Smertrios

Smertrios, also Smertrius, Smertulitanos, or Smertullus, was a Celtic God who is equated in the interpretatio romana with Mars. Its functions are unknown.

Mythology

Smertrios is especially through its representation on a square pillar of the nautae Parisiaci ( " Paris Schiffer guild "), which dates from the time of Tiberius Caesar made ​​famous. On the so-called square III, the " Dioscuri cuboid", be incomplete relief is obtained showing a deity with club fighting with a snake. The lower half of the box is missing. The partially destroyed but reconstructed inscription reads Smert [ rios ]. The picture design is reminiscent of Hercules, but one belonging to myth is not known.

Other sites are in Greater Trier, where inscriptions for Mars Smertrius were discovered. In one of them, at Möhn, with the name variant Sme [ rtuli ] t [a ] no, he is referred to as a companion to Ancamna. This interpretation is confirmed by two other inscriptions that mention the name Smertulitanos. An inscription of uppercase in Carinthia with the fragment [D ] iti Smer [ trio ] could prove equating Smertrios with Dispater.

Another deity who could be identical with Smertrios possibly Smertullus is. This is attested three times in the South of France, namely in Lattes, Le Veyer in the Natural Park of Queyras and Cadenet.

Etymology

Smertrios is derived by some linguists of the Indo-European root * smeru ( " fat ", " mark"). Related to the old Irish word is smertha ( " smeared ", " grease "), see also our word " pain " for lard. Others derive the name from Indo-European * smer (" remember, remember, take care " ) from where Smertrios then "the supplier" would be. The goddess Rosmerta is Smertrios etymologically very close.

Greasing a God figure was a traditional act of worship.