Belisama encyclopedia topics

Belisama

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Wikipedia

Belisana is also a spider genus (Pholcidae).

In Celtic mythology, Belisama (also Bηλησαμα or Belesama) was a goddess worshipped in Gaul and Britain. She was connected with lakes and rivers, fire, crafts and light. Belisama was identified with Minerva/Athena and has been compared with Brigid. She has been claimed to be the consort of Belenus, with whom she shared certain attributes. Her name has been interpreted to mean "summer bright".

A Gaulish inscription found at Vaison-la-Romaine in Provence shows that a nemeton was dedicated to her:

Segomaros Ouilloneos tooutious Namausatis eiōrou Bēlēsami sosin nemēton

"Segomaros, son of Uillo, toutious (tribe leader) of Namausos, dedicated this sanctuary to Belesama"

A Latin inscription from Saint-Lizier, Aquitania (in antiquity, Consoranni) associates her with Minerva:

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

The River Ribble in England was known by the name Belisama in Roman times. Ptolemy lists a Belisama estuary at coordinates which correspond to the mouth of the Ribble.