{{Short description|Name of two Celtic deities}} __NOTOC__ In ancient Celtic polytheism, '''Latis''' is the name of two Celtic deities worshipped in Roman Britain. One is a goddess (Dea Latis), the other a god (Deus Latis), and they are both known from a single inscription each.
==Dea Latis== The dedication to Dea Latis was found at Birdoswald Roman Fort in Cumbria, England, in 1873. It reads simply: {{blockquote|<small>DIE LATI</small> ''For the goddess Latis''.<ref name=Collingwood>Collingwood, R.G. and Wright, R.P. (1965) ''The Roman Inscriptions of Britain'' (RIB) ''Vol.I Inscriptions on Stone''. Oxford. [http://www.roman-britain.org/places/banna.htm#rib1897 RIB 1897, online at www.roman-britain.org]</ref>}}
The E is written as a ||. The stone is now in the Carlisle Museum. She may have been associated with the nearby rivers.<ref>Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend, Miranda J. Green, Thames and Hudson Ltd, London, 1997</ref>
==Deus Latis== The dedication to Deus Latis, recovered on an altar-stone at the Roman fort of Aballava, Burgh-by-Sands (also in Cumbria) reads:
{{blockquote|<small>DEO LATI LVCIVS VRSEI</small> ''To the god Latis, Lucius Ursei [dedicates this].''<ref name=Collingwood/>}}
The altar-stone to Deus Latis was found near an image of a horned god and another dedication to the god Belatucadros.
==Etymology== The name 'Latis' may conceivably be related to the Proto-Celtic words *''lati-'' meaning 'liquor', *''lat-'' 'day', or *''lāto-'' 'lust'.<ref>Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies, University of Wales. "[http://www.wales.ac.uk/documents/external/cawcs/pcl-moe.pdf Proto-Celtic—English lexicon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060114133008/http://www.wales.ac.uk/documents/external/cawcs/pcl-moe.pdf |date=2006-01-14 }}." (See also [http://www.wales.ac.uk/newpages/EXTERNAL/E4504.asp this page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310203645/http://www.wales.ac.uk/newpages/EXTERNAL/E4504.asp |date=2007-03-10 }} for background and disclaimers.)</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== * ABALLAVA museum, Burgh by Sands, Cumbria, England.
{{Celtic mythology (ancient)}}
Category:Gods of the ancient Britons Category:Goddesses of the ancient Britons Category:Deities of wine and beer Category:Drinking culture Category:Alcohol goddesses Category:Water deities