Rigisamus
Rigisamus, also Rigisamos, was a deity in Gaulish and Celtic mythology who, according to the Interpretatio Romana, was connected with Mars.
Mythology and Etymology
[edit]Rigisamus is mentioned in two inscriptions, one in Bourges (Cher department, Region Center-Val de Loire in France),[1] and the other in West Cocker (in Yeovil, district of South Somerset in England)[2] together with a picture of God and the following text:[3]
- Deo Marti | Rigisamo | Iu (v) entius | Sabinus | v (otum) s (olvit) l (aetus) l (ibens) m (erito)
- ("Juventius Sabinus gladly and deservedly fulfilled the vow for the god Mars Rigisamus")
The name Rigisamus is derived from a reconstructed Proto-Indo-European root * rīg ("king", "royal") and a second, * -samo, * samali ("unique"). Rigisamus would therefore mean "the most royal", or "king of kings". The Irish word rí [ R'iː ] and the Gallic rix [rīg-s ] (both also mean “king”) are directly related to this.
It is unknown which properties of Mars are attributed to Rigisamus.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ CIL XIII, 1190: Marti | Rigisamo | Ti(berius) Iul(ius) Eunus | ex vis{s}u „dem Mars Rigisamus (hat es geweiht) Tiberius Iulius Eunus nach einer Vision“.
- ^ Helmut Birkhan: Kelten. Versuch einer Gesamtdarstellung ihrer Kultur. Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien 1997, ISBN 3-7001-2609-3, S. 638.
- ^ Roman Inscriptions of Britain 1, 187.
