Belisama ( Gaulish Belesama ; epigraphically Bηλησαμα ) is a Celtic goddess . She was identified by Roman commentators with Minerva by interpretatio romana .

Name [ edit ]

The Gaulish theonym Belesama has been traditionally interpreted as meaning 'the very bright', stemming from the Indo-European root *b?elH- ('white, shining'; cf. Lith. baltas 'white', Greek φαλ?σ phalos 'white', Arm. bal 'pallor', goth. bala 'grey') attached to the superlative suffix *- isam? . As for Belenos , however, this theory has come under increasing criticism in contemporary scholarship. ^{[1] [2]}

Xavier Delamarre notes that the proposed cognates stemming from *b?elH- do not seem to connote 'shining', but rather 'white, grey, pale', and proposes to derive the name from the Gaulish root belo - ('strong, powerful'), rendering Belesama as 'the very strong' (cf. Sanskrit bali??ha? 'the strongest'). ^[2] Alternatively, Peter Schrijver has conjectured a connection with the stem for ' henbane ', * beles -, attached to an unknown suffix - ma , by comparing the name with the Gaulish theonym Belisa-maros . According to him, this is "formally attractive and semantically possible (if * Belesama = Lat. Minerva medica ) but not supported by direct evidence". ^[3]

The toponyms Beleymas , Belleme , Balesmes , Blesmes , Blismes , and Velesmes are based on the theonym. ^{[4] [2]} The name also appears in various river names of Gauls and Britain, including Belisama ( River Ribble ) and Le Blima ( Tarn ). ^{[2] [5]} The Galatian personal name Blesamius , from an earlier * Belesamios , may also be added to the comparison. ^[2]

Attestations [ edit ]

A Gaulish inscription found at Vaison-la-Romaine in Provence ( RIG G-172) shows that a nemeton was dedicated to her: ^[6]

СΕΓΟΜΑΡΟС/ ΟΥΙΛΛΟΝΕΟС/ ΤΟΟΥΤΙΟΥС/ ΝΑΜΑΥСΑΤΙС/ ΕΙ?ΡΟΥ ΒΗΛΗ/СΑΜΙ СΟСΙΝ/ ΝΕΜΗΤΟΝ

Segomaros Ouilloneos tooutious Namausatis ei?rou B?l?sami sosin nem?ton

"Segomarus Uilloneos, citizen [ toutius ] of Namausus , dedicated this sanctuary to Belesama" ^{[4] [7]}

The identification with Minerva in Gallo-Roman religion is established in a Latin inscription from Saint-Lizier (anciently Consoranni ), Ariege department ( CIL XIII, 8): ^[8]

Minervae / Belisamae / sacrum / Q(uintus) Valerius / Montan[us] / [e]x v[oto?]

The presence of the goddess in Ancient Britain is more difficult to establish. Based on Ptolemy 's reference to a "Belisama estuary" (Βελισαμα), River Ribble in England seems to have been known by the name Belisama in Roman times. ^{[2] [5] [9]}

Theories [ edit ]

The attestation of the theonym as a river name may indicate that she was a lake- and river-goddess. ^[5] Belisama has also been speculatively claimed as companion of Belenos , whose name seems to contain the same root. ^[10]

See also [ edit ]

• 178 Belisana , asteroid named after the goddess

References [ edit ]

Bibliography

External links [ edit ]

Look up Belisama in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Belisama .

• Belisama: a Gaulish and Brythonic goddess (Summer Bright)