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Cimbrius
A Gaulish God, also known as Cimbrianus: Lord of the Compatriots
Cimbrius (Cimbrianus) is a Gaulish god, known from several inscriptions found in Southern Germany, where he is conflated with Roman Mercury. He may also be the tutelary deity of the Cimbrii, a confederation of Germanic and Celtic tribes and his equation with Mercury, god of trade, profit and commerce may indicate the glue that held these tribes together. |
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Cym: Lord of the Compatriots
Cimbrius is known from inscriptions found in southern Germany; specifically Heilgenberg (CIL III 06402) where he is equated with Mercury. As Cimbrianus he is known from Heidelberg (AE 1921, 52), Mainz (AE 1990, 742) and Miltenberg (CIL XIII 06604 and 06605) in Germany. The equation with Mercury suggests that he was a protector deity and the fact that his territory overlaps with that of the Cimbrii tribe strongly suggests that he was the tutelary deity of these people.
The root of the name Cimbrianus *cimbri is an interesting one and occurs in Cumbria as well as Cymru. The word means 'compatriot' and both Cumbria and Cymru mean the 'realm', or the 'land, of the compatriots'. Indeed, after the collapse of Roman Britain and with the Anglo-Saxon incursion the native Britons were pushed westwards and began to call themselves the Cymry (or compatriots). This may mean that the supposedly Germanic Cimbrii were a confederation of tribes brought together by the movement of populations to their north; but based on a Celtic base population.
It should also be noted that, as well as being a messenger and protective deity, Roman Mercury was also a god of trade, profit and commerce; all methods by which diverse peoples are brought together.
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