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Aericura
A Brythonic and Gaulish goddess, also known as Aeraecura, Herecura, Heracura, Herequra and Aerecura: Guardian in Battle
This deity, and the many variants of her name, is known from a range of inscriptions in Germany and Italy and from the figure of Aerten in Cymric (Welsh) mythos. She is probably a Divinatory and Battle Goddess. |
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Bryth, Gaul: ?Guardian in Battle
As Herecura she is known from Cannstatt, Freinsheim and Rottenburg (where she is also known as Herequra) in Germany. The same goddess may also be known (as Aeraecura) from Pérouse, Perugia, Italy.
Her name is derived from the Brythonic words *Aer (battle) and *cura (to defeat) means ‘Guardian in Battle’ (lit she who defeats in battle). The earliest inscriptions indicate that she was probably originally an earth (mother) goddess associated with Silvanus. However, it seems that she later became an underworld goddess (associated with Dis Pater), which is entirely in keeping with the meaning of her name and her likely role as the defender of warriors.
As was common with many Celtic goddesses Aericura was probably displaced as the underworld/battle god by her male consort (a deity such as Brân and Dis). Indeed, in the inscription dedicated to her at Sulzbach, Germany she is associated with Dis Pater.
Etymologically, she may be equivalent to the Cymric goddess Aerten as the similarity in the names seems striking (and both have equivalent meanings). Aerten's role as a divinatory and battle goddess would also be compatible with Aericura's association with Dis Pater.
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