Matunus or Matunos was a god in Brythonic Celtic polytheism. His name may be derived from the same root as Proto-Celtic *matu- meaning bear.[1] He was worshipped in Roman Britain and altar-stones raised to him have been recovered in the United Kingdom, such as at High Rochester (1265 [AD213]) and at Risingham.[2]
The god may be parallel with Mercury Artaius, who might also have ursine connotations.
A similarly named Gaulish god, Matutinus, is attested in at least three inscriptions from Switzerland; in all three he is identified with Mercury, and in one he is also identified with Cissonius.[3]
Sources
- ^ Proto-Celtic—English lexicon from the University of Wales.
- ^ BREMENIVM Roman Fort & Marching Camps, High Rochester, Northumberland, Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England.
- ^ 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.
