Le Mercure Solitumaros de Châteaubleau (Seine-et-Marne) : Lugus macrophtalme, visionnaire et guérisseur

Abstract

At Châteaubleau (Seine-et-Marne), Gallo-Roman site of several sanctuaries of native tradition, a variety of objects were found - a patera with an inscription, a bronze statuette, a coin and an anatomical ex-voto - related to Mercurius Solitumarus, a Gallic deity, whose name was romanized and means "with great sight" or "the all-seeing". To illustrate this epithet the archaeological evidences show this god with enlarged eyes. A comparison with other Gallic and Gallo-Roman representations and parallels in the literature of Irish mythology suggest that this Mercurius of Châteaubleau is identical with Lugus, the omnicompetent god of the Celts, who is endowed with visionary power. Occasionally Lugus is also health-giving god, especially for ophtalmic diseases.