
Dedicated to Sulis, the Celtic Goddess of the hot springs at Bath, England (the only hot springs in Britain). Sulis's name come from a root meaning 'eye' or 'gap', referring both to the spring from where half a million gallons of hot water still well up every day, as well as to Her powers as seeress.
Her hot spring has been renowned for its healing powers since ancient times, and when the Romans arrived in Britain they built a bath complex around the spring, and named the place Aquae Sulis (the Waters of Sulis). Pilgrims came from mainland Europe to bathe in the therapeutic waters, and references to Sulis are known from as far away as Germany.
The Romans equated Sulis with their Minerva, and so She was known to them as Sulis Minerva, which is somewhat unusual, since the Romans generally used the native Celtic deity name after the Roman name. This is taken as an indication of Her importance and fame.
Though famous for healing, Sulis could curse as well as cure, and in Bath many 'curse tablets' have been found, asking Her to punish people suspected of wrongdoing.
Minerva was the Roman Goddess of War, Wisdom and the Crafts.
In Britain at the turn of the 1st millennium CE, Minerva was depicted throughout Celtic Britain in both purely Roman fashion and in the more abstract Celtic style. But in Bath, at the temple of Aquae Sulis she becomes “fully equated with a Celtic Goddess, Sulis”.
So as you see as with our earthly Mother according to the aspect we are calling on, we call on the name that matches that aspect of the Great Mother Of The Great Goddess. So call her name when you need protection from the warrior mother or wise counsel. Call her by yet another name when you need healing. You can call on her when you need inspiration and a muse to create. She is the Great Mother the Female side of God.
References:
1. The Gods of Roman Britain, Miranda Jane Green, Shire Archeology, 1993
2. Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend, Miranda J. Green, Thames & Hudson, 1992
3. Celts in the Hellenic World, Peter B. Ellis, Constable, 1997
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