In Gallo-Roman religion, Sucellus or Sucellos (/suːˈkɛləs/) was a god shown carrying a large mallet (or hammer) and an olla (or barrel). Originally a Celtic god, his cult flourished not only among Gallo-Romans, but also to some extent among the neighbouring peoples of Raetia and Britain. He has been associated with agriculture and wine, particularly in the territory of the Aedui.[1]
This statue of Sucellus is the earliest known likeness of the god (ca. 1st century AD). It is from a Roman home in France and was found in a household shrine (lararium). Walters Art Museum, Baltimore.
Relief of Nantosuelta and Sucellus from Sarrebourg. Now in the Museums of Metz.
He is usually portrayed as a middle-aged bearded man wearing a wolf-skin, with a long-handled hammer, or perhaps a beer barrel suspended from a pole. His companion Nantosuelta is sometimes depicted alongside him. When together, they are accompanied by symbols associated with prosperity and domesticity.
In a well-known relief from Sarrebourg, near Metz, Nantosuelta, wearing a long gown, is standing to the left. In her left hand she holds a small house-shaped object with two circular holes and a peaked roof – perhaps a dovecote – on a long pole. Her right hand holds a patera which she is tipping onto a cylindrical altar. To the right Sucellus stands, bearded, in a tunic with a cloak over his right shoulder. He holds his mallet in his right hand and an olla in his left. Above the figures is a dedicatory inscription and below them in very low relief is a raven. This sculpture was dated by Reinach, from the form of the letters, to the end of the first century or start of the second century.[2]
Inscriptions
At least eleven inscriptions to Sucellus are known,[3] mostly from Gaul. One (RIB II, 3/2422.21) is from Eboracum (modern York) in Britain.
In Italy, Sucellus was known as Silvanus, who was said to protect forests and fields. He presided over the boundaries of properties, together with a host of local silvani, three for each property. These were the silvanus of the home, the silvanus of the fields, and the silvanus of the boundaries.[6] Silvanus also takes care of flocks, guaranteeing their fertility and protecting them from wolves, which is why he often wears the skin of a wolf.[7] When moving north into Gaul Silvanus was syncretically merged with Sucellus to form the conflated Sucellus-Silvanus. It was Sucellus who carried the mallet and bowl. It has been suggested that the mallet was for construction and the erection of fence-posts (establishing boundaries), but this is far from certain.[8][9] Green claims that Sucellus may also relate to a chthonic deity, especially in maintain boundaries between the living and dead.[10]
In Gaulish, the root cellos can be interpreted as 'striker', derived from Proto-Indo-European*-kel-do-s whence also come Latin per-cellere ('striker'), Greek klao ('to break') and Lithuanian kálti ('to hammer, to forge').[11] The prefix su- means 'good' or 'well' and is found in many Gaulish personal names.[12]Sucellus is therefore commonly translated as 'the good striker.'
An alternate etymology is offered by Celticist Blanca María Prósper, who posits a derivative of the Proto-Indo-European root *kel- ‘to protect’, i.e. *su-kel-mó(n) "having a good protection" or *su-kel-mṇ-, an agentive formation meaning "protecting well, providing good protection", with a thematic derivative built on the oblique stem, *su-kel-mn-o- (and subsequent simplification and assimilation of the sonorant cluster and a secondary full grade of the root). Prósper suggests the name would then be comparable to the Indic personal name Suśarman-, found in Hindu mythology.[13]
^Prósper, Blanca María (2015). "Celtic and Non-Celtic Divinities from Ancient Hispania: Power, Daylight, Fertility, Water Spirits and What They Can Tell Us about Indo-European Morphology". The Journal of Indo-European Studies. 43 (1 & 2): 35–36.
Further reading
Look up Sucellus in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Delamarre, Xavier (2003). Dictionnaire de la Langue Gauloise (2nd ed.). Paris: Éditions Errance. ISBN2-87772-237-6.
Deyts, Simone, ed. (1998). À la rencontre des Dieux gaulois, un défi à César. Paris: Réunion des Musées Nationaux. ISBN2-7118-3851-X.
Duval, Paul-Marie (1993) [1957]. Les dieux de la Gaule. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France / Éditions Payot.
Heichelheim F. M., Housman J. E. "Sucellus and Nantosuelta in Mediaeval Celtic Mythology". In: L'antiquité classique, Tome 17, fasc. 1, 1948. Miscellanea Philologica Historica et archaelogia in honorem Hvberti Van De Weerd. pp. 305–316. [DOI: https://doi.org/10.3406/antiq.1948.2845] www.persee.fr/doc/antiq_0770-2817_1948_num_17_1_2845
Reinach, Salomon (1922). Cultes, mythes et religions. Paris E. Leroux.
January 08, 2023
sucellus, gallo, roman, religion, sucellos, shown, carrying, large, mallet, hammer, olla, barrel, originally, celtic, cult, flourished, only, among, gallo, romans, also, some, extent, among, neighbouring, peoples, raetia, britain, been, associated, with, agric. In Gallo Roman religion Sucellus or Sucellos s uː ˈ k ɛ l e s was a god shown carrying a large mallet or hammer and an olla or barrel Originally a Celtic god his cult flourished not only among Gallo Romans but also to some extent among the neighbouring peoples of Raetia and Britain He has been associated with agriculture and wine particularly in the territory of the Aedui 1 The Celtic god Sucellus with his characteristic hammer and olla Musee National d Archeology This statue of Sucellus is the earliest known likeness of the god ca 1st century AD It is from a Roman home in France and was found in a household shrine lararium Walters Art Museum Baltimore Contents 1 Sculptures 2 Inscriptions 3 Roles and Duties 4 Etymology 5 See also 6 References 7 Further readingSculptures Edit Relief of Nantosuelta and Sucellus from Sarrebourg Now in the Museums of Metz He is usually portrayed as a middle aged bearded man wearing a wolf skin with a long handled hammer or perhaps a beer barrel suspended from a pole His companion Nantosuelta is sometimes depicted alongside him When together they are accompanied by symbols associated with prosperity and domesticity In a well known relief from Sarrebourg near Metz Nantosuelta wearing a long gown is standing to the left In her left hand she holds a small house shaped object with two circular holes and a peaked roof perhaps a dovecote on a long pole Her right hand holds a patera which she is tipping onto a cylindrical altar To the right Sucellus stands bearded in a tunic with a cloak over his right shoulder He holds his mallet in his right hand and an olla in his left Above the figures is a dedicatory inscription and below them in very low relief is a raven This sculpture was dated by Reinach from the form of the letters to the end of the first century or start of the second century 2 Inscriptions EditAt least eleven inscriptions to Sucellus are known 3 mostly from Gaul One RIB II 3 2422 21 is from Eboracum modern York in Britain In an inscription from Augusta Rauricorum modern Augst Sucellus is identified with Silvanus 4 In honor em d omus d ivinae deo Su cello Silv ano Spart us l ocus d atus d ecreto d ecurionum The syncretism of Sucellus with Silvanus can also be seen in artwork from Narbonensis 5 Roles and Duties EditIn Italy Sucellus was known as Silvanus who was said to protect forests and fields He presided over the boundaries of properties together with a host of local silvani three for each property These were the silvanus of the home the silvanus of the fields and the silvanus of the boundaries 6 Silvanus also takes care of flocks guaranteeing their fertility and protecting them from wolves which is why he often wears the skin of a wolf 7 When moving north into Gaul Silvanus was syncretically merged with Sucellus to form the conflated Sucellus Silvanus It was Sucellus who carried the mallet and bowl It has been suggested that the mallet was for construction and the erection of fence posts establishing boundaries but this is far from certain 8 9 Green claims that Sucellus may also relate to a chthonic deity especially in maintain boundaries between the living and dead 10 Etymology Edit Bronze statue of Sucellus from Vienne In Gaulish the root cellos can be interpreted as striker derived from Proto Indo European kel do s whence also come Latin per cellere striker Greek klao to break and Lithuanian kalti to hammer to forge 11 The prefix su means good or well and is found in many Gaulish personal names 12 Sucellus is therefore commonly translated as the good striker An alternate etymology is offered by Celticist Blanca Maria Prosper who posits a derivative of the Proto Indo European root kel to protect i e su kel mo n having a good protection or su kel mṇ an agentive formation meaning protecting well providing good protection with a thematic derivative built on the oblique stem su kel mn o and subsequent simplification and assimilation of the sonorant cluster and a secondary full grade of the root Prosper suggests the name would then be comparable to the Indic personal name Susarman found in Hindu mythology 13 See also EditThe Dagda a similar figure from Irish mythologyReferences Edit Miranda Green 2003 Symbol and Image in Celtic Religious Art Routledge p 83 Reinach 1922 pp 217 232 Jufer amp Luginbuhl 2001 p 63 AE 1926 00040 Duval 1993 p 78 Hyginus De limitibus constituendi preface a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Virgil AEneid VIII 600 1 Nonnus II 324 Cato the Elder De re rustica 83 Tibullus I v 27 Smith William A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology 1867 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Deo Sucello Silvano Aldhouse Green Miranda J 2011 The gods of the Celts Stroud Gloucestershire The History Press ISBN 978 0 7524 6811 2 OCLC 797966528 Delamarre 2003 p 113 Delamarre 2003 pp 283 284 Prosper Blanca Maria 2015 Celtic and Non Celtic Divinities from Ancient Hispania Power Daylight Fertility Water Spirits and What They Can Tell Us about Indo European Morphology The Journal of Indo European Studies 43 1 amp 2 35 36 Further reading Edit Look up Sucellus in Wiktionary the free dictionary Delamarre Xavier 2003 Dictionnaire de la Langue Gauloise 2nd ed Paris Editions Errance ISBN 2 87772 237 6 Deyts Simone ed 1998 A la rencontre des Dieux gaulois un defi a Cesar Paris Reunion des Musees Nationaux ISBN 2 7118 3851 X Duval Paul Marie 1993 1957 Les dieux de la Gaule Paris Presses Universitaires de France Editions Payot Heichelheim F M Housman J E Sucellus and Nantosuelta in Mediaeval Celtic Mythology In L antiquite classique Tome 17 fasc 1 1948 Miscellanea Philologica Historica et archaelogia in honorem Hvberti Van De Weerd pp 305 316 DOI https doi org 10 3406 antiq 1948 2845 www persee fr doc antiq 0770 2817 1948 num 17 1 2845 Jufer Nicole Luginbuhl Thierry 2001 Repertoire des dieux gaulois Paris Editions Errance ISBN 2 87772 200 7 Reinach Salomon 1922 Cultes mythes et religions Paris E Leroux Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sucellus amp oldid 1117073275, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
