NEHALENNIA: Roman-Gaulish-Germanic Goddess of the North Sea

 

Nehallen(n)ia was a local Goddess that was worshiped in Roman times in the area where the river Schelde flows into the North Sea in what is now the province of Zeeland (the Netherlands).

Fig. ❶ Map of the the Netherlands and the North of Belgium, Gallia Belgica and Germania inferior at the time. (edited from this map).

Where and when?
There is evidence of temples dedicated to Nehalennia at at least 2 locations in this area: one in Domburg and one in Colijnsplaat (Fig. ➊). Since the rediscovery of these sacred sites (the one in Domburg was rediscovered as early as the 17^th century), hundreds of altars and pieces of altars have been dredged up from the bay alongside a considerable number of other finds including roof tiles and bowls. The temples were probably in use during the 2^nd and 3^rd century [i].

Fig. ❷ Altar dedicated to the Goddess Nehalennia, limestone, 2nd - 3rd century, Domburg (Netherlands). Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (Netherlands).

Altars and depictions

The altars are constructed in a Roman fashion: A relief of the Goddess, typically in a shell-headed niche, with a formulaic Latin inscription (Fig. ➋&➌&➎). It seems likely that the worship of Nehalennia predates the Roman era though. She probably was a Germanic or Gaulish Goddess that was later Romanised. 

Fig. ❸ Various reliefs on altar dedicated to the Goddess Nehalennia, 2nd - 3rd century, Netherlands. Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (Netherlands).

Altar reliefs of Nehalennia are remarkably similar: she is usually shown seated with a fruit basket on Her lap, next to Her on the floor, or both, and on the other side, there’s usually a dog sitting right next to Her (Fig. ➌). With the evidence we have today, it is impossible to determine the meaning of the fruit and the dog with absolute certainty, but in Greco-Roman religion, both have been associated with the Underworld and therefore fertility.

Some instances where dogs were associated with the Underworld and/or fertility in antiquity: 

* The three headed dog Cerberus (Ancient Greek: Kerberos ΚΕΡΒΕΡΟΣ) guarded the entrance to the Underworld [ii].

* Dogs were sometimes sacrificed to the infernal Goddes Trivia / Hecate (Ancient Greek:  Hekátē ΕΚΑΤΗ) [iii]. 

* The Roman fertility rites of the Lupercalia [iv] and Robigalia [v], as well as a ritual to honour Geneta Mana, the Goddess of birth and death [vi], involved the sacrifice of a dog.

The link between fruit and fertility is rather obvious, but here are a few instances where fruit was associated with the Underworld and/or fertility in antiquity:

* Proserpina (Ancient Greek: Persephonē ΠΕΡΣΕΦΟΝΗ) was forced to spend a part of each year in the Underworld because she ate pomegranate seeds there. [vii].

Ancient Greek funerary steles sometimes featured pomegranates (Click here for example).

* Aeneas had to pluck golden-leaved fruit from a particual tree to prove himself worthy to descend into the Underworld. [viii].

Fig. ❹ Mysterious combination of a dog skull and plate made from terra sigillata buried together in Tongeren, ca. 160 CE. Gallo-Romeins Museum, Tongeren (Belgium).

Perhaps Nehalennia’s canine friend should be seen in the light of a now unknown ritual role dogs had in Germanic or Gaulish religion. About  200km (125 miles) from the temples in Zeeland), in the Belgian city of Tongeren, dog skulls have been found ritually buried alongside mysterious earthenware plates with edges that were deliberately chipped off (Fig. ➍).

It is unclear what the purpose of this ritual was. If we knew why the remains of dogs were buried in this way, perhaps it could help us interpret Nehalennia’s altars

Another reoccurring attribute in reliefs of Nehalennia, is Her distinct shoulder cape, which gives Her a particularly local appearance (Fig. ➋&➌&➍). Occasionally, she also carries a staff　(Fig. ➌, bottom right corner).

Fig. ❺ Apples and pears chiseled in stone to resemble offerings in top of an altar dedicated to the Goddess Nehalennia, 2nd - 3rd century, Netherlands. Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (Netherlands).

On top of the altars, there usually is no circular depression for burning incense as can be commonly seen on Roman altars. Instead, many Nehalennia altars appear permanently laden with offerings of apples and pears. It seems reasonable to assume that actual pears and apples were also put on top of Her altars.

Fig. ❻ Altar dedicated to the Goddess Nehalennia, limestone, 2nd - 3rd century. Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (Netherlands).

The Latin inscriptions on the altars tell us something about the people who dedicated them. Most supplicants were ship-owners or merchants who wanted to thank Her for granting a safe passage across the sea to Brittania and back. The altar on Fig. ➏ for example reads:

DEA NEHALENIA

(To the Goddess Nehalen(n)ia)

M(arcus) EXGINGIVS AGRICOLA

(Marcus Exgingius Agricola)

CIVES TREVER(orum)

(Citizen of Trier)

NEGOTIATOR SALARIVS C(oloniae) C(laudia) A(ra) A(grippinensium)

(Salt merchant in Cologne)
V(otum) S(olvit) L(ibens) M(erito)
(fulfils his vow, willingly and deservedly)

Difficulties and future of research concerning Nehalennia

The fact that so many people from all over the area passed by Nehalennia’s temples before or after crossing the sea to Britannia indicates that there must have been an important harbour there.

Unfortunately, the coastline has changed considerably since Roman times so many artefacts were undoubtedly swallowed by the sea. Looking for them is apparently very difficult as diving conditions in the bay are unpredictable and generally not very good. In spite of this, a few passionate divers keep on looking for more evidence [i]. Who knows what mysterious treasures are still waiting for them on the bottom of Nehallenia’s waters? 

In 2004, a Gallo-Roman style temple was built at Colijnsplaat to give an idea of what the temple might have looked like (Click here for photograph!). As there is no firm evidence for the exact appearance of the temple, it is no more than an educated guess, but at least Nehalennia is no longer homeless.

References:

[i] Van Haelst, Sven & Carolien Van Hecke. "Nehalennia: Duiken naar een verdronken Scheldetempel". Ex Situ (July - August - September 2015, Nr. 8). Gent: Forum Vlaamse Archeologie vzw: pp31-35.

[ii] Virgil, Aeneid. Book VI, 417 ff.

[iii] Ovid. Fasti. Book I, 389-391. 

[iv] Plutarch. Roman Questions. 68.  

[v] Ovid. Fasti. Book IV, 907‑942.

[vi] Plutarch. Roman Questions. 52. 

[vii] Ovid. Fasti. Book IV, 607-608. 

[viii] Virgil. Aeneid. Book VI, 193-197.