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Condatis

Celtic deity

Condatis (Gaulish: 'confluence') was an ancient Celtic deity worshipped primarily in northern Britain but also in Gaul. He was associated with the confluences of rivers, in particular within County Durham in the North of England. Condatis is known from several inscriptions in Britain and a single inscription found at Alonnes, Sarthe, France. In each case he is equated with the Roman god Mars.{{efn|See also: Mars (mythology)

Name and cult epithets
- Provincial epithets
  - Celtic Mars
    - Mars Condatis... }}

Name

The theonym Condatis derives from the stem condāt-, meaning 'confluence', itself from Proto-Celtic **kom-dati-*, from an earlier *kom-dhh1-ti- ('put with, put together', i.e. 'grouping, reunion'). According to Xavier Delamarre, his name may originally have meant '(He of the) Reunion' or 'The Reunited (?)' rather than 'The Confluence', a meaning likely connected to mythological elements that have not survived.

The stem condāt- is also attested in personal names, including Condatus, Condatius, and Condatie, as well as in toponyms such as Condé, Condat, Candé, Conte, Condes, Candes, Cosnes, Condate (the old name of Rennes and Northwich), Condom, Condéon (both from *Condate-o-magos), Cond (

Cult

The cult title is probably related to the place name Condate, often used in Gaul for settlements at the confluence of rivers. The Celtic god Condatis is thought to have functions pertaining to water and healing.

Roman altar-inscriptions to Mars Condates have been found near Roman forts in County Durham in the North of England that may suggest a 'confluence-deity' cult and the possibility that river confluences may have been used as pagan ritual sacrifice or human sacrifice sites.{{efn|SPNS – Brittonic Language... Aber ..."On the possibility that confluences and estuaries may have been pagan ritual sites...The altar-inscriptions to Condatis found in the Tyne-Tees region may be evidence of a 'confluence-deity' cult in that area ... }}{{efn|See also: Persecution of pagans in the late Roman Empire ..."Despite official threats...paganism remained widespread into the early fifth century continuing in parts of the empire into the 600s...}}

Archaeological evidence

British Isles

Roman altars with inscriptions to Mars Condates have been found in the Tees and Wear valleys of County Durham. Altars are normally found at the confluence of rivers – for example, the Cong Burn–Wear confluence near Chester-le-Street – however others may have been disturbed or removed, especially by antiquarians and collectors.

The inscription Mars Condates is a conflation (joining) of deities:{{efn|Neil Oliver – Ancient Britain...

..."Twinning of gods and goddesses was a tactic the Romans employed all across the Empire ... }}

Roman god Mars – god of war and father of Romulus, the founder of Rome.
Gaulish deity Condatis – god of river confluences.

Altar inscriptions (British Isles)

List of altars with inscriptions to Mars Condates:

Reference	Inscription	Translation	Type	Location	Confluence	Map
MAGiC MaP – Help	Ordnance
Survey
title= RIB 3500. Fragmentary altar dedicated to Mars Condates (?)	url= https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/3500	website= Roman Inscriptions of Britain	accessdate= 28 September 2024}}	D(eo) M(arti)	C̣on	[dati]	To the god Mars Condates...	Altar
fragment	title= Cramond Vicus – The Gods of Roman Cramond.	url= https://www.roman-britain.co.uk/places/cramond/	publisher= Roman Britain	access-date= 28 September 2024}}	Almond–Firth of Forth.	title= MAGiC MaP: Cramond Roman Fort.	url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?&xygridref=319090,676800&startScale=10000	publisher= Defra }}

title= RIB 1045. Altar dedicated to Mars Condates	url= https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/1045	website= Roman Inscriptions of Britain	accessdate= 28 September 2024}}	Deo Marti	Condati V(alerius)	[P]rob[i]anus [pr]o	se et suis v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito)	To the god Mars Condates, Valerius Probianus for himself and his household willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow.	Altar	Concangis (Roman Fort),
Chester-le-Street.	Cong Burn–Wear.	title= MAGiC MaP: Cong Burn – River Wear confluence.	url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?chosenLayers=moncIndex&xygridref=427950,551570&startScale=10000	publisher= Defra }}
title= RIB 1024. Altar dedicated to Mars Condates	url= https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/1024	website= Roman Inscriptions of Britain	accessdate= 28 September 2024}}	D(eo) M(arti)	Condati	Attonius	Quintianus	men(sor) eṿọc(atus) imp(eratum)	ex ius(su) sol(vit) l(ibens) a(nimo)	To the god Mars Condates, Attonius Quintianus, surveyor, evocatus, gladly fulfilled the command by order.	Altar	High Coniscliffe village.
Piercebridge Roman Fort,
Dere Street	? River Tees.	title= MAGiC MaP: High Coniscliffe.	url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?chosenLayers=moncPIndex&xygridref=422600,515300&startScale=25000	publisher= Defra }}
title= RIB 731. Altar dedicated to Mars Condates	url= https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/731	website= Roman Inscriptions of Britain	accessdate= 28 September 2024}}	[M]arti	Condati	Arponat	us v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito)	To Mars Condates Arponatus willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow.	Altar	Bowes village.
Lavatrae (Roman Fort),
Watling Street (North).	? River Greta.	title= MAGiC MaP: Bowes village.	url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?chosenLayers=moncIndex&xygridref=399420,513430&startScale=10000	publisher= Defra }}
title= Brit.47.1. To the god Mars Condates, Cunobacha set (this) up	url= https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/Brit.47.1	website= Roman Inscriptions of Britain	accessdate= 28 September 2024}}	d(eo) Marti	Condati	Cunoba	cha	p(osuit)	To the god Mars Condates, Cunobacha set (this) up.	Altar	Moulton, North Yorkshire.
Find date: 2015	Not known	title= MAGiC MaP: Moulton, North Yorkshire.	url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?&xygridref=423550,503830&startScale=25000	publisher= Defra }}

France

An example of an altar-inscription to Condatis has been found at Allonnes, Sarthe in France.

References

Citations

Web

RIB

Maps

Notes for citations

Bibliography

{{cite web |last1= James |first1= Alan G.
{{cite book |last1= MacKillop |first1= James |author-link= James MacKillop (author)
{{cite book |last1= Oliver |first1= Neil |author-link= Neil Oliver

References

Delamarre, Xavier. (2021). "Noms de lieux celtiques de l'Europe ancienne (-500 / +500)". Errance.
Maier, ''Dictionary of Celtic Religion and Culture'', p. 80.
Ross, Anne (1967). ''Pagan Celtic Britain''. Routledge & Kegan Paul. {{ISBN. 0-902357-03-4.
Jones, Barri & Mattingly, David (1990). ''An Atlas of Roman Britain'' (p. 275). Oxford: Basil Blackwell. {{ISBN. 1-84217-067-8.

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