Camulus
Camulus or Camulos was a theonym for a deity of the Celts that the Romans equated with Mars in the interpretatio graeca.[1] He was an important god of early Great Britain and Gaul, especially among the Belgae and the Remi,[1] a Gaulish people living in the region that is now modern Grand Est around Reims.
Camulus is named in combination with Mars in inscriptions coming from Reims,[2] Arlon,[3] Kruishoutem,[4] Rindern,[5] Mainz,[6] Bar Hill Fort near the Antonine Wall,[7] Sarmizegetusa [8] and Southwark, London [9]
At Rindern, Germany, Mars Camulos appears on a stone with a wreath of oak.[1] Elsewhere he was portrayed with a ram-horned head.[1] Evidence of his popularity can be seen in several place-names notably Camulodunum.[1] Attempts to link him with the nursery character Old King Cole and Fionn's father Cumhall have been rejected by contemporary scholars.[1]
The town Camulodunum (now Colchester) in Essex may have been named after him, and is the possible basis for the legendary city Camelot.[10] Camulodunum is a latinised form of the Brittonic Camulodūnon from Camulos plus dūnon "(hill)fort, stronghold", a reference to the town's extensive Iron Age earthwork defences.[11]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Camulus." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford University Press, 1998, 2004.
- ↑ ILTG 351; AE 1935, 00064 [In] honor[em d(omus) d(ivinae)] / [3] Martis Cam[uli 3] / [Iucundiniu[s 3] / [Laurenti]um Lavinat[ium
- ↑ CIL 13 3980 : Marti / Camulo / Lellius / Settus / v(otum) [s(olvit)] l(ibens) m(erito)
- ↑ AE 1992, 01244 : Deo Marti Camulo / Verecundus Fructi / v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito)
- ↑ CIL 13 8701 : Marti Camulo / sacrum pro / salute [Neronis] <<Tiberii>> / Claudi Caesaris / [A]ug(usti) Germanici Imp(eratoris) / [c]ives Remi qui / [t]emplum constitu/erunt
- ↑ CIL 13 11818 : Marti / Camulo / sacrum / [ // Fronto / T[3]oni f(ilius) / d(onum) d(edit)
- ↑ CIL 7 1103 : Deo Mar(ti) / Camulo / [m]ilites coh(ortis) [I] / Hamioru[m] / [2]CIV[1]SC[2] / [2]IVI[3]
- ↑ AE 1998, 01100 : Invicto / Mithrae / Marti Camulo / Mercurio / Rosmertae / Q(uintus) Axius Aeli/anus v(ir) e(gregius) / proc(urator) Aug[g](ustorum) / Ioni(us)
- ↑ AE 2002, 882: Num(inibus) Augg(ustorum) / deo Marti Ca/mulo Tiberini/us Celerianus / c(ivis) Bell(ovacus) / moritix / Londiniensi/um / primus [3] / [3]VA[
- ↑ Arthur Cotterell (1997). The Encyclopedia of Mythology: Classical, Celtic, Norse. Anness Publishing Ltd.
- ↑ Crummy, Philip (1997) City of Victory; the story of Colchester - Britain's first Roman town. Published by Colchester Archaeological Trust (ISBN 1 897719 04 3)
