Dea Matrona
In Celtic mythology, Dea Matrona ("divine mother goddess") was the goddess who gives her name to the river Marne (ancient Matrŏna[1]) in Gaul.
The Gaulish theonym Mātr-on-ā signifies "great mother",[2] and the goddess of the Marne has been interpreted to be a mother goddess.[2][3] Many Gaulish religious images—including inexpensive terracottas mass-produced for use in household shrines—depict mother goddesses nursing babies and/or holding fruits, other foods, or small dogs in their laps. In many areas, such Matronae were depicted in groups of three (or sometimes two)[4] (see Matres and Matronae for the triads of mother-goddesses well attested throughout northern Europe).
The name of Welsh mythological figure Modron, mother of Mabon is derived from the same etymon.[5] By analogy, Dea Matrona may conceivably have been considered the mother of the Gaulish Maponos.
See also
- Aveta, another Gallic mother-goddess
- Matres and Matronae
- Modron
- Triple deities
Sources
- ↑ Ancient authors referring to the river Marne as Matrona include Julius Caesar, Ammianus Marcellinus, Ausonius and Sidonius Apollinaris. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Cf. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- Beck, Jane (1970) "The White Lady of Great Britain and Ireland", in: Folklore 81:4.
- Loomis, Roger (1945) "Morgain La Fee and the Celtic goddesses", in: Speculum. 20:2.
- Meier, Bernhard (1998) Dictionary of Celtic Religion and Culture; Cyril Edwards, trans. Woodbridge: Boydell and Brewer.
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