Artio

In the Celtic Mythology, Artio is a goddess who seems to be venerated by the people of the Helvètes.

Representation

She is known by inscriptions and a statuette out of bronze dated from the 2nd century and settings at the day with Muri, in the area of Bern (from where the name: Artio de Muri ).

The statuette made 15,6 cm height on 19 cm length. It represents a bear (perhaps a female) on its four legs, raised head and half-opened mouth, letting appear two canines. A small tree carrying two branches, a sheet and fruits are planted behind the bear, while a woman sitting in a chair faces the bear. This woman, representing the Roman goddess Abundance , is a later addition.

The scupture rests on a broad rectangular base, bronzes some also, carrying the inscription suivante to him;:

Deae Artioni/Licinia Sabinilla

With the goddess Artio (or Artionis)/on behalf of Licinia Sabinilla

Etymology

Artio means Ours in Gallic language , animal emblematic of the royalty at the Celtes. One finds the same root in others Celtic Langues: art in former Irish, arth in Welsh, arz in Breton. It is of this root which the name could come from the King Arthur.

References

Daniel Paunier. With the research of Gaulle lost . For Science. nº345. 2006

See too

Andarta

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