Veteris

Veteris (commonly spelled Vitiris, Vheteris, Huetiris, and Hueteris) was a Celtic god attested from many inscriptions in Roman Britain. The dedicants were usually private individuals and were exclusively male. During the 3rd Century AD the cult was particularly popular among the ranks of the Roman army.

For other uses, see Veteris (disambiguation). Not to be confused with the northern British Roman fort at Verteris.

Veteris' name was never linked with that of any of the Classical gods, but he was invoked with another local god, Mogons, at Netherby.

Centres of worship

Veteris was worshipped in Roman Britain and altar-stones raised to him have been recovered in the United Kingdom,[1] such as those excavated at:

  • Netherby (971 [Mogont Vitire], 973 [Huetiri])
  • Carrawburgh (1548 [Veteri], 1549 [Huiteribus])
  • Housesteads (1602 [Hueteri], 1603 [Huitri], 1604-7 [Veteribus])
  • Hadrian's Wall (2068 [Veteri], 2096 [Huiteribus])
  • Catterick (727)
  • Chester-le-Street (1046 [Vitiri], 1047 [Vitiribus], 1048 [Vitbus])
  • South Shields (1070c [Ansu Vitiri])
  • Lanchester (1087, 1088)
  • Ebchester (1103 & 1104 [Vitiri])
  • Corbridge (1139 [Veteri], 1140 [Vitiri], 1141 [Vit])
  • Benwell (1335 [Vetri], 1336 [Vitirbus])
  • Chesters (1455 [Vitiri], 1456 [Veteribus], 1457 [Vitirbus], 1458 [Votris?])
  • Great Chesters (1728 [Vetiri], 1729 & 1730 [Veteribus])
  • Chesterholm (1697 [Veteri], 1698 [Veteri], 1699 [Veteribus], 1722e & 1722f [Veteribus])
  • Carvoran (1793-5 [Veteri], 1796 [Vetiri], 1797 [Vetiriu], 1798 [Viterino], 1799-1801 [Vitiri], 1802/3 [Veteribus], 1804 [Viteribus], 1805 [Vitiribus])

Forty altars to this god are recorded altogether, some alluding to Veteris as a single entity, others to a multiple version, perhaps a triad. Little is known about the specific function or character of the god. Occasionally, there is iconography associated with Veteris: for example, an altar from Carvoran is decorated with images of a boar and snake, the boar indicative of hunting or war and the snake healing or death.

Etymology

Veteris may possibly be related to the Proto-Celtic root *weto- meaning 'air' or *wī-ti- meaning 'food'.[2]

Sources
  1. The Gods of Roman Britain from roman-britain.org
  2. Proto-Celtic—English lexicon and English—Proto-Celtic lexicon. University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. (See also this page for background and disclaimers.) Cf. also the University of Leiden database Archived February 11, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.


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