Page:Bury J B The Cambridge Medieval History Vol 2 1913.djvu/504

476 Castle, Burgh-by-Sands and Netherby, and its meaning is "brilliant in war." It is remarkable that no inscription in Britain mentions Bĕlĕnos, whose name is found in certain British proper names, such as Cunobelĭnos, the Cymbeline of Shakespeare and the Cynfelyn of the Welsh.

Of inscriptions to grouped goddesses, there are several in Britain dedicated to Matres, but only one inscription mentions Matres Britannae along with Italian, German, and Gaulish "Mothers." The inscription in question is at Winchester. The other grouped goddesses, the Nymphs, that are mentioned on inscriptions, are probably local, and are named on inscribed stones at Great Broughton (Nymphis et Fontibus), at Blenkinsop Castle (Deabus Nymphis), at Risingham (Nymphis Venerandis), and at Nether Croy Farm near Croyhill (Nymphis). An inscription dedicated to Lamiis tribus, found at Benwell near Newcastle-on-Tyne, also doubtless refers to some local belief. On one inscription found at Chester are the words Deae Matri, but unfortunately the inscription is incomplete and we have no further information as to this "Mother-goddess." It is highly probable that the goddess Epona was worshipped in Britain as well as in other parts of the Keltic world, and inscriptions dedicated to her have been found at Carvoran, and at Auchindavy near Kirkintulloch. The goddess Brigantia may have been the tribal goddess of the Brigantes, and it is noticeable that her name is identical in form with the Irish Brigit. She is mentioned on an inscription, of A.D. 205, at Greetland, and on another inscription, at Adel, near Leeds, while, on an inscription in Cumberland, she is called Dea Nympha Brigantia. A further inscription of the second century, found at Birrens, near Middleby, reads Brigantiae sacrum.

An undoubted instance of a local British goddess exists in the case of Sul or Sulis, whence the Roman name Aquae Sulis for Bath, a place whose fame was great, as we learn from Solinus, even in Roman times. One inscription found at Bath is of special interest, inasmuch as it refers to the rebuilding of a temple to this goddess. She is further mentioned at Bath on five other inscriptions. There is an inscription dedicated to her at Alzey in Rheinhesse, which was probably set up by someone who was grateful to this goddess for restored health. That rivers, too, were worshipped in Britain is attested by the fact that the ancient name of the Mersey or the Ribble was Belĭsăma, a name identical with that of a Gaulish goddess. In addition to the foregoing, a goddess Latae or Latis is mentioned on inscriptions at Kirkbampton and Birdoswald.

The value of the evidence as to the pre-Christian religion of Britain