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Vesuniahenae
A Gaulish mother goddesses: The Noble Revered Goddesses
Vesuniahenae are Gaulish mother goddesses known form six inscriptions found in Germany. Akin to other Celtic mother goddesses they were triple goddesses associated with plenty, home and childbirth. |
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Gaul: The Noble Revered Goddess
The Vesuniahenae are mother goddesses (Matronae) known from six inscriptions found at Zülpich and Vettweis in Germany. Four of the inscriptions from Vettweis [NL 192; CIL XIII 07851; CIL XIII 07852; CIL XIII 07854] are dedicated to Matronis Vesunia(h)eni[s] whereas one [CIL XIII 07850] is dedicated to Vesuniahe[nis] alone. The Zülpich inscription [CIL XIII 07854] is also dedicated to Matronis Vesuniahenis. Etymologically Vesuniahenis' name is related to that of the Gaulish goddess, Vesunna.
As a member of the family of mother goddesses, the Matronae the Vesuniahenae were probably goddesses of childbirth, home and plenty though none of this goddess' specific attributes have survived. However, her name can be interpreted on the basis of the reconstructed proto-Celtic lexicon as being derived from the components: *wesu- (excellent, noble), the deicitic particle -ī-, the feminine ending -a and the ending -henis/henae which is a common ending for the various of the Matres/Matronae. This may well represent a title derived from the Celtic *seno- (old), possibly with the meaning 'revered', as any elder would be. Thus Vesuniahenae could be interpreted as 'The Noble Revered Godess'.
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