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{{Short description|Celtic deity}}
In [[Celtic mythology]], '''Condatis''' ("waters meet") was a [[deity]] worshipped primarily in northern [[Roman Britain|Britain]] but also in [[Gaul]].<ref>''L'Arbre Celtique.'' [http://www.arbre-celtique.com/approfondissements/divinites/inventaire-div/div_liste.php?nomdiv=Condatis "Condatis"]</ref> He was associated with the confluences of rivers, in particular the [[River Wear]] which runs its course largely within [[County Durham]]. 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]].
'''Condatis''' ([[Gaulish]]: 'confluence') was an ancient [[Celtic mythology|Celtic deity]] worshipped primarily in northern [[Roman Britain|Britain]] but also in [[Gaul]]. He was associated with the confluences of rivers, in particular within [[County Durham]] in the [[North of England]].
{{efn|name="MacKillop_Intro"|MacKillop – ''Celtic Mythology''...<br>'''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 ...{{sfn|MacKillop|2004|pp=100}} }}
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 (mythology)|Mars]].{{efn|See also: [[Mars (mythology)]]
* Name and cult epithets
** Provincial epithets
*** [[Mars (mythology)#Celtic Mars|Celtic Mars]]
**** Mars Condatis... }}


== Name ==
In 1886, a Roman altar was discovered near the Roman station at [[Chester-le-Street]], where the [[Cong Burn]] joins the River Wear. The altar was buried six feet deep in soil of an alluvial character. The inscription, which was to DEO marti CONDATI, was formed by a series of punctures. The altar probably belonged to the end of the second or the beginning of the third century. A fragmentary altar bearing the Inscription MARTI CONDATI has been found in Bowes, near [[Barnard Castle]] in County Durham and another in Piercebridge, the site of a Roman fort, also in County Durham. Recently a new inscription to Condatis has been discovered at Cramond in the Lothian region of Scotland (AE 1978, 451; dedicated to d(eo) M(arti) Con[dati]).
The [[theonym]] ''Condatis'' derives from the stem ''condāt''-, meaning 'confluence', itself from [[Proto-Celtic]] *''kom-dati-'', from an earlier ''kom-d<sup>h</sup>h<sub>1</sub>-ti-'' ('put with, put together', i.e. 'grouping, reunion').{{Sfn|Delamarre|2003|pp=123–124}}{{Sfn|Matasović|2009|p=204}}


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, Jura|Conte]]'', ''Condes'', ''[[Candes-Saint-Martin|Candes]]'', ''Cosnes'', ''Condate'' (the old name of [[Rennes]] and [[Northwich]]), [[Condom, Gers|''Condom'']], ''Condéon'' (both from *''Condate-o-magos''), ''Cond'' (< *''Condate-dunum''), ''[[Haute-Kontz|Kontz]]'', ''Conz'' ([[Trier]]), and ''Canstatt'' ([[Condistat]]).{{Sfn|Nègre|1990|pp=109–112}}{{Sfn|Delamarre|2003|pp=123–124}}
In Roman times he was equated with [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]], probably in his healing function. The association with the confluence of waters would tend to link this deity with the prevalent Celtic cult of thermal waters rather than solely with war. Again, this may reflect the origins of Condatis as a protector of aberau (the confluence of waters) with his martial aspect only being predominant in the Roman world.


== Cult ==
The name Condatis is derived from condate and means 'God of the Confluence'. Names with the root 'condate' are found in place-names such as Condé sur Itan and Condat Cantal in France as well as the ancient name of Northwich in Cheshire Condate. Condate was also the Celtic name of [[Rennes]], then the city of the [[:fr:Redones|Redones]] and now the capital of the [[Brittany (administrative region)|region of Brittany]].
The [[Cult (religious practice)| cult]] title is probably related to the place name ''Condate'', often used in [[Gaul]] for settlements at the [[confluence]] of rivers.<ref>Maier, ''Dictionary of Celtic Religion and Culture'', p. 80.</ref>
The Celtic god ''Condatis'' is thought to have functions pertaining to water and healing.
<ref>Ross, Anne (1967). ''Pagan Celtic Britain''. Routledge & Kegan Paul. {{ISBN|0-902357-03-4}}.</ref>
<ref>Jones, Barri & Mattingly, David (1990). ''An Atlas of Roman Britain'' (p. 275). Oxford: Basil Blackwell. {{ISBN|1-84217-067-8}}.</ref>

Roman altar-inscriptions to ''Mars Condates'' have been found near Roman forts in [[County Durham]] in the [[North of England]] that may suggest a 'confluence-deity' [[Cult (religious practice)|cult]] and the possibility that river [[Confluence|confluences]] may have been used as [[Paganism|pagan]] [[sacrifice|ritual sacrifice]] or [[human sacrifice]] sites.{{efn|SPNS – ''Brittonic Language...''<br>'''Aber''' ..."On the possibility that confluences and estuaries may have been
pagan ritual sites...The altar-inscriptions to Condatis found in the Tyne-Tees region may be evidence of a 'confluence-deity' cult in that area
...{{sfn|James|2020|pp=4-5}} }}{{efn|See also: [[Paganism]] ..."Ritual sacrifice was an integral part of ancient Graeco-[[Religion in ancient Rome|Roman religion]] and was regarded as an indication of whether a person was pagan or Christian...}}{{efn|See also: [[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...}}

==Archaeological evidence==

===British Isles===
Roman altars with inscriptions to ''Mars Condates'' have been found in the [[River Tees|Tees]] and [[River Wear|Wear]] valleys of [[County Durham]].
{{efn|name="MacKillop_Intro"}} Altars are normally found at the [[confluence]] of rivers – for example, the [[Cong Burn]]–Wear confluence near Chester-le-Street – however others may have been disturbed or removed, especially by [[antiquarian]]s and collectors.

The inscription ''Mars Condates'' is a [[wikt:conflation#English|conflation]] (joining) of deities:{{efn|Neil Oliver – ''Ancient Britain''...<br>
..."Twinning of gods and goddesses was a tactic the Romans employed all across the Empire ...{{sfn|Oliver|2012|p=347}} }}
# Roman god [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]] – god of war and father of Romulus, the founder of Rome.
# [[Gaul|Gaulish]] [[deity]] '''Condatis''' – god of river confluences.

===Altar inscriptions (British Isles)===
List of altars with inscriptions to ''Mars Condates'':

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="border-collapse: collapse; background:#f0f0f0"
!style="text-align:left"|Reference
!style="text-align:left"|Type
!style="text-align:left"|Find location
!style="text-align:left"|[[Confluence]]
!style="text-align:left"|Map<br><ref group=help name=Magic_Help>MAGiC MaP – Help
# Use ''Table of Contents'' for Colour mapping.
# There may be intermittent problems with the [[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs|magic.defra.gov.uk]] website, if so then try again another time.</ref>
!style="text-align:left"|[[Latitude]]<br>N – S

|- Cramond
|Mars Condates<br>RIB 3500.<ref group=rib>{{cite web |title= RIB 3500. Fragmentary altar dedicated to Mars Condates (?)
|url= https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/3500 |website= Roman Inscriptions of Britain |accessdate= 28 September 2024}}</ref>
|Altar<br>fragment
|[[Cramond Roman Fort]],<br>near Edinburgh.<ref group=web>{{cite web| title= Cramond Vicus – The Gods of Roman Cramond.
|url= https://www.roman-britain.co.uk/places/cramond/ |publisher= Roman Britain |access-date= 28 September 2024}}</ref>
|[[River Almond, Lothian|Almond]]–[[Firth of Forth]].
|<ref group=map>{{cite web |title= MAGiC MaP: Cramond Roman Fort.
|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?&xygridref=319090,676800&startScale=10000 |publisher= Defra }}</ref><br><ref group=help name=Magic_Help/>
|676800

|- Chester-le-Street
|Mars Condates<br>RIB 1045.<ref group=rib>{{cite web |title= RIB 1045. Altar dedicated to Mars Condates
|url= https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/1045 |website= Roman Inscriptions of Britain |accessdate= 28 September 2024}}</ref>
|Altar
|''[[Concangis]]'' (Roman Fort),<br>[[Chester-le-Street]].
|[[Cong Burn]]–[[River Wear|Wear]].
|<ref group=map>{{cite web |title= MAGiC MaP: Cong Burn – River Wear confluence.
|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?chosenLayers=moncIndex&xygridref=427950,551570&startScale=10000 |publisher= Defra }}</ref>
|551570

|- Coniscliffe
|Mars Condates<br>RIB 1024.<ref group=rib>{{cite web |title= RIB 1024. Altar dedicated to Mars Condates
|url= https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/1024 |website= Roman Inscriptions of Britain |accessdate= 28 September 2024}}</ref>
|Altar
|[[High Coniscliffe]] village.{{efn|Found at [[High Coniscliffe]], which lies about 1.6 km. east of Piercebridge.}}<br>[[Piercebridge Roman Fort]],<br>[[Dere Street]]
|? [[River Tees]].
|<ref group=map>{{cite web |title= MAGiC MaP: High Coniscliffe.
|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?chosenLayers=moncPIndex&xygridref=422600,515300&startScale=25000 |publisher= Defra }}</ref>
|515300

|- Bowes
|Mars Condates<br>RIB 731.<ref group=rib>{{cite web |title= RIB 731. Altar dedicated to Mars Condates
|url= https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/731 |website= Roman Inscriptions of Britain |accessdate= 28 September 2024}}</ref>
|Altar
|[[Bowes]] village.{{efn|Found on the north side of the [[Watling Street|main road]] about 180 m. east of [[Lavatrae|Bowes fort]].}}<br>''[[Lavatrae]]'' (Roman Fort),<br>[[Watling Street]] (North).
|? [[River Greta, Durham|River Greta]].
|<ref group=map>{{cite web |title= MAGiC MaP: Bowes village.
|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?chosenLayers=moncIndex&xygridref=399420,513430&startScale=10000 |publisher= Defra }}</ref>
|513430

|- Moulton
|Mars Condates<br>Brit.47.1.<ref group=rib>{{cite web |title= Brit.47.1. To the god Mars Condates, Cunobacha set (this) up
|url= https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/Brit.47.1 |website= Roman Inscriptions of Britain |accessdate= 28 September 2024}}</ref>
|Altar
|[[Moulton, North Yorkshire]].<br>Find date: 2015
|Not known
|<ref group=map>{{cite web |title= MAGiC MaP: Moulton, North Yorkshire.
|url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?&xygridref=423550,503830&startScale=25000 |publisher= Defra }}</ref>
|503830

|}

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


==References==
==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
====Web====
{{Reflist|group=web}}
====RIB====
{{Reflist|group=rib}}
====Maps====
{{Reflist|group=map}}
{{Reflist|group=help}}
===Notes for citations===
{{notelist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{Cite book|last=Delamarre|first=Xavier|title=Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise: Une approche linguistique du vieux-celtique continental|year=2003|publisher=Errance|isbn=9782877723695|author-link=Xavier Delamarre}}
*{{cite web |last1= James |first1= Alan G.
|year= 2020 |title= The Brittonic Language in the Old North, A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence, Volume 2
|url= https://spns.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Alan_James_Brittonic_Language_in_the_Old_North_BLITON_Volume_II_Dictionary_2020_Edition.pdf
|publisher= [[Scottish Place-Name Society]] |access-date= 1 October 2024}}
*{{cite book |last1= MacKillop |first1= James |author-link= James MacKillop (author)
|year= 2004 |title= Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology |publisher= [[Oxford University Press]] |isbn= 0-19-860967-1 }}
*{{Cite book|last=Matasović|first=Ranko|title=Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic|year=2009|publisher=Brill|isbn=9789004173361|author-link=Ranko Matasović}}
* {{cite book |last1=Nègre |first1=Ernest |title=Toponymie générale de la France |date=1990 |publisher=Librairie Droz |isbn=978-2-600-02883-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rsNpi7IVulEC |language=fr}}
*{{cite book |last1= Oliver |first1= Neil |author-link= Neil Oliver
|year= 2012 |title= A History of Ancient Britain |publisher= [[Weidenfeld & Nicolson]] |isbn= 978-0753828861 }}


{{Celtic mythology (ancient)}}
{{Celtic mythology (ancient)}}
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[[Category:Health gods]]
[[Category:Health gods]]
[[Category:Sea and river gods]]
[[Category:Sea and river gods]]
[[Category:Personifications of rivers]]

{{Celt-myth-stub}}

Latest revision as of 21:10, 15 October 2024

Condatis (Gaulish: 'confluence') was an ancient Celtic deity worshipped primarily in northern Britain but also in Gaul. 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

[edit]

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').[2][3]

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).[4][2]

Cult

[edit]

The cult title is probably related to the place name Condate, often used in Gaul for settlements at the confluence of rivers.[5] The Celtic god Condatis is thought to have functions pertaining to water and healing. [6] [7]

Roman altar-inscriptions to Mars Condates 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 or human sacrifice sites.[c][d][e]

Archaeological evidence

[edit]

British Isles

[edit]

Roman altars with inscriptions to Mars Condates have been found in the Tees and Wear valleys of County Durham. [a] Altars are normally found at the confluence of rivers – for example, the Cong Burn–Wear confluence near Chester-le-Street – however others may have been disturbed or removed, especially by antiquarians and collectors.

The inscription Mars Condates is a conflation (joining) of deities:[f]

  1. Roman god Mars – god of war and father of Romulus, the founder of Rome.
  2. Gaulish deity Condatis – god of river confluences.

Altar inscriptions (British Isles)

[edit]

List of altars with inscriptions to Mars Condates:

Reference Type Find location Confluence Map
[help 1] 		Latitude
N – S
Mars Condates
RIB 3500.[rib 1] 		Altar
fragment 		Cramond Roman Fort,
near Edinburgh.[web 1] 		Almond–Firth of Forth. [map 1]
[help 1] 		676800
Mars Condates
RIB 1045.[rib 2] 		Altar Concangis (Roman Fort),
Chester-le-Street. 		Cong Burn–Wear. [map 2] 551570
Mars Condates
RIB 1024.[rib 3] 		Altar High Coniscliffe village.[g]
Piercebridge Roman Fort,
Dere Street 		? River Tees. [map 3] 515300
Mars Condates
RIB 731.[rib 4] 		Altar Bowes village.[h]
Lavatrae (Roman Fort),
Watling Street (North). 		? River Greta. [map 4] 513430
Mars Condates
Brit.47.1.[rib 5] 		Altar Moulton, North Yorkshire.
Find date: 2015 		Not known [map 5] 503830

France

[edit]

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

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ MacKillop 2004, pp. 100.
  2. ^ a b Delamarre 2003, pp. 123–124.
  3. ^ Matasović 2009, p. 204.
  4. ^ Nègre 1990, pp. 109–112.
  5. ^ Maier, Dictionary of Celtic Religion and Culture, p. 80.
  6. ^ Ross, Anne (1967). Pagan Celtic Britain. Routledge & Kegan Paul. ISBN 0-902357-03-4.
  7. ^ Jones, Barri & Mattingly, David (1990). An Atlas of Roman Britain (p. 275). Oxford: Basil Blackwell. ISBN 1-84217-067-8.
  8. ^ James 2020, pp. 4–5.
  9. ^ Oliver 2012, p. 347.

Web

[edit]
  1. ^ "Cramond Vicus – The Gods of Roman Cramond". Roman Britain. Retrieved 28 September 2024.

RIB

[edit]
  1. ^ "RIB 3500. Fragmentary altar dedicated to Mars Condates (?)". Roman Inscriptions of Britain. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  2. ^ "RIB 1045. Altar dedicated to Mars Condates". Roman Inscriptions of Britain. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  3. ^ "RIB 1024. Altar dedicated to Mars Condates". Roman Inscriptions of Britain. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  4. ^ "RIB 731. Altar dedicated to Mars Condates". Roman Inscriptions of Britain. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Brit.47.1. To the god Mars Condates, Cunobacha set (this) up". Roman Inscriptions of Britain. Retrieved 28 September 2024.

Maps

[edit]
  1. ^ "MAGiC MaP: Cramond Roman Fort". Defra.
  2. ^ "MAGiC MaP: Cong Burn – River Wear confluence". Defra.
  3. ^ "MAGiC MaP: High Coniscliffe". Defra.
  4. ^ "MAGiC MaP: Bowes village". Defra.
  5. ^ "MAGiC MaP: Moulton, North Yorkshire". Defra.
  1. ^ a b MAGiC MaP – Help
    1. Use Table of Contents for Colour mapping.
    2. There may be intermittent problems with the magic.defra.gov.uk website, if so then try again another time.

Notes for citations

[edit]
  1. ^ a b MacKillop – Celtic Mythology...
    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 ...[1]
  2. ^ See also: Mars (mythology)
    • Name and cult epithets
  3. ^ SPNS – Brittonic Language...
    Aber ..."On the possibility that confluences and estuaries may have been pagan ritual sites...The altar-inscriptions to Condatis found in the Tyne-Tees region may be evidence of a 'confluence-deity' cult in that area ...[8]
  4. ^ See also: 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 also: 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. ^ Neil Oliver – Ancient Britain...
    ..."Twinning of gods and goddesses was a tactic the Romans employed all across the Empire ...[9]
  7. ^ Found at High Coniscliffe, which lies about 1.6 km. east of Piercebridge.
  8. ^ Found on the north side of the main road about 180 m. east of Bowes fort.

Bibliography

[edit]
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