Celtic Gods: The Gaulish Goddesses, Matronae Udravarinehae (Grey Defender Goddesses)

Udrovarineae
The Gaulish goddesses, also known as Matronae Udravarinehae: Grey Defender Goddesses

Udrovarineae (Matronae Udravarinehae) are Gaulish mother goddesses known from three inscriptions found in Germany. They probably represent defenders of home and settlement as well as being protectors of mothers and childbirth.



Synonyms: Matronae Udravarinehae
Gaul: Grey Defender Goddesses

The Udrovarineae are goddesses known from three inscriptions found in Germany. Two fragmentary inscriptions found at Vellekoven (Udr]o[var]ineis CIL XIII 08147) and Thorr (Udrovar[inehis CIL XIII 12069). The same goddess is invoked as Matronis Udravarinehis (CIL XIII 08229), in Cologne. These inscriptions indicate that the Udrovarineae rank amongst the collecions of mother goddesses known as the Matronae (mothers) who are known thoughout the Celtic and Germanic lands.

Though no images of the Udrovian Mothers are known, many of the known images of the mothers represent fertility cult. However, a derivaton of the Udrovarineae based on the reconstructed proto-Celtic can be derived as comprising the elements *udro- (grey) and *wāro- (hero) along with the deicific particle -i-. The name of these goddesses can be interpreted as 'Grey Hero Goddesses'; though the sense of the name, given the Matres' usual attributes may be 'Grey Defender Goddesses' and they were probably defenders of home and settlement.



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