Camulus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the character in the science fiction series Stargate SG-1, see Camulus (Stargate).
- For the comic book of this name by Jorge Blanco and Pablo Garcia. Camulus Web
In the ancient Celtic pantheon, Camulus or Camulos was a theonym for a god whom the Romans equated with Mars by interpretatio romana.[1] He was an important god of early Britain and Gaul, especially among the Belgae and the Remi,[1] a Gaulish tribe who lived in the area of modern Belgium. At Rindern, Germany, he was cited as Mars–Camulos on a stone with a corona of oak.[1] Elsewhere he was portrayed with a ram-horned head.[1] Evidence of his popularity can be seen in several place-names notably Camulodunum.[1] Attempts to link him with the nursery character Old King Cole and Fionn's father Cumhall have been rejected by contemporary learned commentators[1]
The town Camulodunum (now Colchester) in Essex may have been named after him.[2] Cotterell claimed that this was the basis for the legendary city Camelot.[2] Cunobelinus, Shakespeare's Cymbeline, a chief of the Catuvellauni who was called Britannorum rex by the Roman historian Suetonius, made Camulodunum his capital after defeating the local Trinobantes.[2] He established a mint there, and coins bearing his head are still found occasionally in the area.[2] After his death around AD 42, his sons fell out with Rome and gave the emperor Claudius an excuse to try to place Britain under Roman rule.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f "Camulus." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford University Press, 1998, 2004.
- ^ a b c d e Arthur Cotterell (1997). The Encyclopedia of Mythology: Classical, Celtic, Norse. Anness Publishing Ltd.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Supra-regional |
|
|
|
| Britannia |
|
|
| Gallia Aquitania |
|
|
| Gallia Belgica |
|
|
| Gallia Celtica |
|
|
| Gallia Cisalpina |
|
|
| Gallia Narbonensis |
|
|
| Germania Inferior |
|
|
| Gallaecia |
|
|
