Vesunna

Bronze statuette of Vesunna with elements of syncretism: sistrum on the head of the goddess Isis - Périgueux Museum

Vesunna is a Celtic goddess worshipped in Roman Gaul. She was likely considered a giver of prosperity, abundance and good fortune, as evidenced by the cornucopia she is depicted carrying in her images.[1][2][3][4]

Vesunna was also once the name of a town just south of the modern French city of Périgueux, where the goddess had a temple in ancient times; she was certainly the patron goddess of this city and its people and thus a protector.

Inscription with the name of goddess Vesunna

In inscriptions found in Périgueux, Vesunna is identified with the Roman guardian goddess Tutela. Vesunna received votive and dedicatory offerings from her worshippers; otherwise little is known of the specifics of her cult. She had a temple in the city that bore her name. Vesunna was worshipped especially by the Gaulish Celtic tribe known as the Petrocorii, whose name survives in that of the modern French city of Périgueux, located just north of her great temple.

  1. ^ Penisson, Elisabeth (2008). Vesunna. The Gallo-Roman Museum in Perigueux. France: Editions Sud Ouest. ISBN 978-2-87901-903-1.
  2. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette
  3. ^ William Smith, editor (1854, 1857) Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, volume 1 & 2, London: Walton and Maberly
  4. ^ Henry François Athanase Wlgrin de Taillefer (1821–1826). Antiquités de Vésone, cité gauloise remplacée par la ville actuelle de Périgueux, ou description des monumens religieux, civils et militaires de cette antique cité et de son territoire, précédée d'un essai sur les Gaulois. Vol. 1. Périgueux: chez F. Dupont. pp. 502, 505.