Acionna

Acionna , Gallo-Roman divinity, related to water. Its existence is attested in the Orléanais.

The stele of Acionna

In 1822, Jean-Baptiste Jollois, one of the “inventors” of archeology orléanaise, carried out surveys on the site of the “fountain of Étuvée”, an old artificially dried up source which it was then a question of redécouvrir to feed out of water the public fountains of the city. It put at the day, in what appeared to him to be an old sump, a roughly square stele (0,60 X 0,55 Mr.) carrying a votive inscription. According to its style, it could date from the 2nd century. Engraving is neat and the reading does not present any difficulty:

AUG (ustae) ACIONNAE

SACRUM
CAPILLUS ILLIO
HUSBAND F (ilius) PORTICUM
CUM AM ORNA
LIED V (otum) S (olvit) L (ibens) M (erito)

“Devoted to Augusta Acionna, Capillus wire of Illiomarus, (offered) this gantry with its ornaments. He discharged his wish of gladly, as he is right”

A divinity of water

Acionna is unknown in addition, but the final in - onna indisputably indicates a Latinized Gallic name. The discovery of its stele in an old fountain suggests a divinity related to water. Its name can be close to the name of the the Essonne - Axiona, Exona, in the medieval texts - which takes its source in the northern declivity of the Forêt of Orleans. (The higher course of this river is called today the “Egg” and takes the name of “the Essonne” only àprès its junction with Rimarde). Perhaps another river of the forest of Orleans, the “Esse” or “Brook of Esses” which, it, runs out towards the south, bears the same name. Esse is thrown in Bionne, with the certainly Celtic name.

Did Acionna have a sanctuary with the Fountain of Étuvée? Would Capillus have been cured by its water, which would explain the execution of its wish? Nothing makes it possible to affirm it truly. Around the stele, Jollois found only abundant ceramics remains and tiles.

Capillus wire of Illiomarus

It will be also noted that Capillus - Latin name - is the son of Illiomarus to the definitely Gallic name. With trusting with the anthroponymy, Capillus can seem representative the second generation of a line the notable ones romanized, but which did not forget, in the event of need, the recourse to the traditional divinities.

The stele of Acionna, deposited with the young historical Museum of Orleans after its discovery, disappeared. But Jollois had made it draw and reproduce in lithography. Especially, the Museum of the National antiquities had time to take of it a moulding which is today… with the museum of Orleans.

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