Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica 25(1): 63–74

Nadezhda S. SHIROKOVA

ABSTRACT

According to Julius Caesar, of all the gods Celts revered Mercury the most, regarding him as the inventor of all arts. The cult of Mercury became widespread not only in Roman Gaul, which was one of the most thoroughly Romanised provinces of the Empire, but also in Roman Britain — the farthest western area governed by the Roman Empire. In both provinces Mercury was worshipped as the patron of commerce, which befitted him as the Roman god of trade and profit. At the same time, in both Gaul and Britain Mercury was syncretized with the Celtic horned god of fertility. Archaeological findings from these regions also suggest that the Mercury worshipped in Britain and Gaul during the Roman rule was also the guardian of military affairs — a role absolutely untypical of the original Roman god, but necessary for the supreme god of Celts who was the divine warrior-patron of Celtic tribes. Besides, the magical-chthonic aspect of Celtic Mercury likened him to Hermes, the god of eschatological and mystical endeavour of humankind in the religion of the Ancient Mediterranean.

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Potrivit lui Caesar, celții l-au venerat cel mai mult pe Mercur, acesta fiind considerat inventatorul tuturor meșteșugurilor. Cultul lui Mercur nu s-a răspândit doar în Gallia romană, care era una dintre provinciile profund romanizate ale Imperiului , ci și în Britannia — provincia cea mai vestică a Imperiului roman. Mercur era venerate în ambele provincii ca patron al comerțului, dar atât în Gallia, cât și în Britannia, a fost sincretizat cu zeul celt al fertilității. Descoperirile arheologice arată că Mercur era perceput în ambele provincii ca păzitor al armatei — un fapt absolut netipic pentru zeul roman, dar necesar pentru zeul suprem al celților — patron războinic al triburilor celtice. Aspectele magice ale cultului lui Mercur celtic îl leagă pe acesta de Hermes.

 

KEYWORDS

cult of Mercury, Roman Gaul, Roman Britain, religion