Sequana

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In Gallo-Roman religion, Sequana was the goddess of the river Seine, particularly the springs at the source of the Seine, and the Gaulish tribe the Sequani.

1 Representations
2 Inscriptions
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Representations

A large bronze statue of a woman, draped in a long gown and with a diadem on her head, is believed to represent Sequana (Deyts p.74). She stands on a boat, the prow of which is shaped like the head of a duck. The statue is now in the Musée Archeologique de Dijon.

[edit] Inscriptions

Eight inscriptions to Sequana are known, all from the Sources of the Seine. The following are typical (CIL 13, 02858):

Au(gusto) sac(rum) d(eae) Sequan(ae) e[x] / moni[tu]

and (CIL 13, 02862):

Aug(usto) sac(rum) / d(e)ae Seq(uanae) / Fl(avius) Flav(i)n(us) / pro sal(ute) / Fl(avi) Luna(ris) / nep(otis) sui / ex voto / v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito)

Some inscriptions contain spelling errors that may give a clue to the pronunciation of Sequana in Gaulish (CIL 13, 02863):

Aug(usto) sac(rum) d<e=O>a(e?) / <p=B>ro(!) / Se<q=C>uan(ae) / pro(!) / C(aius) M[3] / v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito)

As Gaulish is in the P-Celtic classification, q cannot represent the Indo-European k^w. Something like Sek-ooana is more likely.

[edit] References

Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum (CIL) vol XIII, The Gauls and Germanies.
Deyts, Simone (1992) Images des Dieux de la Gaule. Paris, Editions Errance. ISBN 2-87772-067-5.