Latis 2177523 225207302 2008-07-12T13:36:49Z Dposte46 4500866 Link to Aballava In ancient [[Celtic polytheism]], '''Latis''' is the name of two [[Celtic polytheism|Celtic deities]] worshipped in [[Roman Britain]]. One is a goddess (Dea Latis), the other a god (Deus Latis), and they are both known from a single inscription each. __NOTOC__ ==Dea Latis== The dedication to Dea Latis was found at [[Banna (Birdoswald)|Birdoswald Roman Fort]] in [[Cumbria]], [[England]], in 1873. It reads simply: :<small>DIE LATI</small> :"For the goddess Latis"<ref>Collingwood, R.G. and Wright, R.P. (1965) ''The Roman Inscriptions of Britain'' (RIB) ''Vol.I Inscriptions on Stone''. Oxford. [http://www.roman-britain.org/places/camboglanna.htm#rib1897 RIB 1897, online at www.roman-britain.org]</ref> The E is written as a ||. The stone is now in the Carlisle Museum. She is known as the goddess of water and beer. <ref>[http://folkloreandmyth.netfirms.com/gods_goddesses.html Folklore and Legend - Gods and Goddesses<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> She may have been associated with the nearby rivers.<ref>Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend, Miranda J. Green, Thames and Hudson Ltd, London, 1997</ref> ==Deus Latis== The dedication to Deus Latis, recovered on an altar-stone at the Roman fort of [[Aballava]], [[Burgh-by-Sands]] (also in [[Cumbria]]) reads: :<small>DEO LATI LVCIVS VRSEI</small> :"To the god Latis, Lucius Ursei [dedicates this]."<ref>''Ibid.'' [http://www.roman-britain.org/places/aballava.htm#rib2043 RIB 2043, online at www.roman-britain.org]</ref> The altar-stone to Deus Latis was found near an image of a horned god named [[Belatucadros]]. ==Etymology== The name 'Latis' may conceivably be related to the [[Proto-Celtic language|Proto-Celtic]] words *''lati-'' meaning 'liquor', *''lat-'' 'day', or *''lāto-'' 'lust'.<ref>Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, [[University of Wales]]. "[http://www.wales.ac.uk/documents/external/cawcs/pcl-moe.pdf Proto-Celtic—English lexicon]." (See also [http://www.wales.ac.uk/newpages/EXTERNAL/E4504.asp this page] for background and disclaimers.)</ref> ==References== <div class="references-small"> <references/> *ABALLAVA museum, Burgh by Sands, Cumbria, [[England]]. </div> [[Category:Ancient Gaulish and British gods]] [[Category:Ancient Gaulish and British goddesses]] [[Category:Drinking culture]] [[Category:Water deities]]