Nemetona
Celtic Goddess of the Sacred Grove
Her name derives from the Gaulish word nemeton, meaning “sacred space”. She is the guardian deity of all sacred places such as circles or magickal groves. Nemetona was also usually associated with healing springs. She was popular in the city of Bath where several images can be found of her. Usually, she was seen seated like a queen holding a scepter. Around her were three hooded figures and a ram.
More often than not, she was depicted with her divine consort, the Roman Mars, who was given various Celtic names depending on location. Amongst the Corieltauvi of Lincolnshire, he was Mars Rigonemetis (‘King of the Sacred Grove’), but elsewhere he was Mars Loucetius ('the Shining One’).
This latter husband probably identifies Nemetona with another floral goddess, Blodeuwedd, the flower-maiden, wife of the Welsh God of Light, Lleu Llaw Gyffes. In Irish legend, however, she appears to have survived as Nemhain, a Goddess of Battle-Frenzy. This indicates that she originally had a military aspect now almost forgotten.
“Nemetona’s themes are wishes, protection, joy, fairies, magic, luck and nature. Her symbols are Hawthorn trees (or trees in general). In Romano-Celtic regions, Nemetona guards groves of trees with a special protective presence that marks the area as a sacred site. Within this space, the soul is hushed and calm, becoming one with nature and the Goddess. Nemetona’s name means ‘shrine’ giving new depth of meaning to William Cullen Bryant’s poetic phrase ‘the groves were God’s first temples.’
Source: Patricia Telesco, “365 Goddess: a daily guide to the magic and inspiration of the goddess”
Image: Nemetona by Seline Fenich
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