- Suleviae
In ancient Celtic religion, Sulevia was a goddess worshipped in
Gaul and Britain, very often in the plural forms Suleviae or (dative) Sule(v)is. Dedications to Sulevia(e) are attested in about forty inscriptions, distributed quite widely in the Celtic world, but with particular concentrations inNoricum , among theHelvetii , along theRhine , and also inRome . Jufer and Luginbühl distinguish the Suleviae from another group of plural Celtic goddesses, theMatres , and interpret the name Suleviae as meaning "those who govern well".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. pp.15,64. In the original: "Celles qui gouvernent bien".] The Suleviae are identified with the Matres on an inscription from Colchester, as well as on most of the inscriptions from Rome; they are also identified once with theJunones . Van Andringa interprets the Suleviae as "native domestic divinities honoured at all social levels". [William van Andringa (2002). "La religion en Gaule romaine : Piété et politique (Ier-IIIe siècle apr. J.-C." Editions Errance, Paris. p.275. In the original: "divinités domestiques indigènes honorés dans tous les milieux sociaux".]For the theory that the Suleviae were a triune version of Sulis Minerva, see
Sulis . This theory is disputed by some researchers who find no direct links with Sulis, and suggest instead that the similarity in names is coincidental. Another theory connects the Suleviae with theXulsigiae , known from a site atTrier ;Edith Mary Wightman (1970). "Roman Trier and the Treveri." Rupert Hart-Davis, London.] but this suggestion has also been contested.ee also
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Triple Goddess References
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