Celtic Gods: The Celtiberian God, Candamius (The Shining One)

Candamius
A Celtiberian God, also known as Candamo and Candodonii: The Shining One

Candamius (Candamo, Candodonii) is a Celtiberian god known from Northern Spain where he is most commonly equated with Roman Jupiter and may be the genius locus of Cantabria. The interpretation of the meaning of this god's name and his association with high places and Roman Jupiter indicates that he was a thunder god.



Synonyms: Candamo, Candodonii
Celtib: The Shining One

Candamius is known from inscriptions on a tombstone found in Mount Candanedo dedicated to Iuppiter Candamius The same god appears, also assimilated to Jupiter, in a stele from Mount Cildá dedicated to Iovi Deo Candamo by a Cantabrian. In Galicia, a man called Salaenus dedicated another altar to Iovi Optimo Maximo Candiedoni.

The name Candamius contains the Celtic root *cand- (glitter or shine) and thus the theonym can be interpreted as: 'The Shining One'. He may be the genius locus of Cantabria. Various toponyms in Asturias (Candamo, Candanedo) and Cantabria (Candiano, Candenosa, Gandarilla, Sierra Gá, Candina) stem from the same root. From his association with high places and the possible inclusion of the root *[c|g]anda in the deity's name it would seem that Candamius was a god of high places (mountains) and his association by interpretato Romana with Jupiter makes it likely that, like Taranis he was a thunder deity.



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