By Tree, Stone and Spring. Part Two

Submitted by Thorgrim on Friday, 30 December 2005 Page Views: 3511

**Three Mothers** submitted by Thorgrim : The "Three Mothers" - a primitive representation of the Triple Goddess. The figures show the goddess as maiden, mother and crone. This is an ancient concept which honours the female in three phases of life. Probably dating from the Iron Age and similar to the slightly later 'genii cucullati', the three hooded gods found in many Romano-British carvings in Britain. Copy of an original found a... (Vote or comment on this photo)

Archaeology alone gives us the means to find out what we can about our prehistoric ancestors as they left no written account of themselves. This changed quite dramatically when Rome became interested in the island that they called Britannia. In southern Britain, the local tribes were happily trading with Roman Gaul and the Romans knew of us long before Caesar’s abortive visit in 55BC. British tribesmen sent him packing and it was nearly a century later, in 43 AD, when Rome returned under the Emperor Claudius. What sort of people did the Romans find in Britain? Who were the Britons?

“Who the first inhabitants of Britain were, whether natives or immigrants, is open to question." writes Tacitus in the Agricola, "But their physical characteristics vary and the variation is suggestive. The reddish hair and large limbs of the Caledonians proclaim a German origin; the swarthy faces of the Silures (South Wales) the tendency of their hair to curl and the fact that Spain lies opposite, all lead one to believe that Spaniards crossed in ancient times and occupied that part of the country (now supported by DNA studies). The peoples nearest to the Gauls likewise resemble them…it seems likely that Gauls settled in the island lying so close to their shores. In both countries you find the same ritual and religious beliefs. There is no great difference in language and there is the same hardihood in challenging danger, the same cowardice in shirking it when it comes close. But the Britons show more spirit…”

Tacitus goes on to tell how the strength of the Britons is in their infantry, but that some tribes also fight from chariots. He tells how their constant warring among each other made it easy for Rome to conquer them. The tribes are described as being quite incapable of co-operation and any temporary alliance is soon broken. He tells us that the climate is wretched with rains and mists and that the day is longer here than in Rome. He also describes the midnight sun so indicating that Roman explorers pushed much further north than we usually credit them. One outstanding quality of the Britons is mentioned – their belief in justice and their rights. “The Britons readily submit to military service, payment of taxes and other obligations imposed by government, provided that there is no abuse. That they bitterly resent.” I think that we can still see ourselves clearly in that very British quality with our passion for “fair play” and justice.

When we look at the names of the British tribes we must remember that these names are not necessarily the names that the Britons called themselves. The Pretanni and the Pictii are Latin names meaning “the painted ones”. Similarly, the gods and goddesses of Roman Britain so beloved by Celticists are, at best, a merging of native deities with those of the Roman pantheon. This is when we see the first carvings of the Three Mothers – the “genii cucullati” or Deae Matres found in Gaul, Germany and Britain. The Romans may have taken a British goddess and given her the attributes of their own Hecate when they created Britannia. They also gave us Brigantia as the figurehead of the Brigante tribe – a name that probably means “hill tribes.” Can we also see Mercury or Hermes in horned Cernunnos? Perhaps the most famous hybridisation occurred at Bath where the native healing goddess, Sulis, became associated with the Roman Minerva. Many curses inscribed on lead tablets have been recovered from the waters of Bath – they are dedicated to Sulis Minerva. We shall return to this, the holiest of holy wells, later.

In summary then, we have a distinctive native people of many different tribes and origins. They have their own cultures and customs, religions and languages. Archaeology can tell us something about how they lived in the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Ages. But it is not until right at the end of the Iron Age, that we get written accounts from visiting and conquering Romans. By then though, our native cultures and beliefs were thousands of years old. Then they merged with the pagan Roman pantheon, with the cult of the soldiers’ god Mithras that originated in Persia and then with Christianity. Before we can look in detail at Tree, Stone and Well – we must look at the missing ingredient of the British people – the English.

Note: Read Part One here
Coming in Part Three - the pagan English

Contributor Bio for Thorgrim: Contributing since 2003.

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