Visucius
Encyclopedia
Visucius was a Gallo-Roman
god, usually identified with Mercury
. He was worshipped primarily in the east of Gaul
, around Trier
and on the Rhine; his name is recorded on about ten dedicatory inscriptions. One such inscription has also been found in Bordeaux
. Visucius is, along with Gebrinius
and Cissonius
, among the most common indigenous epithets of the Gaulish Mercury.
The name has sometimes been interpreted as meaning "of the ravens" or "knowledgeable"; cf. the Proto-Celtic
roots *weiko- 'raven' and *witsu- 'knowing'.
The variant or mistaken spelling Visuclus is also attested.
In one inscription, Visucius has the epithet Solitumarus; the same inscription also honours Jupiter Optimus Maximus
and Apollo
.
Another inscription is co-dedicated to Sancta Visucia, as well as to Mercurius Visucius. This goddess, apparently a companion or analogue of Visucius, has sometimes been likened to Rosmerta
or Maia
, who also accompany Mercury on many Gaulish dedications.
One inscription dedicated to Visugius has also been found at Agoncillo in Spain
; this may perhaps refer to the same deity.
Gallo-Roman religion
Gallo-Roman religion was a fusion of the traditional religious practices of the Gauls, who were originally Celtic speakers, and the Roman and Hellenistic religions introduced to the region under Roman Imperial rule. It was the result of selective acculturation....
god, usually identified with Mercury
Mercury (mythology)
Mercury was a messenger who wore winged sandals, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx , mercari , and merces...
. He was worshipped primarily in the east of Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
, around Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
and on the Rhine; his name is recorded on about ten dedicatory inscriptions. One such inscription has also been found in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
. Visucius is, along with Gebrinius
Gebrinius
Gebrinius is a local Celtic version of the god Mercury. In the 2nd century AD an altar was set up at Bonn to honour him. The stone depicts the god in full Roman aspect, but is nevertheless dedicated to "Mercury Gebrinius", perhaps of the name of a local divinity of the Ubii, whose cult was linked...
and Cissonius
Cissonius
Cissonius was an ancient Gaulish god. After Visucius, Cissonius was the most common name of the Gaulish Mercury; around seventeen inscriptions dedicated to him extend from France and Southern Germany into Switzerland....
, among the most common indigenous epithets of the Gaulish Mercury.
The name has sometimes been interpreted as meaning "of the ravens" or "knowledgeable"; cf. the Proto-Celtic
Proto-Celtic language
The Proto-Celtic language, also called Common Celtic, is the reconstructed ancestor language of all the known Celtic languages. Its lexis can be confidently reconstructed on the basis of the comparative method of historical linguistics...
roots *weiko- 'raven' and *witsu- 'knowing'.
The variant or mistaken spelling Visuclus is also attested.
In one inscription, Visucius has the epithet Solitumarus; the same inscription also honours Jupiter Optimus Maximus
Jupiter (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Jupiter or Jove is the king of the gods, and the god of the sky and thunder. He is the equivalent of Zeus in the Greek pantheon....
and Apollo
Apollo
Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in Greek and Roman mythology...
.
Another inscription is co-dedicated to Sancta Visucia, as well as to Mercurius Visucius. This goddess, apparently a companion or analogue of Visucius, has sometimes been likened to Rosmerta
Rosmerta
In Gallo-Roman religion, Rosmerta was a goddess of fertility and abundance, her attributes being those of plenty such as the cornucopia. Rosmerta is attested by statues, and by inscriptions...
or Maia
Maia (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Maia is one of the Pleiades and the mother of Hermes. The goddess known as Maia among the Romans may have originated independently, but attracted the myths of Greek Maia because the two figures shared the same name.-Birth:...
, who also accompany Mercury on many Gaulish dedications.
One inscription dedicated to Visugius has also been found at Agoncillo in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
; this may perhaps refer to the same deity.