Editing Rosmerta

{{Short description|Gallic goddess of abundance and fertility}}
{{About|the Celtic goddess|information about the character from the fictional Harry Potter series|Madam Rosmerta}}
[[File:Rosmerta-Autun.jpg|thumb|[[Relief]] from [[Autun]] depicting Rosmerta and Mercury]]
In [[Gallo-Roman religion]], '''Rosmerta''' was a goddess of fertility and abundance, her attributes being those of plenty such as the [[cornucopia]]. Rosmerta is attested by statues and by inscriptions. In [[Gaul]] she was often depicted with the [[List of Roman deities|Roman god]] [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]] as her consort, but is sometimes found independently.

==Etymology==
The name ''Rosmerta'' is [[Gaulish language|Gaulish]], and is analysed as ''ro-smert-a''. ''Smert'' means "provider" or "carer" and is also found in other Gaulish names such as Ad-smerio, Smertu-litani, Smerius (Σμερο), Smertae, Smertus, and others.{{sfnp|Delamarre|2003|page=277}} ''Ro-'' is a modifier meaning "very", "great", or "most" as found in Ro-bili ("most-good") or Ro-cabalus ("great horse").{{sfnp|Delamarre|2003|pages=261–262}} The ''-a'' ending is the typical Gaulish feminine singular [[nominative]]. The meaning is thus "the Great Provider".

==Iconography==
A relief from [[Autun]] (ancient ''Augustodunum'', the ''[[civitas]]'' capital of the Celtic [[Aedui]]), shows Rosmerta and Mercury seated together as a divine couple. She holds a [[cornucopia]], with Mercury holding a [[patera]] at her left side.

[[File:Mercurius Rosmerta HistMusPfalz 3513.jpg|left|thumb|Relief of Mercury and Rosmerta from [[Eisenberg, Rhineland-Palatinate|Eisenberg]] in present-day [[Rhineland-Palatinate]].]]
A bas-relief from [[Eisenberg, Rhineland-Palatinate|Eisenberg]]{{sfnp|Deyts|1992|page=119}} shows the couple in the same relative positions, with Rosmerta securely identified by the inscription.<ref>{{AE|1905|58}}</ref> Rosmerta holds a purse in her right hand and a [[patera]] in her left.

In a pair of statues from Paris depicting the couple, Rosmerta holds a cornucopia and a basket of fruits.

Rosmerta is shown by herself on a bronze statue from Fins d'Annency ([[Haute-Savoie]]), where she sits on a rock holding a purse and, unusually, also bears the wings of Mercury on her head. A stone bas-relief from [[Arrondissement of Auxerre|Escolives-Sainte-Camille]]{{sfnp|Deyts|1992|pages=120–121}} shows her holding both a patera and a cornucopia.

==Inscriptions==

[[Image:Rosmerta Cantismerta distribution.png|right|thumb|220px|Map showing the location of inscriptions dedicated to Rosmerta (in red), as well as to Cantismerta (green) and Atesmerta (blue).]]
Twenty-seven inscriptions to Rosmerta are listed by Jufer and Luginbühl,{{sfnp|Jufer|Luginbühl|2001|page=60}} distributed in France, Germany and Luxembourg, corresponding mainly to the [[Roman province]]s of [[Gallia Belgica]] and [[Germania Superior]]. An additional two inscriptions are known, one from [[Roman Dacia]].<ref>{{AE|1998|1100}}</ref>

An inscription from [[Metz]]<ref>{{CIL|13|4311}}</ref> is a dedication ''([[votum]])'' to Mercury and Rosmerta jointly. Another from Eisenberg was made by a [[Decurion (Roman cavalry officer)|decurion]] in fulfillment of a vow to the couple jointly.<ref>''Deo Mercu(rio) / et Rosmer(tae) / M(arcus) Adiuto/rius Mem/{m}or d(ecurio) c(ivitatis) St() / [po]s(uit) l(ibens) m(erito)'' ("Marcus Adiutorius Memor, a decurion of the ''civitas'' St… has deposited [this votive] willingly, as is deserved"). The name of the ''civitas'', the Celtic community, is presumably obscured. The latter phrase is a variation on the standard ''votum solvit libens merito'', in which the person making the dedication declares that he "has released his vow willingly, as is deserved," often abbreviated as V.S.L.M.</ref>

In two inscriptions<ref>{{CIL|13|4683}} and {{CIL|13|4705}}.</ref> both from Gallia Belgica, Rosmerta is given the epithet ''[[Glossary of ancient Roman religion#sacer|sacra]]'', sacred. A lengthier inscription from [[Wasserbillig]] in Gallia Belgica<ref>{{CIL|13|4208}}</ref> associates the divine couple with the dedication of a shrine ''([[Aedes (Roman religion)|aedes]])'', with "hospitable" rites to be celebrated.<ref>''Deo Mercurio [et deae Ros]/mertae aedem c[um signis orna]/mentisque omn[ibus fecit] / Acceptus tabul[arius VIvir] / Augustal[is donavit?] / item hospitalia [sacror(um) cele]/brandorum gr[atia pro se libe]/risque suis ded[icavit 3] / Iulias Lupo [et Maximo co(n)s(ulibus)]''.</ref>

==See also==
{{Commons category|Rosmerta}}
{{wiktionary|Rosmerta}}
* [[Dalheim]]
* [[Visucia]]
* [[Maia (mythology)|Maia]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* ''Année Epigraphique'' volumes 1967, 1987, 1998
* ''[[Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum]]'' (CIL), volume 13, ''Tres Galliae'' ("The Three Gauls")
* {{cite book|last= Delamarre |first= Xavier |date= 2003 |title= Dictionnaire de la Langue Gauloise |edition=  2nd |location= Paris |publisher= Editions Errance |isbn=2-87772-237-6 }}
* {{cite book|last= Deyts |first= Simone |date= 1992 |title= Images des dieux de la Gaule |location= Paris |publisher= Editions Errance |isbn=2-87772-067-5 }}
* {{cite book|last1= Jufer |first1= Nicole |first2= Thierry |last2= Luginbühl |date=2001 |title= Répertoire des dieux gaulois |location= Paris |publisher= Editions Errance |isbn=2-87772-200-7 }}

{{Celtic mythology (ancient)}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Gaulish goddesses]]
[[Category:Fertility goddesses]]
[[Category:Abundance goddesses]]
[[Category:Mercurian deities]]