Celtic Mythology and Mars

1
Celtic Mythology and Mars

• The Druids were possessed of "... much knowledge
  of the stars and their motion, of the size of the
  world and of the earth, of natural philosophy...
  and in reckoning birthdays and the new moon and
  new year their unit of reckoning is the night
  followed by the day..."- Julius Caesar

2
The Multiple Versions of Mars

• Which god is Mars?
• Not many original writings
• Mostly Roman documentation
• Roman idea of Mars pervades these writings

3
Three Subgroups

• Early Celtic language is split into 3 groups1)
  Goidelic
• 2) Insular Brythonic
• 3) Continental Brythonic
• Each has somewhat differing interpretations on
  the Celtic gods.

4
Mars Cocidius

• Equated with Roman god Silvanus
• Statues of Cocidius painted red
• Worshipped by lower ranked Roman soldiers and
  Britons

5
Mars Cocidius

• Most knowledge of Cocidius comes from around
  Hadrians Wall and Cumbria
• Inscriptions along the western portion Hadrians
  wall -gt Roman
• Silver plaque at Bewcastle shows him as a
  spear-and-shield holding warrior

6
Mars Condatis

• Means Waters Meet
• Probably relates to the meeting of the Tyne and
  the Tees Rivers
• Romans also associated Condatis with Mars, and
  healing

7
Esus

• Known from two statues
• Is depicted cutting branches with axe in both
  statues
• Identified by Romans with Mars and Mercury

8
Mars Braciaca and Camulos

• Mars Braciaca not much is known Bakewell
  Inscription
• Mars Camulos Shown as a boar, Fairly important
  in pre-Roman times

9
Toutatis / Teutates

• Roman sources list Teutates as equivalent to Mars
• God of the tribes