Tridamus Explained

Tridamus is the name of a deity attested from a single inscription on a sandstone altar from Roman Britain, found in Michaelchurch in present-day Herefordshire.[1] The inscription reads:

'To the god Tridam(us), Bellicus gave (this) altar'

However, alternative readings of the rough-hewn inscription also exist, some of which have read Triv or Trivii for Tridam(us).[1] The altar remains in St Michael's Church in Michaelchurch.[1]

The name Tridamus may be derived from the Proto-Celtic *tri-damos meaning 'three-bovine one'.[2]

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: RIB 304. Altar dedicated to Tridam(…). 2021-08-25 .
  2. http://www.wales.ac.uk/documents/external/cawcs/PCl-MoE.pdf Proto-Celtic—English lexicon