Bandua
Encyclopedia
In classical Celtic polytheism
as well as in Gallaecian and Lusitanian mythology
, Bandua was a theonym used to refer to a god or goddess
worshipped in Iberia
by Gallaeci and Lusitanians
. Whether the name referred to a discrete deity or was an epithet applied to different deities is arguable.
and Galicia. The name is found with a number of epithet
s.
In Rairiz de Veiga, Bandua is acknowledged as a god of the Vexillum
partner of Mars
:
At Espinhosela
, the name Bandua alone is found. At Codosedo, Alenquer
and Xinzo de Limia
however, the name Bandua is qualified by the epithet
Aetobrico(m). At Cáceres
, Bandua is qualified by Araugelensis, at Curbián by Bolleco(m), at Miguel o Anjo by Brico(m), at Mixo(m) by Calaigus, at La Mezquitilla by Itobrico(m), at Eiras by Lanobrica, at Rairiz de Veiga
by Veigebreaeco(m), at Arcuelos by Verubrigo(m), at Seisco de Anciães by Vordeaeco(m) and at S. Martinho by Vorteaecio(m). Along with Cosus, Nabia
and Reo
, Bandua is one of the best documented deities
in large areas of western and north-western Iberia. In contrast to the worship of Cosus, Nabia and Reo, the worship of Bandua seems to have spread from south to north in Lusitania
.
in order to explain the hydronym
Banduje, in Portugal
, or the toponym Banhos de Bande, a thermal spot
, and the relationship of the name with fords
. The form Bandue predominates in the Galician territory north of the Douro River while the Bandi ~ Bande form is more common in the Lusitanian area to the south . Its epithets seem to allude more to dwelling places, at least those containing the suffix -briga, "fortress": Lanobrigae, Aetobrigo, than to the worshipping communities themselves . This theory has been recently criticized by De Bernardo Stempel , who interprets what have traditionally been considered singular thematic datives of male attributes as plural genitive forms referring to groups of people (B'andue Aetobrico(m), Cadogo(m), Roudeaeco(m), Veigebreaego(m)). She also states that they depend on a theonym, Bandua, which would be feminine as a consequence of the above, and which was probably created later than its masculine counterpart. Thus, we have a pair of deities, Bandus (male) and Bandua (female), comparable to other Celtic pairs like Bormanos
& Bormana
, Belisama
& Belisamaros, Camulos & Camuloriga and Arentius & Arentia. It has recently been proposed that St. Torquatus, one of the Seven Apostolic Men
responsible for the introduction of Christianity
to Hispania
, whose relic
s are kept in Santa Comba de Bande (Ourense
), may be a Christian version of Bandua .
Celtic polytheism
Celtic polytheism, commonly known as Celtic paganism, refers to the religious beliefs and practices adhered to by the Iron Age peoples of Western Europe now known as the Celts, roughly between 500 BCE and 500 CE, spanning the La Tène period and the Roman era, and in the case of the Insular Celts...
as well as in Gallaecian and Lusitanian mythology
Lusitanian mythology
Lusitanian mythology is the mythology of the Lusitanians, the Indo-European people of western Iberia, in the territory comprising most of modern Portugal, Extremadura and a small part of Salamanca....
, Bandua was a theonym used to refer to a god or goddess
Goddess
A goddess is a female deity. In some cultures goddesses are associated with Earth, motherhood, love, and the household. In other cultures, goddesses also rule over war, death, and destruction as well as healing....
worshipped in Iberia
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
by Gallaeci and Lusitanians
Lusitanians
The Lusitanians were an Indo-European people living in the Western Iberian Peninsula long before it became the Roman province of Lusitania . They spoke the Lusitanian language which might have been Celtic. The modern Portuguese people see the Lusitanians as their ancestors...
. Whether the name referred to a discrete deity or was an epithet applied to different deities is arguable.
Extent of worship
The theonym Bandua has been found recorded in PortugalPortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Galicia. The name is found with a number of epithet
Epithet
An epithet or byname is a descriptive term accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It is also a descriptive title...
s.
In Rairiz de Veiga, Bandua is acknowledged as a god of the Vexillum
Vexillum
The vexillum was a flag-like object used in the Classical Era of the Roman Empire. The word is itself a diminutive for the Latin word, velum, sail, which confirms the historical evidence that vexilla were literally "little sails" i.e. flag-like standards...
partner of Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
:
-
- Deo Vexilor[um] martis socio Banduae.
At Espinhosela
Espinhosela
Espinhosela is a Portuguese parish in the district of Bragança. The population in 2001 was 305. Its density is 8.5/km² and the area is 35.96 km²....
, the name Bandua alone is found. At Codosedo, Alenquer
Alenquer
Alenquer is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 304.2 km² and a total population of 42,932 inhabitants. The municipality is composed of 16 parishes, and is located in the District of Lisbon....
and Xinzo de Limia
Xinzo de Limia
Xinzo de Limia , is a town in the province of Ourense, Autonomous Community of Galicia, Spain. It lies on the important Autovia das Rias Baixas in the fertile valley of Antela, approximately 33 km from Verín and 43 km from Ourense...
however, the name Bandua is qualified by the epithet
Epithet
An epithet or byname is a descriptive term accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It is also a descriptive title...
Aetobrico(m). At Cáceres
Cáceres, Spain
Cáceres is the capital of the same name province, in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. , its population was 91,131 inhabitants. The municipio has a land area of 1,750.33 km², and is the largest in geographical extension in Spain....
, Bandua is qualified by Araugelensis, at Curbián by Bolleco(m), at Miguel o Anjo by Brico(m), at Mixo(m) by Calaigus, at La Mezquitilla by Itobrico(m), at Eiras by Lanobrica, at Rairiz de Veiga
Rairiz de Veiga
Rairiz de Veiga is a municipality in Ourense in the Galicia region of north-west Spain. It is located in the centre of the province towards the south-west....
by Veigebreaeco(m), at Arcuelos by Verubrigo(m), at Seisco de Anciães by Vordeaeco(m) and at S. Martinho by Vorteaecio(m). Along with Cosus, Nabia
Nabia
Nabia was the goddess of rivers and water in Gallaecian and Lusitanian mythology, in the territory of modern Galicia and Portugal.The present-day Navia River and Avia_ in Galicia, was named in honor of the deity...
and Reo
Reo (deity)
Reo Paramaeco is a name appearing on a Latin dedication to a Lusitanian-Gallaecian deity discovered in Lugo in Galicia. The name is in the dative case, for a Latinized name *Reus Paramaecus.-Name and meaning:...
, Bandua is one of the best documented deities
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
in large areas of western and north-western Iberia. In contrast to the worship of Cosus, Nabia and Reo, the worship of Bandua seems to have spread from south to north in Lusitania
Lusitania
Lusitania or Hispania Lusitania was an ancient Roman province including approximately all of modern Portugal south of the Douro river and part of modern Spain . It was named after the Lusitani or Lusitanian people...
.
Interpretations
Bandua has been associated with waterWater
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
in order to explain the hydronym
Hydronym
A hydronym is a proper name of a body of water. Hydronymy is the study of hydronyms and of how bodies of water receive their names and how they are transmitted through history...
Banduje, in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, or the toponym Banhos de Bande, a thermal spot
Hot spring
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are geothermal hot springs in many locations all over the crust of the earth.-Definitions:...
, and the relationship of the name with fords
Fords
Fords may refer to:* Fords, New Jersey* Ford * Ford Motor Company...
. The form Bandue predominates in the Galician territory north of the Douro River while the Bandi ~ Bande form is more common in the Lusitanian area to the south . Its epithets seem to allude more to dwelling places, at least those containing the suffix -briga, "fortress": Lanobrigae, Aetobrigo, than to the worshipping communities themselves . This theory has been recently criticized by De Bernardo Stempel , who interprets what have traditionally been considered singular thematic datives of male attributes as plural genitive forms referring to groups of people (B'andue Aetobrico(m), Cadogo(m), Roudeaeco(m), Veigebreaego(m)). She also states that they depend on a theonym, Bandua, which would be feminine as a consequence of the above, and which was probably created later than its masculine counterpart. Thus, we have a pair of deities, Bandus (male) and Bandua (female), comparable to other Celtic pairs like Bormanos
Borvo
In Lusitanian and Celtic polytheism, Borvo was a healing deity associated with bubbling spring water.-Centres of worship:...
& Bormana
Bormana
Bormana is a Celtic goddess, the female equivalent of the god Borvo . Bormana was often worshipped alongside of Bormanus as his consort. The pair of them were, for example. worshipped at Die Bormana is a Celtic goddess, the female equivalent of the god Borvo (Bormanus). Bormana was often worshipped...
, Belisama
Belisama
In Celtic polytheism, Belisama or ' 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...
& Belisamaros, Camulos & Camuloriga and Arentius & Arentia. It has recently been proposed that St. Torquatus, one of the Seven Apostolic Men
Seven Apostolic Men
According to Christian tradition, the Seven Apostolic Men were seven Christian clerics ordained in Rome by Saints Peter and Paul and sent to evangelize Spain...
responsible for the introduction of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
to Hispania
Hispania
Another theory holds that the name derives from Ezpanna, the Basque word for "border" or "edge", thus meaning the farthest area or place. Isidore of Sevilla considered Hispania derived from Hispalis....
, whose relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
s are kept in Santa Comba de Bande (Ourense
Ourense
Ourense is a city in northwestern Spain, the capital of the province of the same name in Galicia. Its population of 108,674 accounts for 30% of the population of the province and makes it the third largest city of Galicia.-Population:...
), may be a Christian version of Bandua .