Roman era Frisian goddesses

both within OL texts as in relation to other traditions
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Nordic
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Joined: 31 Dec 2022, 11:08

Roman era Frisian goddesses

Post by Nordic »

From Wikipedia:
One of the votive inscriptions to these goddesses reads:

DEO MARTI THINCSO ET DVABVS ALAISAGIS BEDE ET FIMMILENE ET N AVG GERM CIVES TVIHANTI VSLM
"To the god Mars Thincsus and the two Alaisagae, Beda and Fimmilena, and the divine spirit of the emperor, the German tribesmen from Tuihantis willingly and deservedly fulfill their vow."

[...] The second inscription reads:

DEABVS ALAISIAGIS BAVDIHILLIE ET FRIAGABI ET N(umini) AVG(usti) N(umerus) HNAVDIFRIDI V(otum) S(olvit) L(ibens) M(erito)
"To the goddesses the Alaisiagae, Baudihillia and Friagabis, and to the Divinity of the Emperor the unit of Hnaudifridus gladly and deservedly fulfilled its vow." (source: Wikipedia on Alaisiagae)
Quickly noting that "Alaisia" and "gae" reminds of the Gallic capitol Alesia, and that first half of "Baudihillia" reminds of Boudicea, what can we gleam OLB wise from these Twenthe district (TVIHANTI) hostage warriors? For example "FIMMILENE"'s suffix part of the name reminds of Dela Hellenia or "DEL.A HEL.LÉNJA".

Here and here is more on the actual stones, that as per text description had a goddess image (not shown).

Here's a Celticist who thinks they're Germanic goddesses: here, here, here (link corrected), here and here.

We had earlier some success with Paul the Deacon's Lombard history, being able to match some of the character and tribal names with OL Frisians, Germanics and Finns (here and here). The clearest continental matches so far are the Nehalennia deity to Minerva Nyhellenia, againa a "NY.HEL.LÉNJA" character, and Rosemunde to Rosmerta.
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Kraftr
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Joined: 10 Apr 2023, 07:57

Re: Roman era Frisian goddesses

Post by Kraftr »

allaisiagae, could be aller zegen/sieg
maybe Bete and Friagabus(frya-gever;freedom-giver) are two names for the same and boudihille(hail of the victory) and faam Hellena too, they just didn't want to be repetitive and name them twice, to be more poetic and deep. Like one could say; the father and the son, the creator and logos.
Boudille/fam Hellena/Athena as wisdom matron was the goddess of intelligent warfare, vigilance and such. I think the 'godesses' had many names, probably recited like this chant to Epona, and we mistake them to be truly separate. I tend to try and see where each different godess could just be an elevated aspect, understood to be within a greater conception of the female god. Just sometimes the aspect would be so important to deserve a different statue etc.
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