Ancasta

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} In Celtic polytheism, Ancasta was the female deification of fast-flowing fluvial water.

Contents

1 Centres of worship
2 Votive dedications
3
4 Sources

Centres of worship

Ancasta was worshipped in Roman Britain, an altar-stone to the deity having been recovered in the United Kingdom at Bitterne, near Southampton. This being the only known altar to this goddess in the entire Roman empire, it seems certain that Ancasta was a local goddess, possibly associated with the nearby River Itchen.

Votive dedications

The votive dedication to Ancasta reads:

DEAE ANCASTAE GEMINVS MANI VSLM
"To the goddess Ancasta, Geminus Mani[lius] willingly and deservedly fulfills his vow."

Ancasta is derived from the Proto-Celtic *An-kast-ā meaning ' very swift one ' (q.v. [link] [link] [link]).

Sources

British Museum, London, England.
Carlisle Museum, Cumbria, England.
Lancaster museum, Lancaster, England.
Newcastle Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle, England.
Penrith Museum, Penrith, England.
Verovicium Roman Museum, Housesteads Fort, Northumberland, England.
York Castle Museum, York, England.

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