Vellaunus

Vellaunus is the name of a Celtic god who was equated by the interpretatio romana with Mars and Mercury.

Sites and etymology

The name Vellaunus is on two dedications, one from Caerwent, Roman Venta Silurum ( Monmouthshire, Wales) and one from Hières -sur- Amby ( Isère, France) to find. In the first inscription Vellaunus is equated with the Roman god Mars, in the second with Mercury.

The inscription from Caerwent is located at the base of the remnant of a statue of one pair of man and shows only goose feet, here Vellaunus is also associated with the gods and Lenus Ocelus ( the inscription is dated to 152 AD):

The second inscription is from the field of Allobrogians in southern Gaul, it reads:

The word root * uellauno (? ? " Good", " leader " ) is found in many Celtic names, such as Cassivellaunus, Welsh known as legendary figure Caswallawn; at Vercassivellaunus, the supporters of Vercingetorix at Alesia; at the root of the Catuvellauni in southeastern Britain; probably linguistically connected with the Catalaunian fields ( at Chalons- sur- Marne) and Catalonia ( Catalaunia ). A possible connection to the Latin ornamental epithet victor ( " victorious " ) could be produce by the inscription from Hières -sur- Amby.