Latis Explained

In ancient Celtic polytheism, Latis is the name of two Celtic deities worshipped in Roman Britain. One is a goddess (Dea Latis), the other a god (Deus Latis), and they are both known from a single inscription each.

Dea Latis

The dedication to Dea Latis was found at Birdoswald Roman Fort in Cumbria, England, in 1873. It reads simply:

The E is written as a ||. The stone is now in the Carlisle Museum. She may have been associated with the nearby rivers.^[1]

Deus Latis

The dedication to Deus Latis, recovered on an altar-stone at the Roman fort of Aballava, Burgh-by-Sands (also in Cumbria) reads:

The altar-stone to Deus Latis was found near an image of a horned god and another dedication to the god Belatucadros.

Etymology

The name 'Latis' may conceivably be related to the Proto-Celtic words *lati- meaning 'liquor', *lat- 'day', or *lāto- 'lust'.^[2]

Further reading

• ABALLAVA museum, Burgh by Sands, Cumbria, England.

Notes and References

1. Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend, Miranda J. Green, Thames and Hudson Ltd, London, 1997
2. Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, University of Wales. "Proto-Celtic—English lexicon." (See also this page for background and disclaimers.)