Condatis

Condatis (Gaulish: 'confluence') was an ancient Celtic deity worshipped primarily in northern Britain but also in Gaul. He was associated with the confluences of rivers, in particular within County Durham in the North of England. Condatis is known from several inscriptions in Britain and a single inscription found at Alonnes, Sarthe, France. In each case he is equated with the Roman god Mars.

Name

The theonym Condatis derives from the stem condāt-, meaning 'confluence', itself from Proto-Celtic *kom-dati-, from an earlier kom-d^hh₁-ti- ('put with, put together', i.e. 'grouping, reunion').

The stem condāt- is also attested in personal names, including Condatus, Condatius, and Condatie, as well as in toponyms such as Condé, Condat, Candé, Conte, Condes, Candes, Cosnes, Condate (the old name of Rennes and Northwich), Condom, Condéon (both from *Condate-o-magos), Cond (< *Condate-dunum), Kontz, Conz (Trier), and Canstatt (Condistat).

Cult

The cult title is probably related to the place name Condate, often used in Gaul for settlements at the confluence of rivers. The Celtic god Condatis is thought to have functions pertaining to water and healing.

Roman altar-inscriptions to Mars Condates have been found near Roman forts in County Durham in the North of England that may suggest a 'confluence-deity' cult and the possibility that river confluences may have been used as pagan ritual sacrifice or human sacrifice sites.

Archaeological evidence

British Isles

Roman altars with inscriptions to Mars Condates have been found in the Tees and Wear valleys of County Durham. Altars are normally found at the confluence of rivers – for example, the Cong Burn–Wear confluence near Chester-le-Street – however others may have been disturbed or removed, especially by antiquarians and collectors.

The inscription Mars Condates is a conflation (joining) of deities:

1. Roman god Mars – god of war and father of Romulus, the founder of Rome.
2. Gaulish deity Condatis – god of river confluences.

Altar inscriptions (British Isles)

List of altars with inscriptions to Mars Condates:

France

An example of an altar-inscription to Condatis has been found at Allonnes, Sarthe in France.

References

Citations

Web

RIB

Maps

Notes for citations

Bibliography

• Delamarre, Xavier (2003). Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise: Une approche linguistique du vieux-celtique continental. Errance. ISBN 9782877723695.
• James, Alan G. (2020). "The Brittonic Language in the Old North, A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence, Volume 2" (PDF). Scottish Place-Name Society. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
• MacKillop, James (2004). Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-860967-1.
• Matasović, Ranko (2009). Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic. Brill. ISBN 9789004173361.
• Nègre, Ernest (1990). Toponymie générale de la France (in French). Librairie Droz. ISBN 978-2-600-02883-7.
• Oliver, Neil (2012). A History of Ancient Britain. Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN 978-0753828861.