Matres and Matrones
Matrons, Matronae (from the Latin matrona " family mother, grand lady " ), Matres (also Deae Matres ) or Matrae ( from Latin mater 'mother' ) are in the majority, mainly the number three, occurring mother deities of Roman, Germanic and Celtic mythology. You are only through inscriptions and pictorial representations known ancient written sources are missing to them.
Presented they are in the form of a seated group of three to Votivsteinen and altars in Gaul, northern Spain, northern Italy and especially the northwest and northeast provinces of the Roman Empire.
Pictorial representations and inscriptions
About 800 Matronensteine have been alone on the territory of the former Roman province of Germania Inferior been found more frequently in the southern Rhineland, more consecration stones were found in southern France and southern Italy. All bear Latin inscriptions, in which the names of the donors were transferred into the Latin alphabet ( Romanization ). The oldest inscription found dated 70-89 AD, the latest in the year 240 There are about 70 known epithet of the goddess, the pin- persons wearing Roman, Celtic and Germanic names, so that from a Gallo- Roman Germanic cult is spoken. The goddesses stones were donated to ask for protection for the family, fertility or professional success, or in gratitude for the salvation of a danger or disease. It has not been established whether and how they were worshiped, but on every Matronenstein there is the abbreviation " V S L M" ( vote Solvit Libens Merito: " The vow gladly and meritorious redeemed " short L M, see the grip Walder Matronensteine ). Such vows indicate that the matrons were called to protection, assistance and blessing in the widest sense.
Ordination stones with figural reliefs present the matrons almost exclusively as Trinity ( Trinity): in the middle of a younger woman with open shoulder-length hair, left and right of her two older women with striking hoods on their heads (as they married and widowed Ubierinnen in and around Cologne contributed ). The illustrations are provided with small fruit baskets, flowers, ears of corn, or a box with incense. This feminine trinity is associated with the female ages Young woman, mother, and Old Woman. Matronenheiligtümer example, were excavated in the Eifel, the temple area of Pesch and in the temple complex Gorres castle. The matrons are probably the basis of the Juffernsagen the western Rhineland.
Matronenkult
In Roman religion no directly corresponding definition for Matronae exists. The names differ, probably due to geographic: in northern Italy Matronae in Britain Matres, in Gaul mostly Matrae ( dative derivation ) and Matres. In the inscription corpus occur with the conventionally familiar Matronis occasionally added titles such as " Dea " and " Deae " and " Sanctus ".
Votivsteine and altars were in many cases no single monuments, but were often built in conjunction with worship centers or temples. Examples of this were found in Bonn, Eschweiler, Geuenich ( by Inden ), Pesch and Gorres castle in Nice Home.
Little is known about the specific form of the Matronenkults known, it was spread by Roman Legionaries, in particular Germanic military personnel and (re) settlers, for example, in the provincial Roman Lower Rhine area. In addition to so-called fruit baskets (apple, pomegranate, pear, pine cones ), which carry the matrons on her lap, every now and then also a treasure chest, there are also depictions of scenes of sacrifice, incense and animal sacrifices as boar and fish. The other additions are plants, trees, the cornucopia (again with pomegranate, pear, and pine cones ) and ( winding ) children. The presentation of the matrons indicates the cyclic events in nature, the seasons, the general fertility (fertility ).
The Adoration of the matrons as mother goddesses or religiously revered women also sounds in later cults for the Nordic Dise, the Anglo-Saxon Mōdraniht ( " night of the mothers ") and probably in the literary Idisi the First Merseburger spell.
Matronennamen
In all the inscriptions found for the name " Matronae " usually comes an epithet as an addition, the frequency of names occurring is very different. While most only once occur, can be regional basis to determine compaction, potentially indicating cultural centers in others. In many cases, the name can not be interpreted. If this anyway, then conclusions about the nature and function of the matron can be drawn, it can be found various protection, swelling and water goddesses and others. In the following list the meanings of the names in the minority of cases are proved beyond reasonable doubt: