Sulis stands out as one of the more notable goddesses of the Celtic pantheon, predominantly worshipped at her solitary shrine located at a thermal spring in the southwest of England. Known to the Romans as Aquae Sulis, this site served as both a spa and a temple dedicated to Sulis Minerva, her Romano-Celtic incarnation.
The thermal springs produced hot water rich in iron, attracting countless pilgrims who left behind votive offerings, including a significant collection of coins. Visitors can still sample the mineral-laden water from the site, though many may find it challenging to consume due to its distinct taste.
Sulis’ name is rooted in terms related to both “sun” and “eye.” This connection presents her as a multifaceted sun goddess, symbolizing both the nurturing warmth of the sun and possessing associations with the shadowy realm of the underworld.
Interactions with the Romans
Initially, it might appear that the Romans entirely usurped Bath and its worship of Sulis. However, evidence from Roman Inscriptions of Britain affirms the existence of six altars honoring Sulis and two dedicated to Sulis Minerva. Notably, one altar was erected by a centurion representing his legion in reverence to Sulis Minerva alongside other deities.
Long before the Romans established their presence, the local populace had already created a gravel mound near the spring, where they left coins, indicating prior reverence for the site. With three hot springs located closely together, these unique waters, positioned alongside the Avon river—a crucial trade route—added to Bath’s significance.
A rare surviving artefact from the Roman era, the head of Sulis Minerva, crafted in gilt bronze, slightly exceeds life-size and perhaps once adorned the temple since its inception in the first century AD. Another notable relic is the Gorgon’s head that crowned the temple’s pediment, characterizing a blend of Roman and Celtic traditions by transforming the traditionally female monster into a bearded male figure.
The Minerva Connection
Sulis isn’t the sole goddess associated with Minerva. In southern France, the deity Belisama was referred to as Belisama Minerva in inscriptions, even though she had an established cult of her own. Several other local deities may fit this Minervan association, as noted by Julius Caesar’s accounts of Celtic veneration of Minerva.
In Britain, the goddess Brigantia shares striking parallels with Minerva, albeit without any inscriptions linking them. The recently uncovered goddess Senuna also presents similar iconography to Minerva, suggesting a broader network of feminine divinities connected to water and healing. Brigantia and the Irish goddess Brigit, recognized for their links to healing springs, align with the French goddess Bricta or Brixta, the latter of whom also showcased “curse tablets” at her shrine. This noteworthy parallel hints at collective aspects of water-related divinity shared among diverse Celtic goddesses.
Sulis, alongside Bricta and Belisama—thought to be the unnamed companion of the healing god Belenos—were likely regarded as goddesses associated with healing powers of warm water. The link to Minerva may derive from this warmth, as both Coventina and Brigantia were commonly identified as Nymphs associated with springs.
Symbolism of Sun and Eye
The etymology of Sulis can be traced back to either a Proto-Indo-European term for “sun” (*suh2lio-) or the Old Irish term for “eye,” and another reconstructed word for sun, *sulis. The Old Welsh term licat, meaning both “eye” and “spring,” further reinforces the eye/sun motif. This imagery suggests that Sulis embodies the sun-goddess linked to the omniscient eye of the sky, and the mineral-rich waters may reflect her own intrinsic warmth and healing properties.
Additionally, connections can be drawn between Sulis and the narrative of St. Brigit, which features her as a solar figure. St. Brigit’s tale of plucking out her eye and providing life through a spring emphasizes the interplay of vision and water—a significant theme in Celtic mythology. This imagery resonates further with the innate connection between healing, vision, and water, paralleling the roles of Celtic deities like Belenos and Vindonnus.
Exploring the Darkness
Despite her strong associations with light and healing, certain elements of Sulis’ worship reveal a darker side. Devotees would often petition her to exact vengeance upon those who wronged them, sometimes with detailed requests. Furthermore, the presence of hot springs has led some scholars to question her potential underworld aspects—similar to the Sun Goddess of Arinna—portraying her as both a life-giver and an avenger.
Some interpretations posit that the Celts perceived Sulis as imbuing the waters with her solar energy while also engaging in the underworld. Evidence exists of Indo-European myths depicting a deity embodying both fire and water, suggesting a complex relationship between creation and destruction.
Curse tablets discovered at Bath hint at this duality, showcasing the darker side of Sulis, where she served as not only a goddess of healing but also one that could invoke retribution. The prevalence of curses inscribed calls upon the goddess for both justice and recovery of stolen belongings reflects similar practices directed towards other deities.
The Waters as an Interface
An artistic portrayal of Sulis captures her emerging through water towards the sun. This image highlights the dual nature of Sulis as both a goddess associated with the underworld and the celestial. Comparatively, in Norse mythology, the goddess Saga resided in water, possessing the knowledge of the cosmos—reinforcing the idea that bodies of water serve as gateways to other worlds. Offerings cast into these waters represented a conduit for communication with the divine.
Investigating the Suleviae
One lingering question pertains to the potential link between Sulis and the Suleviae concept. Appearing as a manifestation of the Matres, the mother goddesses worshipped throughout the Roman Empire, the name Suleviae is potentially derived from ‘su-‘ (meaning ‘good’) and ‘leu-‘ (to ‘steer’ or ‘lead’). Therefore, it embodies the sense of guidance.
This coupling with protective maternal figures resonates well, especially given the range of inscriptions dedicated to them across Europe, one linking them directly to Minerva. While an inscription indicates a connection among the Suleviae and the Minerva Cult, the specific details remain obscure.
The exploration of a specific mention of “for the well-being of our august Emperors, to the paternal and maternal Mothers, and to my own Suleviæ” underscores their protective essence.
