Celtic Gods: The Gaulish God, Ratamatos (He of the Strong Defences)

Ratamatos
A Gauish God, Ratamatos: He of the Strong Defences

Ratamatos is a Gaulish God known from a single inscription found at Mâcon, France where he is associated with Roman Jupiter. This indicates that he was a deity of the 'father of the tribe' type.



Synonyms:
Gaul: He of the Strong Defences

Ratamatos is a deity known from a single inscription found at Mâcon, Saône-et-Loire, France where he is invoked along with the Roman deity, Jupiter.

Ratamatos' name contains the reconstructed proto-Celtic roots *rƒti- (fort, rampart) and *mati- (good) [or possibly *matu- (bear)] with the masculine ending -os. This gives us a meaning of 'He of the Good Fort'. If good here is interpreted as 'strong' in the military sense then Ratamatos is 'He of the Strong Defences'. Thus he could be considered as a deity of the 'father of the tribe' type which would explain why he was invoked along with Jupiter.



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