Nehalennia

Nehalennia is a Germanic goddess who was worshiped by the Roman, Celtic and Germanic inhabitants in the territory of the Dutch Scheldt estuary in the second and third centuries.

History

Nehalennia became known through representations to about 25 consecration reliefs, which were found in 1647 in Domburg on the peninsula Walcheren. Approximately 25 km north of Domburg over 100 reliefs, statues and statuettes of the goddess were recovered after 1970 from the Oosterschelde in altitude is Colijnsplaar. At both sites, a temple had stood. On the picture monuments there Nehalennia is sitting or standing. The style of presentation is that of the mother goddesses ( matrons ) in the Rhineland. In contrast to these she wears a cape and has a dog with him. Sometimes she is depicted as a figurehead on the bow of ships, but was also presented with a fruit basket. Two of the consecration stones contain inscriptions, which show that there were merchants and mariners of England trade, which had set up the stones. The inscriptions are kept in Latin. Many Dedikanten are Roman citizens. The Decurio Q. Phoebius Hilarus from Nijmegen donated an altar before beginning a trip (per mercibus bene conservandis ) and after return (per merces suas bene conservatas ). There you will also find Celtic and Germanic names. Through times in some inscriptions can be dated to the temple operating time 188-227.

Background and identification with other deities

It suggests Nehalennia as a goddess of fertility and the shipping industry. Ellmers it considers to be a " unequivocally Germanic " Goddess of shipping a part of science assumes that it is a Germanic deity, and interprets the name as " The water near has ", ie the resides on the shore. However, probably the name stands with fog in connection ( IE nebh - wetness, humidity, hel - conceal, disguise ). The second part of the name - Lennia could with gothic Linnan ( disappear, go away ) are connected. Nehalennia would therefore mean " the Disappearing in the fog ."

Furthermore, it seems Nehalennia, which is often depicted with jacket and a dog or wolf to have been also the goddess of the underworld. Therefore, connections are probably to the Nordic goddess of death Hel (see also Niflhel ) and the German figure of Frau Holle.

The earlier proposal to identify Nehalennia with Isis, who was worshiped by Tacitus of the Suevi is no longer pursued today.

Museums

The reliefs from Domburg were housed in the Reformed Church of Domburg, where a large part was destroyed in a 1848 fire. The rescued old finds are now in the Museum in Zeeland Middelburg. The finds from 1970 are now in the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden. In Zierikzee is the Maritime Museum, a small exhibition dedicated to the goddess Nehalennia. Five Votivaltare are issued that were fished in 1970 from the Oosterschelde. The model of a temple dedicated to the Nehalennia can also be seen. In Colijnsplaar in the port area a replica of such a Roman temple in size was built.