Sulis
(British)

The Goddess of Wisdom, who was of such importance that the Romans named the city of Bath in her honour, the Roman name for that city being Aquae Sulis, or 'Waters of Sulis'. Sulis' consort was a sun God, whose carved face, bristling with the rays of the sun, was found during excavations beneath the present pump room in Bath. Some have suggested that the story of Bladud's magical flight from Bath to London might have derived from a solar myth, now long forgotten, featuring this deity.

Sulis is known only at Bath, which suggestes that she was a local deity, manifesting herself in the copious hot springs of the city. Her importance in the region is reflected by teh fact that the Romans did not obliterate her memory when they built a temple in Bath, but instead amalgamated their temple with the one already in existence. The Romano-Celtic deity so produced is known as Sulis Minerva, a combination of Sulis and the Roman Goddess Minerva. This deity was highly revered throughout the Roman Empire, respect that is confirmed in an inscription found on the base of a long-lost statue. THis inscription tells of a visit of a Roman state augurer from Rome, who came to Bath to consult the deity and make use of her oracular powers. The inscription further says that his request, whatever that might have been, was answered.

The assumption usually made about the assimilation of Sulis and the Roman Minerva is not correct, for dedications to Sulis on her own reveal her to be a chthonic Underworld Goddess, similar in many respects to the classical Hecate, whose association is with blessing, cursing and prophecy. These are not attributes of the Roman Minerva. It seems more likely that, following the arrival of the Romans, the true aspect of Sulis was lost, her attributes being replaced by more Minervan ones.

Sulis Minerva
(Romano-British)

The Goddess created by the amalgamation of the Roman Goddess Minerva with the local Goddess Sulis at Bath, the city being named Aquae Sulis by the Romans in honour of the important Celtic solar deity they found there. Sulis Minerva presided over the therapeutice properties of the hot baths within her city. She also presided over curses and cursing. As an Underworld Goddess, she was also associated with prophcey, an oracle being established in her temple at Bath, an oracle that was on one occasion visited by a Roman state augurer. Her prophetic powers came from the Underworld, where all the latent powers of the earth flow together, and the past and the future are as one.

thanks for posting this, it is very interesting!!

Heh....judging by the utter lack of responses for most of my efforts, it's nice to hear that a few do actually find these interesting.

I had been hoping, however, that folks would pick up on any number of things within each 'subject', starting discussions.

i would start a discussion but i'm actually learning from your posts. i never learned much about celtic history but have always felt very drawn to it. in a few of past life regressions that i've had it's not surprizing that the celts have surfaced in the story line. i appreciate your effort tremendously!

Feel free to ask any questions that my postings raise! I'll do my best to answer.