Nehalennia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the mythological Nehellenia. For the Sailor Moon character, see Dead Moon Circus.

Nehalennia (spelled variously) is a Frisian-Roman goddess worshipped in the second century and third century C.E. in the territory of what is now the province of Zeeland in The Netherlands. She was a local goddess whose main function appeared to be the protection of travellers, especially seagoing travellers. Most of what is known about her comes from the remains of offering stones which have been dredged up from the Oosterschelde since 1970. Two more Nehalennia offering stones have also been found in Germany, at Cologne.

The offering stones found depict her sitting down with a basket of apples, and a dog at her side, sometimes with a sceptre in her hands. In some depictions she rests her foot on a ship, or holds a ship's oar.

It is unknown when the worship of Nehellenia started or ended, but it is generally accepted that her cult was at its peak in the second and third century C.E., at which time there were at least two and possibly three temples located in the area of what is now Zeeland. At the time this was an important link for the trade between the Rhine area and Britain. Because her name is neither Celtic nor Germanic, it probably comes from the Indo-European peoples who inhabited the area around the second century B.C.E., giving a latest start date to her cult.

Most of the offering stones dregged up from the coastal waters around Walcheren were offered to the goddess by merchants returning from a trip to Britain, as appreciation for a safe journey. Some contained the Latin inscription "VSLM", meaning "Votum Solvit Libens Merito", indicating the completion of a vow, possibly one made in return for a safe passage.

In August 2005, a replica of the Nehelennia temple near the lost town of Ganuenta was opened in Colijnsplaat<ref>Van der Velde, Koert (August 13 2005). Zeeuwse godin weer thuis. Trouw (Dutch newspaper), p. 8–9.</ref>.

Asteroid 2462, or 6578 P-L, is named Nehalennia after the goddess.