Lusitanian mythology
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
Please help improve this article by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (February 2007) |
Lusitanian mythology is the mythology of the Lusitanians, the Indo-European people of western Iberia, in the territory comprising most of modern Portugal south of the Douro river.
Lusitanian deities heavily influenced all of the religious practices in western Iberia, namely also in Gallaecia. They mingled with Roman deities after Lusitania was conquered.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Main pantheon
Of particular importance and popularity, especially following the Roman conquest, were a number of deities among whom were Endovelicus, Ataegina, Nabia and Trebaruna. Endovelicus was a god of healing and also had oracular functions. With ninety-four separate dedications[2], he appears to have been the most important of all. Ataegina is less well defined; her name has been derived from Celtic *atte-gena perhaps meaning "reborn". Nabia may have been two separate deities, the consort of the Lusitanian equivalent of the Roman Jupiter and another associated with earth and sacred springs[3] while Trebaruna's name appears in inscriptions in the Lusitanian language associated with another, presumably male deity named Reve, whom Witczak[4] suggests may be the equivalent of the Roman Iovis or Jupiter, both names ultimately deriving from proto-Indo-European *diewo-.
Bandua or Bandi is another with numerous dedications: the name is male in most inscriptions and yet the only depiction being female, it seems the name referred to numerous deities, especially since Bandi/Bandue often carries an epithet associating the name with that of a town or other location such as Bandua Roudaeco, Etobrico or Brealiacui. The god or goddess was probably the protector of the local community and is often associated with the Roman Mars.[5]
[edit] Deities
Dii, Lares, Nymphs and Genii, were the main types of divinity worshiped, known from the Latin epigraphy, although many names are recorded in the Lusitanian or Celtiberian languages.
[edit] See also
- Enchanted Moura
- Castro culture
- Celtic mythology
- Etruscan mythology
- Germanic mythology
- Greek mythology
- List of deities
- Lusitanian language
- Ophiussa
- Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula
- Proto-Indo-European mythology
- Roman mythology
[edit] References and bibliography
- ^ Syncrétisme Religieux dans la Lusitanie Romaine, Katia Maia-Bessa (1999)
- ^ ibid.
- ^ Leroux & Tranoy, Contribution a l'etude des regions rurales del Nor-ouest hispanique au Haut-Empire: deux inscriptions de Penafiel. III Congresso Nacional de Arqueología (1974)
- ^ On The Indo-European Origin Of Two Lusitanian Theonyms (Laebo and Reve), Krzysztof Tomasz Witczak, Lódz (1999)
- ^ E-Keltoi Journal of Inter-disciplinary Celtic Studies, vol. 6, Celtic Gods of the Iberian Penninsula, Juan Carlos Olivares Pedreño - http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/celtic/ekeltoi/volumes/vol6/6_12/olivares_6_12.html
- Bibliography
- Coutinhas, José Manuel - Aproximação à identidade etno-cultural dos Callaici Bracari. Porto. 2006.
- García Fernández-Albalat, Blanca - Guerra y Religión en la Gallaecia y la Lusitania Antiguas. A Coruña. 1990.
- McKenna, Stephen. Paganism and Pagan Survivals in Spain up to the Fall of the Visigothic Kingdom.
- Martínez, Sonia María García. La epigrafía romana del concelho de Guimarães. Un estado de la cuestión.Revista de Guimarães, n.º 105, 1995, pp. 139-171
- Pedreño, Juan Carlos Olivares. Teonimos indigenas masculinos del ambito Lusitano-Galaico: un intento de síntesis.Revista de Guimarães, Volume Especial, I, Guimarães, 1999, pp. 277-296
- Pedreño, Juan Carlos Olivares - Los Dioses de la Hispania Céltica. Madrid. 2002.
- Robalo, Mário.Deuses de pedra.
