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Segeta
A Gaulsh Goddess: The Fecund One
Segeta is a Gaulish goddess known from four inscriptions found in France. At Sceaux-en-Gâtinais there was a temple at the sacred spring (Aquis Segeste) dedicated to the goddess. Hot springs dedicated to the goddess are also known from Moingt, France. She appears to be a goddess of healing and fertility. |
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Gaul: The Fecund One
Segeta is a goddess known from four inscriptions found at Bussy-Albieux, Feurs (CIL XIII 01646) and Roanne in the Loire (CIL XIII 01641), France and at Sceaux-en-Gâtinais, Loiret, France (AE 1974, 423). The insciption from Sceaux-en-Gâtinais was on a circular marble disc (above) and reads AVG(uste) DEAE SEGETAE T MARIVS PRISCINVS V S L M EFFICIENDVM CVRAVT MARIA SACRA FIL (To the Great Goddess Segeta, T Marius Priscinus willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow for an efficacious cure. Maria Sacra, his daughter [offers this]). This was found in a temple near the sacred thermal springs dedicated to the goddess, Aquis Segeste. A further inscirption to the goddess was found at Moingt, now a precinct of Montbirson. During Roman times, Moingt was known as Moind and it was here that the hot springs of the Aquae Segetae (The waters of Segeta) were sited. There is also a freshwater spring at the site, the waters of which were believed to posess healing properties well into Mediaeval times. The inscription found here at the plains of Forez, a few kilometers north-east of the town during the 19th century indicates the presence of a prefecture of the goddess Segeta of Feurs.
Segeta's association with healing and thermal waters along with the inscription dedicated to her at Sceaux-en-Gâtinais indicates that Segeta was a goddess of healing. Though there is no obvious root for Segeta's name in the reconstructed proto-Celtic lexicon her name may be related to *seg(m)-eto (seed) and to the Middle Cymric hyged (generous) which would yield an interpretation of 'fecund' or 'fruitful'. Thus Segeta could be 'The Fecund One' and she may have been a healing/fertility goddess.
If you would like to try the foods of the time of the ancient Celts, then why not have a look at the ancient recipes section of this site. For the foods of the time when some of these tales were written down, take a look at the Medieval recipes section of the site and, in particular, the recipes from The Forme of Cury.
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