Dea Matrona

Matrona or Dea Matrona is the name of a river goddess, which is understood as the personification of the river Marne.

The Adoration of the Matrona is attested to by a consecration inscription that was found in Bellesmes ( Haute- Marne) near Langres ( Andemantunnum in Gallia Belgica ) 1831 in the headwaters of the river ( " La Marnotte " ):

" Successus / l Natalis ( ibertus ) / maceriem / caementiciam / circa hoc system / plum de sua pe / cunia Matro / nae ex voto sus / cepto v ( otum ) s ( olvit ) l ( ibens ) m ( erito ) "

" Successus, [ as a slave ] released by Natalis had, at his own expense, this outer wall of rubble to build this temple in honor of the Matrona, according to his vow which he likes and meritorious met. "

The Roman general Gaius Julius Caesar mentioned in his report Commentarii de Bello Gallico ( book 1, 1 ) on the Gallic Wars (58 to 51/50 BC) Matrona as the name of the river Marne, together with the lower reaches of the Sequana ( His ), the boundary between the heartland of the Roman province of Gaul and Belgica formed in the north. The name of the goddess is seen with the flow, especially its headwaters, in context.

The name Matrona is of Celtic origin, derived from Gaulish Matir (mother) and similar to the old Irish máthair (mother), both date back to the Indo-European * mater ( mother). As the " Divine Mother " Matrona is the singular form of Matronae. For this mother deities over 800 dedicatory inscriptions have been preserved, some with three diverse reliefs (see matrons ).

In 1805 already, the remains of a large Gallo- Roman building were found in La Marnotte. Some of the 12 rooms were equipped with hot baths, marble and fresco paintings. The initials of the builder ( Ti CL. ATT. F. ) and some coins from the time of the emperor Titus ( 79-81 AD) and Nero ( 54-68 ) were found. The mentioned in the inscription of the temple Matrona is understood as part of this building, which was probably built in the 1st century.

With Matrona also the name of Modron is associated, a mother goddess and legendary figure from Celtic mythology of Wales in the west of Britain.