Celtic Gods: The Gaulish and Germanic Mother Goddesses, Vatviae (The Prophesying Mothers)

Vatviae
The Gaulish/Germanic mother goddesses: The Prophesying Mothers

Vatviae are Gulish/Germanic mother goddesses known from twelve inscriptions found in Western Germany. Analysis of their name suggests that they are mother goddesses associated with augury and divine inspiration.



Synonyms:
Gaul, Germanic: The Prophesying Mothers

The Matronae Vatviae are known from twelve inscriptions (CIL XIII 07861a; CIL XIII 07884; CIL XIII 08510; NL 235; NL 232; NL 233; NL 234; CIL XIII 07891; CIL XIII 07893; CIL XIII 07892; NL 236 and CIL XIII 07883) in the west of modern Germany. With one inscription (CIL XIII 07861a) found at Hasselsweiler, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, another (CIL XIII 07884) found at Custen, Germany, another (CIL XIII 08510) fount at Lipp, Germany. Other inscriptions were found at: (CIL XIII 07883) Iülich, Nordrhein-Westfalen and CIL XIII 07892 and CIL XIII 07893 from Roedingen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. The remaining six inscriptions all derive from Morken-Harff, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. An example of these inscriptions (CIL 13, 07884): Matronis Vatviabus C(aius) Secundinius Amandus ex imp(erio) ips(arum) l(ibens) m(erito) (to the Vatavian Mothers, Caius Secundinius Amandus as a result of a command to himself willingly and deservedly [established this]).

The Vatviae are one of the great Matres or mother goddesses known from southern Germany and north-western Gaul. There is some debate as to the etymology of this goddess' name with some proposing a derivation from early Germanic *wod-ōr- (water). Though this does not satisfactorily explain the medial 'a' or the second 'v' in the name. To my mind, a more satisfactory etymology can be derived from the reconstructed proto-Celtic element: *wƒtu- (poetic inspiration, prophesy). Thus the Matres Vatviae can be interpreted as the 'Prophesying Mothers': a Celtic name. They would therefore fit into the Celtic model of goddesses of inspiration and/or augury.



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