Editing Condatis

{{Short description|Celtic deity}}
'''Condatis''' ([[Gaulish]]: 'confluence') was an ancient [[Celtic mythology|Celtic deity]] worshipped primarily in northern [[Roman Britain|Britain]] but also in [[Gaul]]. He was associated with the confluences of rivers, in particular within [[County Durham]] in the [[North of England]].
{{efn|name="MacKillop_Intro"|MacKillop – ''Celtic Mythology''...<br>'''Condatis''' ..."A god worshipped in Roman occupied Britain, much associated with the confluence of rivers...His shrines have been found between the Tyne and Tees rivers...His name is commemorated in many place names ...{{sfn|MacKillop|2004|pp=100}} }}
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 (mythology)|Mars]].{{efn|See also: [[Mars (mythology)]]
* Name and cult epithets
** Provincial epithets
*** [[Mars (mythology)#Celtic Mars|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-d<sup>h</sup>h<sub>1</sub>-ti-'' ('put with, put together', i.e. 'grouping, reunion').{{Sfn|Delamarre|2003|pp=123–124}}{{Sfn|Matasović|2009|p=204}}

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, Jura|Conte]]'', ''Condes'', ''[[Candes-Saint-Martin|Candes]]'', ''Cosnes'', ''Condate'' (the old name of [[Rennes]] and [[Northwich]]), [[Condom, Gers|''Condom'']], ''Condéon'' (both from *''Condate-o-magos''), ''Cond'' (< *''Condate-dunum''), ''[[Haute-Kontz|Kontz]]'', ''Conz'' ([[Trier]]), and ''Canstatt'' ([[Condistat]]).{{Sfn|Nègre|1990|pp=109–112}}{{Sfn|Delamarre|2003|pp=123–124}}

== Cult ==
The [[Cult (religious practice)| cult]] title is probably related to the place name ''Condate'', often used in [[Gaul]] for settlements at the [[confluence]] of rivers.<ref>Maier, ''Dictionary of Celtic Religion and Culture'', p. 80.</ref> 
The Celtic god ''Condatis'' is thought to have functions pertaining to water and healing.
<ref>Ross, Anne (1967). ''Pagan Celtic Britain''. Routledge & Kegan Paul. {{ISBN|0-902357-03-4}}.</ref>
<ref>Jones, Barri & Mattingly, David (1990). ''An Atlas of Roman Britain'' (p. 275). Oxford: Basil Blackwell. {{ISBN|1-84217-067-8}}.</ref>

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 (religious practice)|cult]] and the possibility that river [[Confluence|confluences]] may have been used as [[Paganism|pagan]] [[sacrifice|ritual sacrifice]] or [[human sacrifice]] sites.{{efn|SPNS – ''Brittonic Language...''<br>'''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
 ...{{sfn|James|2020|pp=4-5}} }}{{efn|See also: [[Paganism]] ..."Ritual sacrifice was an integral part of ancient Graeco-[[Religion in ancient Rome|Roman religion]] and was regarded as an indication of whether a person was pagan or Christian...}}{{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 [[River Tees|Tees]] and [[River Wear|Wear]] valleys of [[County Durham]].
{{efn|name="MacKillop_Intro"}} 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 [[antiquarian]]s and collectors.

The inscription ''Mars Condates'' is a [[wikt:conflation#English|conflation]] (joining) of deities:{{efn|Neil Oliver – ''Ancient Britain''...<br>
..."Twinning of gods and goddesses was a tactic the Romans employed all across the Empire ...{{sfn|Oliver|2012|p=347}} }}
# Roman god [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]] – god of war and father of Romulus, the founder of Rome.
# [[Gaul|Gaulish]] [[deity]] '''Condatis''' – god of river confluences.

===Altar inscriptions (British Isles)===
List of altars with inscriptions to ''Mars Condates'':

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="border-collapse: collapse; background:#f0f0f0"
!style="text-align:left"|Reference
!style="text-align:left"|Type
!style="text-align:left"|Find location
!style="text-align:left"|[[Confluence]]
!style="text-align:left"|Map<br><ref group=help name=Magic_Help>MAGiC MaP – Help 
# Use ''Table of Contents'' for Colour mapping.
# There may be intermittent problems with the [[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs|magic.defra.gov.uk]] website, if so then try again another time.</ref>
!style="text-align:left"|Ordnance<br/>Survey

|- Cramond
|Mars Condates<br>RIB 3500.<ref group=rib>{{cite web |title= RIB 3500. Fragmentary altar dedicated to Mars Condates (?)
 |url= https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/3500 |website= Roman Inscriptions of Britain |accessdate= 28 September 2024}}</ref>
|Altar<br>fragment
|[[Cramond Roman Fort]],<br>near Edinburgh.<ref group=web>{{cite web| 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}}</ref>
|[[River Almond, Lothian|Almond]]–[[Firth of Forth]].
|<ref group=map>{{cite web |title= MAGiC MaP: Cramond Roman Fort.
 |url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?&xygridref=319090,676800&startScale=10000 |publisher= Defra }}</ref><br><ref group=help name=Magic_Help/>
|{{Ordnance Survey coordinates|319202_676778}}

|- Chester-le-Street
|Mars Condates<br>RIB 1045.<ref group=rib>{{cite web |title= RIB 1045. Altar dedicated to Mars Condates
 |url= https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/1045 |website= Roman Inscriptions of Britain |accessdate= 28 September 2024}}</ref>
|Altar
|''[[Concangis]]'' (Roman Fort),<br>[[Chester-le-Street]].
|[[Cong Burn]]–[[River Wear|Wear]].
|<ref group=map>{{cite web |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 }}</ref>
|{{Ordnance Survey coordinates|427799_551264}}

|- Coniscliffe
|Mars Condates<br>RIB 1024.<ref group=rib>{{cite web |title= RIB 1024. Altar dedicated to Mars Condates
 |url= https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/1024 |website= Roman Inscriptions of Britain |accessdate= 28 September 2024}}</ref>
|Altar
|[[High Coniscliffe]] village.{{efn|Found at [[High Coniscliffe]], which lies about 1.6 km. east of Piercebridge.}}<br>[[Piercebridge Roman Fort]],<br>[[Dere Street]]
|? [[River Tees]].
|<ref group=map>{{cite web |title= MAGiC MaP: High Coniscliffe.
 |url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?chosenLayers=moncPIndex&xygridref=422600,515300&startScale=25000 |publisher= Defra }}</ref>
|{{Ordnance Survey coordinates|420855_515627}}

|- Bowes
|Mars Condates<br>RIB 731.<ref group=rib>{{cite web |title= RIB 731. Altar dedicated to Mars Condates
 |url= https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/731 |website= Roman Inscriptions of Britain |accessdate= 28 September 2024}}</ref>
|Altar
|[[Bowes]] village.{{efn|Found on the north side of the [[Watling Street|main road]] about 180 m. east of [[Lavatrae|Bowes fort]].}}<br>''[[Lavatrae]]'' (Roman Fort),<br>[[Watling Street]] (North).
|? [[River Greta, Durham|River Greta]].
|<ref group=map>{{cite web |title= MAGiC MaP: Bowes village.
 |url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?chosenLayers=moncIndex&xygridref=399420,513430&startScale=10000 |publisher= Defra }}</ref>
|{{Ordnance Survey coordinates|399101_513404}}

|- Moulton
|Mars Condates<br>Brit.47.1.<ref group=rib>{{cite web |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}}</ref>
|Altar
|[[Moulton, North Yorkshire]].<br>Find date: 2015
|Not known
|<ref group=map>{{cite web |title= MAGiC MaP: Moulton, North Yorkshire.
 |url=http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?&xygridref=423550,503830&startScale=25000 |publisher= Defra }}</ref>
|{{Ordnance Survey coordinates|423554_503906}}

|}

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

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}
====Web====
{{Reflist|group=web}}
====RIB====
{{Reflist|group=rib}}
====Maps====
{{Reflist|group=map}}
{{Reflist|group=help}}
===Notes for citations===
{{notelist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{Cite book|last=Delamarre|first=Xavier|title=Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise: Une approche linguistique du vieux-celtique continental|year=2003|publisher=Errance|isbn=9782877723695|author-link=Xavier Delamarre}}
*{{cite web |last1= James |first1= Alan G.
 |year= 2020 |title= The Brittonic Language in the Old North, A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence, Volume 2
 |url= https://spns.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Alan_James_Brittonic_Language_in_the_Old_North_BLITON_Volume_II_Dictionary_2020_Edition.pdf
 |publisher= [[Scottish Place-Name Society]] |access-date= 1 October 2024}}
*{{cite book |last1= MacKillop |first1= James |author-link= James MacKillop (author)
 |year= 2004 |title= Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology |publisher= [[Oxford University Press]] |isbn= 0-19-860967-1 }}
*{{Cite book|last=Matasović|first=Ranko|title=Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic|year=2009|publisher=Brill|isbn=9789004173361|author-link=Ranko Matasović}}
* {{cite book |last1=Nègre |first1=Ernest |title=Toponymie générale de la France |date=1990 |publisher=Librairie Droz |isbn=978-2-600-02883-7  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rsNpi7IVulEC |language=fr}}
*{{cite book |last1= Oliver |first1= Neil |author-link= Neil Oliver
 |year= 2012 |title= A History of Ancient Britain |publisher= [[Weidenfeld & Nicolson]] |isbn= 978-0753828861 }}

{{Celtic mythology (ancient)}}

[[Category:Gaulish gods]]
[[Category:Gods of the ancient Britons]]
[[Category:Health gods]]
[[Category:Sea and river gods]]
[[Category:Personifications of rivers]]