Maponos
Maponos or Maponus is a Celtic god of hunting and youth, probably also of fertility and light. He was especially worshiped in northern Britain near Hadrian's Wall and the Roman god equated with Apollo in Romano- British period.
Etymology and worship
The name " Maponos " is derived from the Celtic " MAPOs " ( " son of ", " child " ) and the suffix ' - onos " from appearing as a frequent extension of divine names, see also Irish mac and Welsh mab.
Maponus were in the range between Hadrian and Antonine prepares some places of worship, the place name Lochmaben in Dumfriesshire still remembers it. A probable " Mapunuskopf " was found at Corbridge. From his worship in the North of England evidence also some inscriptions, especially on the altar of Hexham Abbey ( near Newcastle upon Tyne ) with the text Apollini / MAPONO / Q Terentius / QF [ ] OVF / FIRMUS SAEN / PräF CAST / LEG VI PF / DD (RIB 1120).
The god was probably worshiped by the continental Celts of Gaul. Besides the inscription in Rouen and in 1971 discovered lead panel of Chamalières also knows the Calendar of Coligny two days, which carry the name " Mapanos ". The lead panel is a so-called curse panel in the Gallic language from the first half of the 1st century AD and is equipped with 336 characters or 64 words of the second longest found to date Gallic text after the curse panel of Larzac. It is now in the Museum Bargoin in Clermont -Ferrand. Léon Fleuriot suspected in the very controversial inscription a message of victory, Wolfgang Meid rather a report on especially when you are healed of eye diseases, newer researchers tend to curse panel or a Maponus Invocation. The Underground Maponus to bring to some unnamed Romans to make perjury sick ( PY Lambert ) in it.
Related is the name of the Welsh legendary figure of Mabon, the son of Modron ( "Mother " ) and possibly the mellt ( " flash "). He is referred to in the Welsh legend of Kulhwch and Olwen as the greatest fighter of Britain, and must be freed of King Arthur from his imprisonment in Gloucester. The Irish legendary figure Angus MacOg is often cited for comparison, because this represents the archetype of the young Celtic god, the son of the mother goddess and the god of heaven dar. ( in Wales Modron and mellt, Ireland Boand and Dagda )
Other characters from the Arthurian legend, which are etymologically related, may be
- Of Mabon with any analog Mabuz,
- The knight Mabonagrain, whose name is of Celtic origin and the Maponos, with the connecting likewise testified Celtic Apollo Hyposthase bloodlines.
Esoteric
In neo-pagan " Wicca " as well as parts of modern Druidry the feast of autumnal equinox is named after the Welsh legendary figure Mabon and Mabon or Maponos interpreted as an incarnation of the young light - or sun-god, who is born in the fall or midwinter of the Mother Goddess.