Viridios

Viridios, or Viridius is the supposed deified masculine spirit of verdure, in ancient Celtic polytheism.

Centres of worship

Viridios was worshipped in Roman Britain and altar-stones raised to him have been recovered in the United Kingdom, such as those at Ancaster.

The Ancaster inscriptions

An inscribed stone, found in an Ancastrian church and originally part of an archway, says:

"DEO VIRIDIO TRENICO ARCVM FECIT DE SVO DON"

"For the god Viridius, Trenico made this arch, donated from his own funds."

Channel 4's Time Team uncovered a second inscription, part of a late Roman or early Dark Age burial:

"DEO VRIDI SANCTO"

"To the holy god Viridius ..."

ources

*British Museum, London, England.
*Lancaster Museum, Lancaster, England.
*Newcastle Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle, England.
*Penrith Museum, Penrith, England.
*Verovicium Roman Museum, Housesteads Fort, Northumberland, England.
*York Castle Museum, York, England.

ee also

*Green Man

External links

* [http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/ancaster_dig.html Channel 4 Time Team - Ancaster Lincolnshire]
* [http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/snapshot_romanbeliefs.html Channel 4 Time Team - Roman beliefs and religion]
* [http://www.celtnet.org.uk/gods_v/viridius.html Nemeton - Viridius: A Brythonic God]
* [http://pas.toadhms.com/hms/pas_obj.php?type=finds&id=52594 Portable Antiquities Scheme]
* [http://www.roman-britain.org/places/causennae.htm Roman-Britain - Cavsennae/Cavsennis] - Ancaster, Lincolnshire