Bandua

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In classical Celtic polytheism and in Lusitanian mythology, Bandua was a theonym used to refer to a goddess worshipped in Iberia by Celtiberians.

[edit] Extent of worship

The theonym Bandua has been found recorded in Portugal and North-West Spain. The name is found with a number of epithets^[1]. At Espinhosela, the name Bandua alone is found. At Codosedo, Alenquer and Ginzo de Limia however, the name Bandua is qualified by the epithet Aetobrico(m). At Caceres, Bandua is qualified by Araugelensis, at Curbián by Bolleco(m), at Miguel o Anjo by Brico(m), at Mixo(m) by Calaigus, at La Mezquitilla by Itobrico(m), at Eiras byLanobrica, at Rairiz de Veiga by Veigebreaeco(m), at Arcuelos by Verubrigo(m), at Seisco de Anciães by Vordeaeco(m) and at S. Martinho by Vorteaecio(m)^[2]. Along with Cosus, Nabia and Reva, Bandua is one of the best documented deities in large areas of western and north-western Iberia. In contrast to the worship of Cosus, Nabia and Reva, the worship of Bandua seems to have spread from South to North in Lusitania^[3].

[edit] Interpretations

Bandua has been associated with water ^[4] in order to explain the hydronym Banduje, in Portugal, or the toponym Baños de Bande, a thermal spot, and the relationship of the name with fords ^[5]. The form Bandue predominates in the Galician territory north of the Duero River while the Bandi ~ Bande form is more common in the Lusitanian area to the south ^[6]. Its epithets seem to allude more to dwelling places, at least those containing the suffix -briga, "fortress": Lanobrigae, Aetobrigo, than to the worshipping communities themselves ^{[7] [8] [9]}. This theory has been recently refuted by De Bernardo Stempel ^[10], who interprets what have traditionally been considered singular thematic datives of male attributes as plural genitive forms referring to groups of people (B'andue Aetobrico(m), Cadogo(m), Roudeaeco(m), Veigebreaego(m)). She also states that they depend on a theonym, Bandua, which would be feminine as a consequence of the above, and which was probably created later than its masculine counterpart. Thus, we have a pair of deities, Bandus (male) and Bandua (female), comparable to other Celtic pairs like Bormanos & Bormana, Belisama & Belisamaros, Camulos & Camuloriga and Arentius & Arentia. It has recently been proposed ^[11] that Torquatus, one of the seven apostolic men responsible for the introduction of Christianity to Hispania whose relics are kept in Santa Comba de Bande (Orense), may be a Christian version of Bandua ^[12]. Equally it is tempting to draw comparisons between Bandua and Banba, a female member of the Tuatha Dé Danann in Irish mythology.

[edit] References

Template:Celtic polytheism