The Gods

Nantosuelta: Nantosvelta, Nantosuetta, Nantosueltte, Nataseuelta:
She is a goddess of many talents, a mother goddess, a tutelary goddess, a protector of her people, and all the fruits of the land; the raven goddess who creates and destroys - and bears the cornucopia. Sometimes she carries a bowl-full of apples in some of her epitaphs; in others she holds the model house in her hand. She is a goddess of domesticity, the hearth, the land, and guardian of the people and animals living on the land resided by her. As the hearth is the fire of the home, and her name "sun-warmed valley," indicates a sun goddess, as well as her honey-comb (on her epitaphs), bees, and fire connections indicate a solar nature. She is a goddess of brewing, nature, domestic crafts and skills; goddess of animals, also a water goddess, strong ties to the supernatural, the otherworld and a land goddess. Not only myself, but those who also know her personally tell that she keeps them strong, and able to be independent.

Her name is thought be derived from Proto-Celtic "Nanto-swelt;" meaning 'feminine valley-turning spirit/being' which gives her earth connections - and the fruitfulness therein, but recent etymology (From the Berne Zinc Tablet for example) actually shows us her name means "she of the sun-warmed valley/earth;" and that the earth has it's waters of life for irrigation, and with her grace waters the land and bears it's fertility. Some say that the water connections also tie into inspiration of the mind and a thirst for knowledge; and on other carvings she pours water or wine (or some other liquid) out of a vessel or cup. There is speculation this might be a metaphor - an Aquarius type of action - of quenching the thirst of the land and the mind. Miranda Green speculates that the liquid to be associated with the ideas to be with that of wine, as she is depicted with honeycombs, as well the wine itself (might be mead, as honey is used to brew the must, which with her honeycombs on her epitaphs, is also a possibility) representing rebirth or resurrection in the ancient world. Nantosuelta was also a goddess of the realm of the dead.

On those epitaphs she is shown with the crow (or raven depending on who's translating) either beneath her or on her side, with a house on a staff; I don't see very strong evidence for doves at all, (doesn't seem to fit with an animal association such as the powerful raven or crow) look like a scepter for domesticity, meaning - a symbol of her residing over the domestic home and hearth (Just as the winding snakes around the caduceus is to medicine, healing, commerce, and other varying symbolisms through time.) As her animal is the raven, thus linking her with the otherworld, life and death, possible battle associations that aren't as obvious as with other deities (though not likely to be her dominant attribute but an important one none-the-less), and the supernatural; which encompasses a host of capabilities and tasks therein.

Sucellos - Sucellus, Socellus:
With her husband and/or mate Sucellos, the hammer-god known to be popular in brewing areas of Europe. His symbols are commonly the dog companion (though some scholars say it is a wolf, as he is seen on a carving in a Church to be wearing wolf-skin), his assimilation with Silvanus thus makes him a type of horned-deity (the stag and goat being the sacred animals), the raven (on some epitaphs the crow or raven is beneath both of them, so the crow might be shared by both) also the barrel, and of course, his hammer. It is said that he strikes the ground to break the frost in the spring, and is also a warrior with his hammer, protecting his people and land fiercely. God of the forests and agriculture, and a pastoral god; often he holds a cup and a purse in his hand, which denotes a fertility god. Holding the cauldron or the purse and bearing the hammer might show the tribal god of protection and provisions. With his associations with the forest and agriculture, it seems he is the perfect balance between the wilderness perhaps as a hunter-type, and cultivation of the land both by plant as well as animal. He is the protector of land boundaries or most boundaries in general, and the maintenance of law, and protector of his people.

He is also associated with Silvanus, Taranis and Teutates, being a tribal god himself, and a sky-god. His name means "The Good Striker," and it could be a derivation of cellos means 'striker, to strike'. It is derived from Latin per-cellere ('striker'), Greek klao ('to break') as well as the Indo-European "kel-do-s." The prefix su- means 'good' or 'well' and is found in many Gaulish personal names; with Sucellus thus meaning 'the good striker' a name that does indeed fit Sucellos, who bears the mallet/hammer. And he is the All-Father type, as being equated with Dis Pater by the Classical writers.

These two have been found as far north as Britain, and as far East as Germany. And while there are no myths surviving of these two, we can still learn a great deal from what was left behind. And Sucellos has attributes of Goibhniu - as a brewer, and a possible smith god as well with the terms from lithuanian "kálti" ('to hammer, to forge'). If this is true, then not only are they the divine couple of the tribal god and land goddess, but also craft deities as well, patrons of metalworking, crafts, brewing, and prosperity.

Sentona, Setona:

Her name means "She of the path" which denotes a goddess of the roads, travel, or perhaps also the traveler themself.

Rudianus: Rudianos

Name means "Red Battle Frenzy," and is depicted on a horse with five severed heads on the harness. He is associated with Mars and is invoked as "Mars Rudianos." Being a war-god of the name "battle frenzy," might denote a beserker type.

Cathubodua:

Her name means "battle raven," and also elements of her name resemble Badb Catha of the Irish. She is the goddess of war, martial prowess, and battle. Her inscription is thus [C]athubodua, but the inferring does make sense.

Ucuetis and Bergusia:

Matron and Patron of metalworkers, their guild house in Mont Auxois, Alise-Sainte-Raine, Côte D'Or, France; has votive offerings to both. They reside over the forge, metallurgy, and the craft of the blacksmith.

Sivelia:

"She who makes us better," a goddess of health, healing, and medicine - she is sometimes assimilated with Sirona.

Graselos:

"Giver of Health," he is the god of health, healing springs, and medicine. There is still a sacred spring near Malaucène, Velacluse, France called "The source of Groseau," and a vault to honor Graselos is near as well.

Etiona:

"Kernal of Knowledge," or "Seed of Secrets," is a goddess of learning, sciences, students, scholars, wisdom and secrets of the otherworld. In my experiences with her, schools of learning, and knowledge are under her provision. Her name comes from the hazel nut and hazel tree, or "kernal," which is the tree of knowledge. Her consort is Gnatus.

Gnatus:

"He who knows," of "He who is Knowledgable," Gnatus is a god of wisdom, learning, the sciences, knowledge, and is assimilated to Mercury.

Agaunus:

Assimilated with Neptune, he is the god of the oceans, seas, and sea travel. The fish are also his cattle, and trade done via the seas is under his provision.

Nehalennia:
This sea goddess goes beyond the bounds of just the sea, but also fertlility, and protection of the coastlines, and all the homes on the coast were under her protection. Many of the shrines dedicated to her were erected by naval traders, probably after survival of a storm which would explain her association with naval vessels. Her name is neither Celtic nor Germanic, and thus denotes an older worship, one with which sea trade and travel was prevalent.

But sadly only parts of the worship can be pieced back together - and thus: During a severe storm and danger was not only to the sailors, but to the danger of losing the ship (most depictions have inscriptions to Nehalennia protecting the sailors, the ship as well as the goods on board) as well - the sailors invoked her, and upon her grace of protection and calming the waves they vowed to build a stone votive altar in her name. And true enough, all along the coasts her shrine can be found in many places, especially the Netherlands, dating to the third centuries B.C. One typical description:

To the goddess Nehalennia,
on account of goods duly kept safe,
Marcus Secundinius Silvanus,
trader in pottery with Britain,
fulfilled his vow willingly and deservedly.
(http://www.livius.org/ne-nn/nehalennia/nehalennia.html)

Another one:
DEAE NEHELENIAE M EXCINCIUS AGRICOLA CIVES TREVERVS NEGOTIATOR SALATIV CA C A VSLM

(To the Nehelenian Goddesses, Marcus Exginggius Agricola from the country of the Treveri, salt merchant to Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow).

Several epitaphs have her standing with one foot on the prow of a ship, with a dog as her companion. In others she holds an ore and in the other rope, and some she's holding a bowl full of apples, which tie her also to the Matres.