In ancient Celtic polytheism, Latis is the name of two Celtic deities worshipped in Roman Britain. One is a goddess (Dea Latis), the other a god (Deus Latis), and they are both known from a single inscription each.
Dea Latis
The dedication to Dea Latis was found at Birdoswald Roman Fort in Cumbria, England, in 1873. It reads simply:
DIE LATI For the goddess Latis.
The E is written as a ||. The stone is now in the Carlisle Museum.
She may have been associated with the nearby rivers.
Deus Latis
The dedication to Deus Latis, recovered on an altar-stone at the Roman fort of Aballava, Burgh-by-Sands (also in Cumbria) reads:
DEO LATI LVCIVS VRSEI To the god Latis, Lucius Ursei .
The altar-stone to Deus Latis was found near an image of a horned god and another dedication to the god Belatucadros.
Etymology
The name 'Latis' may conceivably be related to the Proto-Celtic words *lati- meaning 'liquor', *lat- 'day', or *lāto- 'lust'.
References
- ^ Collingwood, R.G. and Wright, R.P. (1965) The Roman Inscriptions of Britain (RIB) Vol.I Inscriptions on Stone. Oxford. RIB 1897, online at www.roman-britain.org
- Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend, Miranda J. Green, Thames and Hudson Ltd, London, 1997
- Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, University of Wales. "Proto-Celtic—English lexicon." (See also this page for background and disclaimers.)
Further reading
- ABALLAVA museum, Burgh by Sands, Cumbria, England.
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