Iouga

Iouga is a suggested reconstruction of the name of a Romano-British goddess known from a single fragmentary inscription on an altar-stone at York. The name appears as Ioug[...] or Iou[...] on the damaged stone, which reads:

NVMINIB AVG ET DEAE IOV[...]

SIVS AEDEM PRO PARTE D[...]^[1][2]

To the numina of the Emperor(s) and to the goddess Iou[..], [..]sius (built/restored) a (half?) part of a temple.

Reading the fragmentary name as Ioug[...], Roger Wright proposed the reconstructed form Iouga, which he linked with the Proto-Celtic *jugā meaning 'yoke'. However, Theresia Pantzer, reviewing the stone, suggests that what Wright had perceived as traces of a letter g was merely "damage to the stone rather than part of a letter".^[2] The goddess is otherwise unknown.^[3]

References

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 Dis Pater Epona Erecura Esus Genii Cucullati Grannus Ialonus Contrebis Lenus Litavis Loucetios Lugus Maponos Matres Matrona 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 Vinotonus 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 Cathubodua Lero et Lerina Nemausus Rudianos Germania Inferior Matronae Aufaniae Gebrinius Nehalennia Gallaecia Bandua Endovelicus Nabia Reue