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== Etymology ==
== Etymology ==
The name ''Moritasgus'', shared by a 1st-century BC ruler of the [[Senones]],<ref>[[Julius Caesar]], ''[[Commentarii de Bello Gallico]]'' 5.54.</ref> has been analyzed variously. The particle ''-tasgus'' has been derived by scholars from a [[Proto-Celtic]] stem ''*tazgo-'', ''*tasgos'' or ''*tasko-'' 'badger'.<ref>{{cite book |title=La langue gauloise: description linguistique, commentaire d'inscriptions choisies |first=Pierre-Yves |last=Lambert |publisher=Editions Errance |date=1994 |page=1999 |isbn=9782877720892 |lang=FR}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Katz |first=Joshua T. |title=Hittite ''Tašku-'' and the Indo-European Word for ‘Badger.’ |journal=Historische Sprachforschung |trans-title=Historical Linguistics |volume=111 |issue=1 |date=1998 |pages=61–82 [68-69] |jstor=41288957}} Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.</ref><ref>{{Cite book |first=Xavier |last=Delamarre |title=Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise |publisher=Éditions Errance |date=2003 |page=291 |lang=FR}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Grzega |first=Joachim |title=Romania Gallica Cisalpina: Etymologisch-geolinguistische Studien zu den oberitalienisch-rätoromanischen Keltizismen |location=Berlin, New York |publisher=Max Niemeyer Verlag |date=2001 |page=240 (entry "*tazgo-") |lang=DE |doi=10.1515/9783110944402}}</ref> [[Xavier Delamarre]] proposed that the complete name means "Sea Badger", from [[Gaulish language|Gaulish]] ''mori'' 'sea' + ''tasgos'' (also ''tascos'' or ''taxos''), 'badger'.<ref>{{Cite book |first=Xavier |last=Delamarre |title=Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise |publisher=Éditions Errance |date=2003 |pages=229, 292-293 |lang=FR}}</ref> The [[European badger]] produced a secretion used in Gaulish medicaments, hence a possible connection with a healing god.<ref>See Xavier Delamarre, ''Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise'' (Éditions Errance, 2003), pp. 229, 292–293, and D. Ellis Evans, ''Gaulish personal names: a study of some Continental Celtic formations'' (University of Michigan Press, 1967), p. 103. For further discussion, see [[Tasgetius#Name and Celtic badger lore|Tasgetius: Name and badger lore]].</ref>
The name ''Moritasgus'', shared by a 1st-century BC ruler of the [[Senones]],<ref>[[Julius Caesar]], ''[[Commentarii de Bello Gallico]]'' 5.54.</ref> has been analyzed variously. The particle ''-tasgus'' has been derived by scholars from a [[Proto-Celtic]] stem ''*tazgo-'',<ref>{{cite journal |last=Mac an Bhaird |first=Alan |title=Varia II. Tadhg Mac Céin and the Badgers |journal=Ériu |volume=31 |date=1980 |pages=150–55 [154] |jstor=30008220}} Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.</ref> ''*tasgos'' or ''*tasko-'' 'badger'.<ref>{{cite book |title=La langue gauloise: description linguistique, commentaire d'inscriptions choisies |first=Pierre-Yves |last=Lambert |publisher=Editions Errance |date=1994 |page=1999 |isbn=9782877720892 |lang=FR}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Katz |first=Joshua T. |title=Hittite ''Tašku-'' and the Indo-European Word for ‘Badger.’ |journal=Historische Sprachforschung |trans-journal=Historical Linguistics |volume=111 |issue=1 |date=1998 |pages=61–82 [68-69] |jstor=41288957}} Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.</ref><ref>{{Cite book |first=Xavier |last=Delamarre |title=Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise |publisher=Éditions Errance |date=2003 |page=291 |lang=FR}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Grzega |first=Joachim |title=Romania Gallica Cisalpina: Etymologisch-geolinguistische Studien zu den oberitalienisch-rätoromanischen Keltizismen |location=Berlin, New York |publisher=Max Niemeyer Verlag |date=2001 |page=240 (entry "*tazgo-") |lang=DE |doi=10.1515/9783110944402}}</ref> [[Xavier Delamarre]] proposed that the complete name means "Sea Badger", from [[Gaulish language|Gaulish]] ''mori'' 'sea' + ''tasgos'' (also ''tascos'' or ''taxos''), 'badger'.<ref>{{Cite book |first=Xavier |last=Delamarre |title=Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise |publisher=Éditions Errance |date=2003 |pages=229, 292-293 |lang=FR}}</ref> The [[European badger]] produced a secretion used in Gaulish medicaments, hence a possible connection with a healing god.<ref>See Xavier Delamarre, ''Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise'' (Éditions Errance, 2003), pp. 229, 292–293, and D. Ellis Evans, ''Gaulish personal names: a study of some Continental Celtic formations'' (University of Michigan Press, 1967), p. 103. For further discussion, see [[Tasgetius#Name and Celtic badger lore|Tasgetius: Name and badger lore]].</ref>


== Shrine in [[Alesia (city)|Alesia]] ==
== Shrine in [[Alesia (city)|Alesia]] ==

Revision as of 14:14, 2 December 2024

For the stick insect, see Moritasgus stresemanni.

Moritasgus is a Celtic epithet for a healing god found in four inscriptions at Alesia.[1] In two inscriptions, he is identified with the Greco-Roman god Apollo.[2] His consort was the goddess Damona.

Etymology

The name Moritasgus, shared by a 1st-century BC ruler of the Senones,[3] has been analyzed variously. The particle -tasgus has been derived by scholars from a Proto-Celtic stem *tazgo-,[4] *tasgos or *tasko- 'badger'.[5][6][7][8] Xavier Delamarre proposed that the complete name means "Sea Badger", from Gaulish mori 'sea' + tasgos (also tascos or taxos), 'badger'.[9] The European badger produced a secretion used in Gaulish medicaments, hence a possible connection with a healing god.[10]

Shrine in Alesia

Alesia was an oppidum of the Celtic Mandubii in present-day Burgundy. A dedication to the gods alludes to the presence of a shrine at the curative spring, where sick pilgrims could bathe in a sacred pool. The sanctuary itself, located near the eastern gate of the town just outside the city wall,[11] was impressive, with baths and a temple. In addition, there were porticoes, where the sick possibly slept, hoping for divine visions and cures.

Numerous votive objects[12] were dedicated to Moritasgus. These were models of the pilgrims and the afflicted parts of their bodies: these included limbs, internal organs, genitals, breasts, and eyes. Surgeons' tools have also been found, suggesting that the priests[13] also acted as surgeons.

Selected bibliography

  • Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend. Miranda Green. Thames and Hudson Ltd. London. 1997.

References

  1. ^ Jacky Bénard et al., Les agglomérations antiques de Côte-d'Or (Annales Littéraires de l'Université de Besançon, 1994), p. 251 online.
  2. ^ CIL 13.11240 and 11241; Bernhard Maier, Dictionary of Celtic Religion and Culture (Alfred Kröner, 1994, 1997, translation Boydell & Brewer 1997), p. 198 online.
  3. ^ Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico 5.54.
  4. ^ Mac an Bhaird, Alan (1980). "Varia II. Tadhg Mac Céin and the Badgers". Ériu. 31: 150–55 [154]. JSTOR 30008220. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
  5. ^ Lambert, Pierre-Yves (1994). La langue gauloise: description linguistique, commentaire d'inscriptions choisies (in French). Editions Errance. p. 1999. ISBN 9782877720892.
  6. ^ Katz, Joshua T. (1998). "Hittite Tašku- and the Indo-European Word for 'Badger.'". Historische Sprachforschung [Historical Linguistics]. 111 (1): 61–82 [68-69]. JSTOR 41288957. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
  7. ^ Delamarre, Xavier (2003). Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise (in French). Éditions Errance. p. 291.
  8. ^ Grzega, Joachim (2001). Romania Gallica Cisalpina: Etymologisch-geolinguistische Studien zu den oberitalienisch-rätoromanischen Keltizismen (in German). Berlin, New York: Max Niemeyer Verlag. p. 240 (entry "*tazgo-"). doi:10.1515/9783110944402.
  9. ^ Delamarre, Xavier (2003). Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise (in French). Éditions Errance. pp. 229, 292–293.
  10. ^ See Xavier Delamarre, Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise (Éditions Errance, 2003), pp. 229, 292–293, and D. Ellis Evans, Gaulish personal names: a study of some Continental Celtic formations (University of Michigan Press, 1967), p. 103. For further discussion, see Tasgetius: Name and badger lore.
  11. ^ James Bromwich, The Roman Remains of Northern and Eastern France: A Guidebook (Routledge, 2003), pp. 49 and 133 online et passim.
  12. ^ See ex-voto and Milagro (votive) for analogous Christian practices.
  13. ^ The druids were the priesthood of the ancient Celts.

Further reading

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