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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2009 17:47:50 GMT -1
I apologise if these figures have been discussed before - I did have a look but couldn't find anything.
I've been doing a lot of reading lately regarding religion in the Romano-British period and these figures are very intriguing.
They seem to come in conjunction with water shrines and what Miranda Aldhouse-green refers to as 'mother goddesses'. The information I've read is fairly brief though - does anyone know any more about these figures?
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Post by Lee on Feb 20, 2009 20:12:50 GMT -1
i am knackered at the moment - v long day - but will look them up Gods with Thnderbolts by Guy de la bedoyere and see what is in there, im sure there is something or other.
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Post by megli on Feb 20, 2009 23:07:51 GMT -1
The 'Hooded Spirits' - often in threes - hang around the Matres. Some people find them vaguely phallic.
Basically, no one has a clue what they hell they mean, and yet they were clearly important. A salutary lesson for us about the perils of reconstructionism.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2009 14:17:41 GMT -1
Basically, no one has a clue what they hell they mean, and yet they were clearly important. A salutary lesson for us about the perils of reconstructionism.  That's the impression I was left with too but thought some of you knowledgeable folks on here might know more. A awful lot of time is spent trying to interpret the meaning of symbols associated with deities but I wonder how speculative some of this is. |
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Post by Blackbird on Feb 22, 2009 11:04:17 GMT -1
Maybe they are watery worshippers wearing the Romano British version of waterproofs ;D
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Post by Lee on Mar 3, 2009 9:33:32 GMT -1
had a look in 'Gods with Thunderbolts' not too much on them really. found all over britain and continent. usually three's with a foursome in london. no distinguishing features etc so it really is a total mystery.
so, where to go from here?
do we think it worthwhile to co-opt them inot a role for us within Brython?
if so, i vote for them representing the ancestors. hooded, multiple and ever present.
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Post by arth_frown on Aug 12, 2009 21:06:26 GMT -1
I was talking to Brochfael last week about the hooded spirits given me the "willies".
These spirits where associated with springs and healing.
But rather than linked to healing I wonder if these spirits are about illness and death. I wonder if ill people would give offerings to avoid death?
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Post by dreamguardian on Aug 12, 2009 23:21:09 GMT -1
I was talking to Brochfael last week about the hooded spirits given me the "willies". These spirits where associated with springs and healing. But rather than linked to healing I wonder if these spirits are about illness and death. I wonder if ill people would give offerings to avoid death? Never thought of them like that! |
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Post by Tegernacus on Aug 13, 2009 7:28:22 GMT -1
makes sense, in that death was always looking over your shoulder in the Roman era. Hmmm.. did the Romans personify death like that though? Should be documented.
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Post by megli on Aug 13, 2009 8:10:04 GMT -1
They didn't, as far as I know.
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Post by arth_frown on Aug 13, 2009 9:46:16 GMT -1
I thought that Genii Cucullati where more Celtic than Roman?
It wouldn't surpise me if there is a Grim Reaper type Celtic spirit
I'm willing to go with my UPG on this
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Post by arth_frown on Aug 13, 2009 9:49:50 GMT -1
makes sense, in that death was always looking over your shoulder in the Roman era. Hmmm.. did the Romans personify death like that though? Should be documented. Not that i know of, but fact is Genii Cucullati are not well documented but the iconography is common. |
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Post by megli on Aug 13, 2009 9:54:10 GMT -1
We have no idea at all what they represent. As they are with the Mothers, vague, benign guardian spirits of fertility seem likeliest. Why are they hooded? Because they live outdoors, in/under the fields, I would suggest. Why are there three of them? Because they are powerful, and powerful things are iconographically tripled.
There's a breton legend of Ankou (=Angheu) who is a kind of skeleton with a cart of death. I have no idea where the western iconography of death-as-hooded-skeleton comes from: I can find out, though.
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Post by littleraven on Aug 13, 2009 14:27:23 GMT -1
Why are they hooded? Because they live outdoors, in/under the fields, I would suggest. Specifically, the type of hoods they wear seem to be the Birrus Brittanicus type, a very well thought of trade item throughout the Roman empire. It was very desirable for it's warmth and waterproofing qualities, does this suggest a seasonal relevance? |
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Post by arth_frown on Aug 13, 2009 15:14:04 GMT -1
Why are they hooded? Because they live outdoors, in/under the fields, I would suggest. Specifically, the type of hoods they wear seem to be the Birrus Brittanicus type, a very well thought of trade item throughout the Roman empire. It was very desirable for it's warmth and waterproofing qualities, does this suggest a seasonal relevance? Just got back from lullingstone roman villa where I tried on a Byrrus Britannicus.  |
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Post by arth_frown on Aug 13, 2009 15:56:47 GMT -1
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Post by arth_frown on Aug 13, 2009 16:00:49 GMT -1
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Post by Tegernacus on Aug 13, 2009 20:28:23 GMT -1
look like a bunch of druids to me....
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Post by arth_frown on Aug 14, 2009 8:57:18 GMT -1
look like a bunch of druids to me.... Do you mean neo- druids ;D Be careful what you say it will be on PCG blog before you can say awen three times.  |
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That's the impression I was left with too but thought some of you knowledgeable folks on here might know more. A awful lot of time is spent trying to interpret the meaning of symbols associated with deities but I wonder how speculative some of this is. 
