci was the protective spirit of a place. ...

Identification with Minerva

At Bath, the Roman temple is dedicated to Sulis Minerva, as the primary deity of the temple spa. Through the Roman Minerva syncresis, later mythographers have inferred that Sulis was also a goddess of wisdom and decisions. Sulis was a goddess of the hot springs, which arrived so vividly fresh from the Underworld, therefore she guarded a liminal connection between this sunlit world and the Otherworld, where there was knowledge that could be effective in prophecy. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (2136 Ã— 2848 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (2136 Ã— 2848 pixel, file size: 1. ... Roman Bath The Great Bath â€” the entire structure above the level of the pillar bases is a later reconstruction. ... The Temple of Hercules Victor, near the Teatro di Marcello in Rome (a Greek-style Roman temple) // Pagan history and architecture Originally in Roman paganism, a templum was not (necessarily) a cultic building but any ritually marked observation site for natural phenomena believed to allow predictions, such as the flight... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Underworld (disambiguation). ...

Sulis was not the only goddess exhibiting syncretism with Minerva. Senua's name appears on votive plaques bearing Minerva's image, while Brigantia also shares many traits associated with Minerva. The identification of multiple Celtic gods with the same Roman god is not unusual (both Mars and Mercury were paired with a multiplicity of Celtic names). On the other hand, Celtic goddesses tended to resist syncretism; Sulis Minerva is one of the few attested pairings of a Celtic goddess with her Roman counterpart. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Head of Minerva by Elihu Vedder, 1896 For other uses, see Minerva (disambiguation). ... In ancient Celtic polytheism, the female deification of the outpouring wellspring // Centres of worship Senua (also called Senuna) was worshipped in Roman Britain. ... In Gallo-Roman and Romano-British religion, Brigantia was a goddess who is attested several places in Britain and Europe. ...

A cult of Sulis outside Bath?

Dedications to “Minerva” are common in both Great Britain and continental Europe, normally without any Celtic epithet or interpretation. (Cf. Belisama for one exception.) Head of Minerva by Elihu Vedder, 1896 For other uses, see Minerva (disambiguation). ... In Celtic mythology, Belisama (also Belesama, Belisma) was a goddess worshipped in Britain. ...

A similar name, Suleviae, frequently identified as a plural form of Sulis, has been attested in the epigraphic record from sites at Bath and elsewhere. The aspect of plurality links the Suleviae to a good many widely-revered divine mothers, who frequently appear with two or three primary aspects to their character. In Celtic mythology, Sulis is the local goddess of the thermal springs that still feed the spa baths at Bath, which the Romans called Aquae Sulis (the waters of Sulis). Her name appears on inscriptions at Bath, but nowhere else. ... , Bath is a small city in Somerset, England most famous for its historic baths fed by three hot springs. ... In Celtic mythology, the Deae Matres are the triple goddess who preside over fertility, motherhood and creativity. ...

Sulis in post-classical memory

Continuity in British literature

The legend later connected with the origins of the Aquae Sulis are Roman rather than Celtic, though Celtic writers enjoyed repeating them: Her eternal fire was kindled in Troy and brought to Britain by Aeneas from the sacked city; a theme of healing recurs in the legend of the founder of Bath, the mythic King Bladud, disfigured by leprosy or scrofula, who bathed in the hot mud with which pigs soothed their own skin. He founded Sulis' shrine over the spot. â€¹ The template below is being considered for deletion. ... Bladud was a legendary king of the Britons as recounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth. ... For the malady found in the Hebrew Bible, see the article Tzaraath. ... King Henry IV of France touching a number of sufferers of scrofula who are gathered about him in a circle. ...

Incorporation into Neo-paganism

Neo-Celtic mythology can build a great deal on such slender evidence. Moyra Caldecott has written a historical romance, The Waters of Sul (first published as Aquae Sulis). Neopaganism (sometimes Neo-Paganism, meaning New Paganism) is a heterogeneous group of religions which attempt to revive ancient, mainly European pre-Christian religions. ... Moyra Caldecott (June 1, 1927) is a British author of historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction and non-fiction. ...

Fairgrove's views

Rowan Fairgrove's e-essay, "What we don't know about the ancient Celts" describes the recovered dedications and curses scratched onto potsherds, which give a better idea of what her Romano-Briton devotés wanted from Sulis Minerva.

Fairgrove also mentions a trio of goddesses who were not so site-specific as Sulis, the Suleviae, whose names appear in inscriptions found at Cirencester, Colchester and in several locations in Gaul. Collected Latin inscriptions (CIL) show that these include dedications to the Sulevian Mothers (Matribus Suleviae), the Sulevian Goddess (Deae Sulevae), the Sulevian Goddesses (Sulevis deabus) and to the Sulevian sisters (Sulevis Sororibus). In Celtic mythology, Sulis is the local goddess of the thermal springs that still feed the spa baths at Bath, which the Romans called Aquae Sulis (the waters of Sulis). Her name appears on inscriptions at Bath, but nowhere else. ... Cirencester is a market town in Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles (150 km) west northwest of London. ... For other places with the same name, see Colchester (disambiguation). ... Gaul (Latin: ) was the name given,in ancient times, to the region of Western Europe comprising present-day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river. ...

Are these "Suleviae" the "tripled Sulis," as other triple Celtic deities were tripled, even Roman Mars appearing as triplets? Fairgrove adds, "One of the inscriptions at Bath, on a statue base says 'To the Suleviae, Sulinus, a sculptor, son of Brucetus, gladly and deservedly made this offering' so we know they, as well as the singular Sulis Minerva, were known at this site also." In Celtic mythology, Sulis is the local goddess of the thermal springs that still feed the spa baths at Bath, which the Romans called Aquae Sulis (the waters of Sulis). Her name appears on inscriptions at Bath, but nowhere else. ...

Etymology of the name

Suil in Old Irish is 'eye' or "gap". Did her name "Sulis" suggest, in Gallo-Brittonic, the connotation of the 'orifice or gap' through which the healing waters ran? At Delphi the omphalos or navel was an opening into the other world. This article is about the modern Goidelic language. ...

However, the reconstructed lexis of the Proto-Celtic language as collated by the University of Wales [1] suggests that the name is likely to be ultimately derived from the Proto-Celtic *Su-lījīs. This Proto-Celtic word connotes the semantics of ‘Good, Flooding One,’ *līj- being found in *Lījros (‘tidal flood, sea,’ cf Lir and Llyr) and in *Līj-enissā (‘tidal island;’ cf. Lyonesse). This apparent semantic connotation has led Dr. John Koch at the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies to suggest that this mythic personality may well personify “beneficial water-flow,” of which the thermal springs at Bath and perhaps other sites may well have been deemed a manifestation. This theory, if it is correct, would account for the associations with potentially therapeutic thermal springs. This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... The Proto-Celtic language, also called Common Celtic, is the putative ancestor of all the known Celtic languages. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... In Celtic mythology, Lir (the sea) was the god of the sea, father of Manannan mac Lir, Bran, Branwen and Manawydan by Penarddun and a son of Danu and Beli. ... In Celtic mythology, Lir (the sea) was the god of the sea, father of Manannan mac Lir, Bran, Branwen and Manawydan by Penarddun and a son of Danu and Beli. ... Lyonesse, Lyoness, or Lyonnesse is the sunken land believed in legend to lie off the Isles of Scilly, to the south-west of Cornwall. ... , Bath is a small city in Somerset, England most famous for its historic baths fed by three hot springs. ...

The usual etymology is that Sulis means 'sun', however, as this is the original form of Welsh haul 'sun' and Old Irish suil (from Indo-European *sawel-); cf. Latin sol 'sun'. The Proto-Indo-European language (PIE) is the hypothetical common ancestor of the Indo-European languages, spoken by the Proto-Indo-Europeans. ...

External links

Categories: Ancient Gaulish and British goddesses | Sea and river goddesses | Roman city of Bath Celtic mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, apparently the religion of the Iron Age Celts. ... Gaul (Latin: ) was the name given,in ancient times, to the region of Western Europe comprising present-day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river. ... In Celtic mythology, Alaunus was a Gaulish god of the sun, healing and prophecy. ... In Celtic mythology, Alisanos or Alisaunus was the local god of the Cite dOr. ... In Celtic mythology, Andarta was a warrior goddess, worshipped especially in Gaul. ... In Celtic mythology, Anextiomarus was a tribal god worshipped in Britain. ... In Celtic mythology, (specifically known from Switzerland), Artio was a goddess of wildlife, specifically the bear, and was worshipped at Berne, which actually means bear. She was often called Artio of Muri. ... In Celtic mythology and especially Gaul, Aveta or Lyregwyn was a goddess of female-fertility, childbirth and midwives, also associated with all fresh water. ... In Celtic mythology, Belenus (also Belinus, Belenos, Belinos, Belinu, Bellinus, Belus, Bel) was a deity worshipped in Gaul, Britain and Celtic areas of Italy and Austria. ... In Celtic mythology, Belisama (also Belesama, Belisma) was a goddess worshipped in Britain. ... In Celtic mythology, Borvo (to boil), also Bormo, Bormanus, was a deity worshipped in Gaul. ... In Gallo-Roman and Romano-British religion, Brigantia was a goddess who is attested several places in Britain and Europe. ... In Celtic mythology, Camulus or Camulos was the god of war of the Remi, a Celtic tribe, who lived in the area of todays Belgium. ... Depiction of Cernunnos from the Pilier des nautes, Paris Cernunnos in Celtic polytheism is the deified spirit of horned male animals, especially of stags, a nature god associated with produce and fertility. ... Cicolluis or Cicoluis (also known as Cicollus, Cicolus, Cicollui, and Cichol) is a god in Celtic mythology worshiped by the ancient Gaulish and Irish peoples. ... Cissonius (also Cisonius, Cesonius) was an ancient Gaulish god. ... In Celtic mythology, Condatis (waters meet) was a deity worshipped primarily in northern Britain but also in Gaul. ... In Celtic mythology, Contrebis or Contrebus (he who dwells among us) was the patron god of Lancaster. ... In Celtic mythology, Damona (Divine cow) was a fertility goddess worshipped in Gaul as the consort of Borvo. ... In Celtic mythology, Dea Matrona (divine mother goddess) was the goddess of the river Marne in Gaul. ... Dis Pater, or Dispater, was a Roman and Celtic god of the underworld, later subsumed by Pluto or Jupiter. ... For other uses of Epona, see Epona (disambiguation) Image:Epona link. ... Aericura (Aerecura, Heracura, Eracura) was a goddess worshipped in ancient times, often thought to be Celtic in origin, associated with the Roman underworld god Dis Pater: she appears with him in a statue found at Oberseebach, Switzerland and in several magical texts from Austria, once in the company of Cerberus... Image of Esus on the Pillar of the Boatmen. ... In Celtic mythology, the three Hooded Spirits were healing and fertility deities. ... In Celtic mythology, Grannus (also Gramnos, Gramnnos) was a god of healing and mineral springs. ... In ancient Celtic religion, Ialonus Contrebis or Ialonus or Gontrebis was a god (or perhaps two related gods) worshipped in what are now Lancashire and Provence. ... Lenus was a Celtic healing god sometimes equated with the Celtic god Iovantucarus (apparently as a protector of youth) and the Roman god Mars. ... Litavis (also known as Litauis,[1] Litaui, Litauia,[2],[3] and Llydaw[4]) is a goddess in Celtic mythology worshiped by the ancient Gauls. ... In Gallo-Roman religion, Loucetios (Latinized as Leucetius) was a Gaulish god invariably identified with Mars. ... Lugus was a deity widely hypothesized to have been worshipped in Gaul, Britain, Ireland, Spain and other ancient Celtic regions. ... In Celtic mythology, Maponos or Maponus (divine son) was a god of youth known mainly in northern Britain but also in Gaul. ... The Matres or Matronae were ancient deities venerated in northwestern Europe in Roman and earlier times. ... Mogons or Moguns was a Celtic god worshipped in Roman Britain and in Gaul. ... In Continental Brythonic mythology, and especially in Gaul, Nantosuelta was a goddess of water and fertility. ... In Celtic mythology, Nemetona (shrine) was the goddess of temples and sacred groves. ... Ogmios was a Gaulish deity, usually depicted as a bald old man with a bow and club who leads an apparently happy band of men with chains attached to their ears and tongues. ... In Continental Celtic mythology, Rosmerta was a goddess of fire, fertility and warmth, as well as flowers and death. ... In Celtic mythology, Segomo (victor, mighty one) was a war god worshipped in Gaul, and possibly in Britain and Ireland. ... In Celtic mythology, Sirona was a goddess worshipped predominantly in East Central Gaul and along the Danubian limes. ... Sucellus was the god of agriculture, forests and alcoholic drinks in Lusitanian mythology. ... In Celtic mythology, Sulis is the local goddess of the thermal springs that still feed the spa baths at Bath, which the Romans called Aquae Sulis (the waters of Sulis). Her name appears on inscriptions at Bath, but nowhere else. ... In Celtic mythology Taranis was a god of thunder worshipped in Gaul and Britain and mentioned, along with Esus and Toutatis, by the Roman poet Lucan in his epic poem Pharsalia. ... Toutatis or Teutates, ancient god of Celts and Gauls, whose name means father of the tribe. ... Virotutis is a Celtic epithet of the sun-god Apollo. ... Visucius was a Gallo-Roman god, usually identified with Mercury. ... Abandinus is a Celtic deity, currently known only from a single inscription from Godmanchester in Cambridgeshire, England: an inscribed bronze votive feather is dedicated to him with the text to the god Abandinus, Vatiaucus gave this from his own resources. ... In Celtic mythology, the Alaisiagae were war goddesses, similar to the Valkyries. ... Ancasta was a Celtic goddess worshipped in Roman Britain. ... Andraste or Andate, according to Dio Cassius, was a Celtic goddess of victory invoked by Boudicca while fighting against the Roman occupation of Britain in AD 61. ... 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In Celtic mythology, Bricta or Brixia was a Gaulish goddess who was consort of Luxovius, god of the waters of Luxeuil_les_Bains. ... In Gallo-Roman religion, Dea Icaunis was the goddess of the river Yonne in Gaul. ... In Celtic mythology, Luxovius was the god of the waters of Luxeuil, worshipped in Gaul. ... Moritasgus (Masses of Sea Water) is a Celtic epithet of the sun-god Apollo, at Alesia in Burgundy. ... Mullo is a Celtic god. ... In Gallo-Roman religion, Robor or Roboris was a god invoked alongside the genius loci on a single inscription found in AngoulÃªme. ... In Celtic and Roman mythology, Sequanna (or Sequana) was the goddess of the river Seine and its environs. ... Souconna is a Celtic goddess, the deity of the river Saone at Chalon-sur-Saone, to whom epigraphic invocation was made. ... Relief of Smertrius from the Pillar of the Boatmen, Paris. ... Telo is a Celtic goddess, the eponymous spirit of Toulon in the Dordogne. ... 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