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Arciacon
A Brythonic god: Provider of Meat
This deity is known from a single inscription found at York, England and is probably a god of trade, linked with Roman Mercury. |
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Bryth: Provider of Meat
A god known from a single inscription found at York. The inscription [RIB 640] reads DEO ARCIACON ET N AVGST MAT... VITALIS ORD VSLM (To the god Arciacon and the Spirit of the Emperor, Mat[...] Vitalis, Ordinarius, willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow) and there is some indication (mostly due to neighbouring inscriptions) that Arciacon may have been linked to the cult of Roman Mercury.
A tentative etymology for the deity's name makes him either the hound of or the flesh of the ash tree. This being derived from the reconstructed proto-Celtic elements *kīk-āko- (meaty) and the deitific particle -on. The initial element, ar- is probably derived from the reconstructerd proto-Indo-European element *ar- (to fit togethe, which is also related to the Cymric ar [within or from]). Thus Arciacon's name can be interpreted as: 'Provider of Meat'. This may be a broader title, in terms of his being a god that provides the means of sustenance. In this respect and given his possible link to Roman Mercury Arciacon may have been a god of trade, one who provides the mans of sustenance indirectly.
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