Rigisamus, also Rigisamos, was a deity in Gaulish and Celtic mythology who, according to the Interpretatio Romana, was connected with Mars.
Mythology and Etymology
Rigisamus is mentioned in two inscriptions, one in Bourges (Cher department, Region Center-Val de Loire in France), and the other in West Cocker (in Yeovil, district of South Somerset in England) together with a picture of God and the following text:
- Deo Marti | Rigisamo | Iu (v) entius | Sabinus | v (otum) s (olvit) l (aetus) l (ibens) m (erito)
- ("Juventius Sabinus gladly and deservedly fulfilled the vow for the god Mars Rigisamus")
The name Rigisamus is derived from a reconstructed Proto-Indo-European root * rīg ("king", "royal") and a second, * -samo, * samali ("unique"). Rigisamus would therefore mean "the most royal", or "king of kings". The Irish word rí and the Gallic rix (both also mean “king”) are directly related to this.
It is unknown which properties of Mars are attributed to Rigisamus.
See also
References
- CIL XIII, 1190: Marti | Rigisamo | Ti(berius) Iul(ius) Eunus | ex vis{s}u „dem Mars Rigisamus (hat es geweiht) Tiberius Iulius Eunus nach einer Vision“.
- Helmut Birkhan: Kelten. Versuch einer Gesamtdarstellung ihrer Kultur. Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien 1997, ISBN 3-7001-2609-3, S. 638.
- Roman Inscriptions of Britain 1, 187.
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| Ancient deities of Gaul, Britain and Gallaecia by region | ||
| Supra-regional |
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| Britannia | ||
| Gallia Aquitania | ||
| Gallia Belgica | ||
| Gallia Celtica | ||
| Gallia Cisalpina | ||
| Gallia Narbonensis | ||
| Germania Inferior | ||
| Gallaecia | ||