Loucetios

In Gallo-Roman religion, Loucetios (Latinized as Leucetius) was a Gallic god invariably identified with the Roman Mars. About a dozen inscriptions in his honour have been recovered, mainly from eastern Gaul, with a particular concentration among the Vangiones (a Rhenish tribe). Mars Loucetios is often accompanied by Nemetona. Inscriptions to him have also been found at Bath and Angers.^[1]

The name Loucetios may be derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *leuk- ("shine"). It is presumably analogous to Oscan Loucetius, "light-bringer," an epithet of Jupiter.^[2] The Gaulish and Brythonic forms likely derive from Proto-Celtic *louk(k)et-, "bright, shining, flashing," hence also "lightning,"^[3] in reference to either a Celtic commonplace metaphor between battles and thunderstorms (Old Irish torannchless, the "thunder feat"), or the divine aura of the hero (the lúan of Cú Chulainn).^[4]

Modern literature

In Neil Gaiman's American Gods, Leucotios [sic] appears in the main character's dream of forgotten gods.

References

1. ↑ Nicole Jufer & Thierry Luginbühl. 2001. Les dieux gaulois : répertoire des noms de divinités celtiques connus par l'épigraphie, les textes antiques et la toponymie. Editions Errance, Paris. pp.48-49
2. ↑ J.P. Mallory and D.Q. Adams, Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture (Taylor & Francis, 1997), p. 513.
3. ↑ Xavier Delamarre, Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise (Éditions Errance, 2003), 2nd edition, p. 200.
4. ↑ Helmut Birkham, entry on "Loucetius," in Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia, edited by John Koch (ABC-Clio, 2006), p. 1192.

v t e Celtic mythology series Ancient deities of Gaul, Britain and Gallaecia by region Supra-regional Alaunus Alisanos Andarta Anextiomarus Artio Aveta Belenus Belisama Borvo Brigantia Camulus Cernunnos Cicolluis Cissonius Condatis Damona Matrona Dis Pater Epona Erecura Esus Genii Cucullati Grannus Ialonus Contrebis Lenus Litavis Loucetios Lugus Maponos Matres Mogons Nantosuelta Ogmios Rosmerta Segomo Sirona Sucellus Suleviae Taranis Toutatis Virotutis Visucius Britannia Abandinus Alaisiagae Ancasta Andraste Belatucadros Britannia Cocidius Coventina Iouga Latis Nodens Ricagambeda Satiada Senuna Sulis Verbeia Veteris Gallia Aquitania Abellio Fagus Gallia Belgica Abnoba Ancamna Arduinna Arvernus Icovellauna Inciona Intarabus Iovantucarus Ritona Veraudunus Vindonnus Vosegus Xulsigiae Gallia Celtica Anvallus Atepomarus Bricta Icaunis Luxovius Nemetona Moritasgus Mullo Naria Robor Sequana Souconna Smertrios Telo Gallia Cisalpina Ambisagrus Gallia Narbonensis Artaius Buxenus Catubodua Lero et Lerina Nemausus Rudianos Germania Inferior Aufaniae Gebrinius Nehalennia Gallaecia Bandua Endovelicus Nabia Reue