Condatis (Gaulish: 'confluence') was an ancient Celtic deity worshipped primarily in northern Britain but also in Gaul. [1] He was associated with the confluences of rivers, in particular within County Durham in the North of England. [a] Condatis is known from several inscriptions in Britain and a single inscription found at Alonnes, Sarthe, France. In each case he is equated with the Roman god Mars.[b]

Name

The theonym Condatis derives from the stem condāt-, meaning 'confluence', itself from Proto-Celtic *kom-dati-, from an earlier kom-dhh1-ti- ('put with, put together', i.e. 'grouping, reunion').[3][4]

The stem condāt- is also attested in personal names, including Condatus, Condatius, and Condatie, as well as in toponyms such as Condé, Condat, Candé, Conte, Condes, Candes, Cosnes, Condate (the old name of Rennes and Northwich), Condom, Condéon (both from *Condate-o-magos), Cond (< *Condate-dunum), Kontz, Conz (Trier), and Canstatt (Condistat).[5][3]

Cult

The cult title is probably related to the place name Condate, often used in Gaul for settlements at the confluence of rivers.[6] The Celtic god Condatis is thought to have functions pertaining to water and healing. [7] [8]

Roman altar-inscriptions to the deity Condatis have been found near Roman forts in County Durham in the North of England that may suggest a " confluence-deity " cult and the possibility that river confluences may have been used as pagan ritual sacrifice sites. [c] [d] [e]

Archaeological evidence

Scotland

An example of an altar-inscription to Mars Condatis has been found at Cramond Roman Fort in the north-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. [f]

England

The following altar-inscriptions to Mars Condatis have been found in County Durham in the North of England.

Place name Roman fort Find

date

Find

location

Derived

name [g]

River confluence [h]
Chester-le-Street Concangis 1886 [i] [j] Cong Burn[13] [l] Concangis [m] Cong Burn – River Wear
Bowes Lavatrae c.1900[n] Roman road[15] River Greta
Piercebridge Morbium c.1709[o] [p] High Coniscliffe[18] Coniscliffe [q] River Tees

France

An example of an altar-inscription to Condatis has been found at Allonnes, Sarthe in France. [1]

References

Notes

  1. ^ Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology ( James MacKillop ) < Condatis > . . . A god worshipped in Roman occupied Britain, much associated with the confluence of rivers . . . His shrines have been found between the Tyne and Tees rivers . . . His name is commemorated in many place names [2]
  2. ^ See Mars (mythology) > Provincial epithets > Celtic Mars >
    • Mars Condatis occurs in several inscriptions from Roman Britain . . .
  3. ^ Brittonic Language ( Alan James ) < aber > . . . On the possibility that confluences and estuaries may have been pagan ritual sites, see Jackson (1948) at p. 56, Nicolaisen (1997) at pp. 250-1, and DCML p. 178. The altar-inscriptions to Condatis found in the Tyne-Tees region may be evidence of a ‘confluence-deity’ cult in that area, see PCB pp. 236-7 . . . [9]
  4. ^ See Paganism > . . . Ritual sacrifice was an integral part of ancient Graeco-Roman religion and was regarded as an indication of whether a person was pagan or Christian . . .
  5. ^ See Persecution of pagans in the late Roman Empire . . . Despite official threats . . . paganism remained widespread into the early fifth century continuing in parts of the empire into the 600s . . .
  6. ^ Cramond Vicus ( ROMAN BRITAIN ) The Gods of Roman Cramond . . . Three of the inscribed stones recovered from Cramond are altarstones . . . D M CONDATI . . . “To the god Mercury, from Condatus.” [10]
  7. ^ Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology ( James MacKillop ) < Condatis > . . . His name is commemorated in many place names. . . [2]
  8. ^ Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology ( James MacKillop ) < Condatis > . . . A god worshipped in Roman occupied Britain, much associated with the confluence of rivers. . . [2]
  9. ^ Roman Inscriptions of Britain ( RIB 1045 ) . . . Altar dedicated to Mars Condates . . . About 275 m. north of Chester-le-Street fort in alluvial soil beside the Cong Burn, about 365 m. from its confluence with the River Wear. . . . Find date 1886. [11]
  10. ^ Historic England ( Monument Number 24728 ) . . . A Roman altar was found north of Chester-le-Street fort in 1886 and measured 11" by 21".[12]
  11. ^ Use Table of Contents for Colour Mapping
  12. ^ Mapping criteria : See Table of Contents:[k]
    • Designations > Scheduled Monument (England).
    • Designations > Listed Buildings (England)
  13. ^ Concangis from Condatis ( Con––– )
  14. ^ Roman Inscriptions of Britain ( RIB 731 ) . . . Altar dedicated to Mars Condates . . . On the north side of the main road about 180 m. east of Bowes fort. . . . Find date c.1900. [14]
  15. ^ Roman Inscriptions of Britain ( RIB 1024 ) . . . Altar dedicated to Mars Condates . . . At Coniscliffe, which lies about 1.6 km. east of Piercebridge. . . . Find date c.1709. [16]
  16. ^ Historic England ( Monument Number 23666 ) . . . A Roman altar measuring 8 by 11" was found before 1709 at Coniscliffe. [17]
  17. ^ Coniscliffe from Condatis ( Con–––is )

Citations

  1. ^ a b *"Search result for : Condatis". L'Arbre Celtique. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c MacKillop 2004, pp. 100.
  3. ^ a b Delamarre 2003, pp. 123–124.
  4. ^ Matasović 2009, p. 204.
  5. ^ Nègre 1990, pp. 109–112.
  6. ^ Maier, Dictionary of Celtic Religion and Culture, p. 80.
  7. ^ Ross, Anne (1967). Pagan Celtic Britain. Routledge & Kegan Paul. ISBN 0-902357-03-4.
  8. ^ Jones, Barri & Mattingly, David (1990). An Atlas of Roman Britain (p. 275). Oxford: Basil Blackwell. ISBN 1-84217-067-8.
  9. ^ James 2019, p. 5.
  10. ^ *"The Gods of Roman Cramond". ROMAN BRITAIN. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  11. ^ *"RIB 1045 – Altar dedicated to Mars Condates". ROMAN INSCRIPTIONS OF BRITAIN. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  12. ^ *"Monument Number 24728 Chester-le-Street". Historic England. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  13. ^ "MAGiC MaP : Confluence of Cong Burn ( Use Table of Contents for Colour Mapping )". Natural England - Magic in the Cloud.
  14. ^ *"RIB 731 – Altar dedicated to Mars Condates". ROMAN INSCRIPTIONS OF BRITAIN. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  15. ^ "MAGiC MaP : Bowes ( Use Table of Contents for Colour Mapping )". Natural England - Magic in the Cloud.
  16. ^ *"RIB 1024 – Altar dedicated to Mars Condates". ROMAN INSCRIPTIONS OF BRITAIN. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  17. ^ *"Monument Number 23666 Coniscliffe". Historic England. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  18. ^ "MAGiC MaP : High Coniscliffe ( Use Table of Contents for Colour Mapping )". Natural England - Magic in the Cloud.

Bibliography

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