Luxovius

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In Gallo-Roman religion, Luxovios, Latinized as Luxovius was the god of the waters of Luxeuil, worshipped in Gaul. He was a consort of Bricta. The thermal spring sanctuary at Lexeuil produced evidence of the worship of other deities, including the sky-horseman who bears a solar wheel, and Sirona, another deity associated with healing springs.

[edit] Inscriptions

Luxovius is recorded in the following two inscriptions, both from Luxeuil-les-Bains :

[Lus]soio / et Brictae / Divixti/us Cons/tans / v(otum) s(olvit) <l=T>(ibens) m(erito)

"To Lusso(v)ios and Bricta, Divixtius Constans freely and deservedly fulfilled his vow." (CIL 13, 05425)

Luxovio / et Brixtae / G(aius) Iul(ius) Fir/manus / v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito)

"To Luxovios and Brixta, Gaius Julius Firmans freely and deservedly fulfilled his vow." (AE 1951, 00231; CIL 13, 05426)

[edit] Etymology

The name Luxovios implies light symbolism. This may indicate that the god is a deity of both light, and of curative spring waters, two elements that were strong linked in the Celtic world.

[edit] References

• Année Epigraphique volume 1951
• Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum (CIL), volume 13, Tres Galliae
• Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend. Miranda Green. Thames and Hudson Ltd. London. 1997