Celtic Gods: The Gaulish God, Sinquatis (The Winnower)

Sinatis
A Gaulish God, Father of Storms

Sinquatis (Sinquates, Sinquas, Sinquatos) is a Gaulish god known from two inscriptions found at Gérouville, Luxembourg where he is equated with Roman Silvanus. He was also probably the patron deity of Sincaize in France. His association with Silvanus would suggest that he was a hunter god.



Synonyms: Sinquates, Sinquas, Sinquatos
Gaul: The Winnower

Sinquatis is a god known from only two inscriptions found at Gérouville, Luxembourg (CIL XIII 03968; 03969) where he is equated by Interpretio Romana with the Roman hunting/woodland deity Silvanus. However, epigraphic evidence suggests that Sinquatis was the patron deity of Sincaize in the Niévre region of France. It is also possible (as suggested by Emile Lambert) that the name of the village of Cinqueux in Picardy, France is derived from Sinquatis by way of its Roman name of Senquatium. This would indicate that the region of Sinquatis' worship was more widespread that currently suggested by inscriptional evidence alone.

Unfortunately, in the existing inscriptions the name of the deity is given in abbreviated form as SINQV which has led to several possible interpretations of the name including: Sinquatis, Sinquates, Sinquatos and the improbable Sinquas. Though etymologically difficult to interpret (as the kw sound is not native in Gaulish) Sinquatis' name may be interpreted as being derived from the reconstructed proto-Celtic elements: sindo- (particle: this/the) and kwāti- (winnow) thus his name could be interpreted as 'The Winnower' effectively he is the hunter god who separates the slaughtered from the survivors during the hunt. He is both protector of animals and huntsman in one being.



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